Chicken Salad without Celery is creamy, flavorful, and ready in minutes. It makes an easy protein-packed filling for sandwiches, wraps, or a quick lunch.
Why You'll Love This Chicken Salad without Celery Recipe
This chicken salad skips the celery but still has plenty of texture and flavor. Crisp apple adds a fresh crunch, while the creamy dressing brings everything together for an easy lunch or sandwich filling.
- No Celery Needed: Crisp apple adds crunch without the strong flavor of celery.
- Quick and Easy: Use cooked chicken to have it mixed and ready in minutes.
- Easy to Customize: Adjust the apples, seasonings, or add-ins to suit your taste.
Ingredients Overview
Cook up some chicken and dice it up, or use Swanson canned chicken that has been drained. Granny Smith is my favorite, but Honey Crisp apples are great also! I usually make this salad with leftover rotisserie chicken. You can also use leftover grilled chicken to make this homemade chicken salad with.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make This Easy Chicken Salad
Use cooked chicken breast, rotisserie chicken, or canned chicken, then combine it with the dressing and remaining ingredients until evenly mixed. Use the step-by-step visual guide below to see how to prepare and assemble the chicken salad.
Step 1: Chop the chicken into ¾- to 1-inch pieces, dice the apple and red onion, and chop the walnuts into pieces no larger than ¼ inch. Add everything to a large bowl.
Step 2: Mix the chicken salad ingredients with the mayonnaise and apple cider vinegar until well combined and the chicken breaks up slightly, then refrigerate until ready to serve.
Serving Suggestions
This chicken salad can be used in sandwiches or as a salad topped on lettuce. Serve with our Panera Tomato Soup or a salad if not making a sandwich with it. For completely homemade, make our bread machine white bread or bread machine Cheesecake Factory brown bread for a perfect chicken salad sandwich.
Should you prefer this salad with celery, see the Cranberry pecan chicken salad, for a variation famous at a Yorktown Virginia garden center lunch counter.
Substitutions and Variations
Use these simple swaps to change the fruit, nuts, or protein while keeping the chicken salad easy to make.
- Change the Fruit: Replace the chopped apple with halved grapes, raisins, or dried cranberries.
- Use Different Nuts: Substitute almonds or pecans for the walnuts.
- Use Leftover Turkey: Swap the chicken for cooked turkey after a holiday meal.
- Change the Mustard: Dijon adds the strongest flavor, but yellow, whole-grain, or another favorite mustard will also work.
Tips for Success
Use these tips for a creamy chicken salad with balanced flavor and plenty of texture.
- Use Rotisserie Chicken: It saves time and adds tender, flavorful chicken without extra cooking.
- Chop the Apple Evenly: Small, uniform pieces add crunch without overpowering each bite.
- Chill Before Serving: Refrigerate the chicken salad briefly so the flavors have time to blend.
Storage Options
Keep the chicken salad well chilled so it stays fresh and safe to serve.
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Keep It Cold: Return the chicken salad to the refrigerator promptly after serving.
- Do Not Freeze: The mayonnaise may separate after thawing and leave the salad watery.
Related Recipes
- Copycat Chick Fil A Sauce
- Walmart Broccoli Salad
- Panera's Chicken Noodle Soup
- Bread Machine Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread
Frequently Asked Questions
No, this chicken salad recipe uses mayonnaise, and does not freeze well. Freezing causes it to break and get watery. It will change the salad and make it unappetizing.
Yes, you can use cooled chicken of any type, leftover chicken, even shredded chicken for this easy chicken recipe. Make your life easy and use what you have for this chicken salad. Using leftover chicken lets you make this easy salad, without having to cook the chicken, in just minutes.
Soup Recipes
Get The Recipe!
Chicken Salad Sandwich Without Celery
Ingredients
- 16 oz chicken Cooked chicken, leftover or freshly cooked
- ¼ cup red onion chopped
- 1 large apple any variety
- ¼ cup walnuts chopped
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard or any kind
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅔ cup mayonnaise not Miracle Whip
- lettuce for sandwich garnish
- bread slices of choice
Instructions
- Chop the chicken, red onion, walnuts, and apple. Place them in a large mixing bowl.16 oz chicken, ¼ cup red onion, 1 large apple, ¼ cup walnuts
- Add the apple cider vinegar, pepper, mustard, and mayonnaise. Mix well, letting the chicken break up with the mixing.2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ⅔ cup mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Serve on bread or on a bed of lettuce. Refrigerate leftovers.lettuce
Notes
- Best Tip Ever: Buy a rotisserie chicken and use the breast meat for this chicken salad!
- Use leftover Thanksgiving or Christmas Turkey and make this salad! Spread leftover cranberry sauce on the bread then make a Turkey Salad version of this recipe!
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