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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 salad supper or stuff it between thick cut artisan bread for a busy day lunch.

Southern Style Chicken Salad

Easy Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe

Chicken salad is a staple 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. How to make Southern Style Chicken Salad: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

  • 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, eggs, celery and green onions.
  • Combine- Mix together thoroughly.
  • Refrigerator – Place into an airtight container and chill until serving.
Southern Style Chicken Salad


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.

  • Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Southern Style Chicken Salad: Chopped rotisseries chicken, chipped hard boiled eggs, celery, diced green onion, sweet pickle relish, lemon pepper, salt, garlic powder or granulated garlic, honey mustard and mayonnaise.
  • Kitchen gadgets 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.
  • Can I bake my own chicken for this recipe? Cooked rotisserie chicken works like charm in this chicken salad and allows it to come together easily. That said, you could use homemade roast chicken, baked chicken or poached chicken. After the holidays, you could adapt this same recipe using leftover turkey.
  • Can I use Miracle Whip in this recipe? I prefer real mayonnaise for this recipe, but if Miracle Whip is what you have on hand you could certainly use it.
  • Do you put boiled 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.
  • How to serve chicken salad: 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. You can also turn this recipe into sliders, the sky’s the limit.
  • You may also like to try my recipe for Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad.
  • Store Southern Style Chicken Salad chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Southern Style Chicken Salad

More Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipes to Make

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

Southern Style Chicken Salad

Prep Time10 minutes
Chill Time3 hours
Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Salad
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: Southern-style-chicken-salad
Servings: 4 cups
Calories: 556kcal
Author: Melissa Sperka

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 3 Tbsp sweet pickle relish
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp honey mustard
  • 1 tsp lemon pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt more or less to your taste
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 4 cup cooked chicken roughly chopped
  • 2 hard boiled eggs peeled and chopped
  • 1 rib celery finely chopped
  • 2 green onion finely chopped

Instructions

  • In a medium size mixing bowl whisk together mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, honey mustard, lemon pepper, salt, garlic powder and black pepper until fully combined.
  • Stir in the chicken, eggs, celery and green onion. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper, if needed.
  • Chill thoroughly for 3 hours or overnight.
  • Serve with crackers, pita pockets, on fresh bread with lettuce as a sandwich.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 556kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 214mg | Sodium: 785mg | Potassium: 390mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 413IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @melissassk or tag #melissassk!

 

36 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This Southern Style Chicken Salad recipe is a delicious combination of flavors that will surely become a crowd-pleaser for any occasion! Yum!

  2. 5 stars
    This is the part of the internet I enjoy. So glad I found your recipe. I used left over smoked chicken thighs so mine is a little different. I added a little Cajun seasoning and believe it or not, diced green olives. (just a few 🙂 ). Never have leftovers…a big hit with crackers or on toasted bread.

    I look forward to trying your other recipes!

  3. 5 stars
    Lemon zest…what a great idea! I left the pickle relish out cuz I’m not a fan. This is very good on fresh homemade bread with lettuce and tomatoes!

    1. I did the exact opposite Rob! I added a little extra relish & skipped the lemon cuz I’m not a fan. Lol
      Also added one extra egg because my birds don’t lay the biggest eggs.
      Was great on some fresh bakery bread with lettuce & homegrown tomatoes.
      I also added some fresh onion on mine, but couldn’t mix it into the salad because my wife hates it!
      Overall, a solid 9/10. Simple, easy, & quick.

  4. 5 stars
    I have made many chicken salad’s being from the south. Made your Southern Style Chicken salad today and it is wonderful. I had everything in my pantry. It was so easy and I think it’s one of the Best. Thank you.

  5. 5 stars
    Absolutely delicious. Best chicken salad I have ever had by far. Entire family, including our children, love it.

  6. This is a great recipe!!! I have always used 1/2 Mayo and 1/2 miracle whip and just a squirt of mustard in my Chicken salad, potato salad, Macaroni salad! It seems to give a great flavor and everyone loves it!!!!

  7. 5 stars
    I have been searching for the best chicken salad recipe and this one is my favorite! Chicken salad can be a bit bland but this one is not! Once I started making it, I realized I was out of mayo so I used miracle whip, came out delicious!

  8. 5 stars
    I used to live in Alabama and I loved the southern style chicken salad. I have missed if and craved it since moving away from the south. I found it again in this recipe! Delicious!

  9. 5 stars
    Just made it today for meal prep and OMG it’s so freaking good!!! Almost said forget the prep and just eat it. I usually don’t follow all the ingredients because I don’t have them or won’t buy them but I’m glad I did! It was super easy to make and follow and I will definitely be making this often from now on.

  10. This Texas lady loved this version of chicken salad! By accident I didn’t have honey mustard so substituted Chick Fil A sauce. Sooooo gooood!

  11. 5 stars
    This is absolutely delicious!! I’m back to make it for a 3rd time!! Huge hit for my entire (very picky), family!

  12. 5 stars
    I know this recipe is old, but I just wanted to drop by to leave a comment that this chicken salad has become a staple in our household! It’s so delicious. I make it with a rotisserie chicken I pick up from the grocery store. It’s great to make the night before a busy day, just pull out of the fridge and assemble for sandwiches.

    1. Hi Sarah, I’m delighted you enjoyed this, it’s my favorite. While I posted this some time ago, it’s an evergreen recipe that we continue to use. Thanks for your kind comment.

      1. I added some dill because I didn’t have pickle relish and used diced dill pickles instead so it kinda seemed to ask for some dill weed. It was a nice addition.

  13. Am making this 4 the 1st time it looks like it’s yummy u love chicken salad i hope it comes out great

  14. I’m with you, I like the boiled eggs & mayo in my salads. Guess I’ll have to go buy a chicken. Thanks!

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