Southern Style Chicken Salad

This scrumptious Southern Style Chicken Salad recipe makes for a tasty appetizer when served with crackers or crostini. It eats like a meal on a bed of lettuce for a quick and easy salad or stuffed between thick-cut slices of artisan bread for a busy day lunch on the go.

Ingredients to Make Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe

The ingredients for Chicken salad can be found in my fridge year round. It’s usually found prominently placed in my fridge nestled right beside the pimento cheese. It’s perfect for light meals and between meal snacking. There are many styles and variations to make and this chicken salad with eggs holds a special place on our quick meal menu. I’m a frequent customer at our local Costco and almost never leave there without a rotisserie chicken or two in my basket. I either bring it home and divide it for use in a dish later that day, or remove the chicken from the bone and pop it into the freezer to have ready for a meal on a hectic day. That’s my go-to ingredient to prepare this easy chicken salad and if never lets me down.

Checkout this quick list of ingredients you’ll need to make the best Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

• Chicken – Chopped cooked chicken, for this recipe I used rotisserie chicken.
• Eggs – Hard boiled eggs that have been peeled and chopped rounds out flavor.
• Mayonnaise – Full-fat mayo is the base of the dressing. You can use your favorite brand or a light mayo that you enjoy. I used Duke’s mayonnaise.
• Relish – Sweet pickle relish for a hint of sweetness and texture.
• Honey Mustard – Adds acidity to balance the mayo. You could use Dijon mustard, instead.
• Seasonings – Lemon pepper, salt, garlic powder and black pepper.
• Celery – Fresh celery adds crunch. If you’re fortunate enough to find stalks with the leaves then chop and add them to the recipe.
• Green Onions – Add color and a mild onion flavor.

How to Make the Best Southern Style Chicken Salad

Thanks to a shortcut using rotisserie chicken this chicken salad comes together in no time and keeps my family happy between meal time. It doesn’t get any better than that.

• Make the Dressing – Whisk together mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, honey mustard, lemon pepper, salt, garlic powder and black pepper until fully combined.
• Chicken – To the bowl add chopped chicken.
• Add Mix-Ins – Stir in diced eggs, celery and green onions.
• Combine – Use a large spoon or rubber spatula to fold together until the ingredients are fully coated with the dressing.
• Chill – Place into an airtight container and chill in the refrigerator until serving.

Tips for Making Chicken Salad

• Kitchen Tools You’ll Need – A mixing bowl, sharp knife and cutting board, measuring cups and spoons and a large spoon or silicone spatula to mix it all together.
• Why Do You Put Eggs in Southern Chicken Salad? My Mom put chopped eggs in both her tuna salad and chicken salad, so I in turn do the same for this recipe. You could of course, leave the eggs out if you prefer, but I highly recommend the taste that hard boiled eggs give to the texture and flavor overall.
• Serving Suggestions – You can enjoy a lower carb version and wrap it up in green leaf lettuce for a quick lunch. It’s terrific stuffed inside mini croissants for a holiday brunch or tea party, too. It’s equally delicious when piled high on lettuce lined whole grain bread or my favorite, a chicken salad melt with tomatoes, crisp lettuce and red onion. You can also turn this recipe into sliders, the sky’s the limit.
• Homemade Chicken Salad Sides – You can serve chicken salad sandwiches with a side of potato chips or french fries. Serve it with crackers as a snack or stuffed into mini croissants and puffs as an appetizer.

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

• Take a Shortcut for the Chicken – Can I bake my own chicken for this Southern chicken salad recipe? Store-bought rotisserie chicken works like charm in this chicken salad for quick prep. That said, you could use homemade roast chicken breast, a whole baked chicken or poached chicken breasts. After the holidays, you could adapt this same recipe using leftover turkey.
• Relish – You can use sweet relish or dill pickle relish in this easy chicken salad recipe.
• Onion – You may opt to add finely diced red onion or shallots to the dressing.
• Fresh Herbs – Herbs like fresh parsley, dill or tarragon could be added to expand the flavor profile.
• Celery – If you don’t like the texture of diced celery but still want the flavor, you can use celery salt or celery seeds in the dressing.
• Lemon – If you don’t have lemon pepper handy, add one tablespoon of fresh lemon juice to the dressing.
• Fruit – You can add fresh grapes or cubed apples for a fruity twist.
• Mayonnaise is Best for the Dressing – You could use Miracle Whip in this recipe, but I prefer real mayonnaise like Duke’s mayo, for this chicken salad. If Miracle Whip is what you have on hand, you could certainly use it. Miracle Whip is sweeter than classic mayo.
• Chicken Salad with Cranberries – You may also like to try my recipe for Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad.

Storage and Leftovers

• Storage – Store leftover Southern Style Chicken Salad in an airtight container chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Freezer – You can freeze freshly made chicken salad for up to 3 months. Never freeze chicken salad that has sat out at room temperature for longer than two hours due to bacteria.

More Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipes to Make

• This fruity Waldorf Chicken Salad can be served as an entree on a bed of lettuce.
• Chicken Bacon Ranch Layer Salad is dressed with a homemade Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing. (Better than Chick fil A!)
• Chicken Pasta Salad can do double duty as a side dish or a light meal on a busy day.
• Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is packed with flavor!
• Grilled Polynesian Chicken Salad is a light, but satisfying meal.
• Curried Chicken Salad makes a delicious sandwich or appetizer served in tiny bite size filo cups.
• Hot Chicken Salad is a delicious starter for the chilly weather holiday season.
• Skinny Chicken Salad Sliders from the Cookie Rookie.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Mixing Bowls
• Knife and Chopping Board
• Measuring Set
• Colander