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This chicken salad sandwich recipe is my go-to for when I’m hosting a luncheon or shower. Tender chicken, grapes, celery, nuts, and mayonnaise come together beautifully for the perfect combination.
Featured with this recipe
- Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe Ingredients
- Methods for Preparing the Chicken
- Cooking Shredded Chicken in the Instant Pot
- Tips for Shredding Chicken:
- Variations for the Chicken Salad Sandwich
- What to Serve with Chicken Salad Sandwiches
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Storing Leftovers for Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe
- More Yummy Sandwich Recipes
- How to Make a Chicken Salad Sandwich
- Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe Recipe
These chicken salad sandwiches are always the star of the show when I am hosting a luncheon or a baby or bridal shower. The sweet, slightly savory sauce is mixed with tender chunks of chicken, sliced grapes, and cashews and is perfect served on croissants or rolls.
This delicious chicken mixture can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge until party time. I’ve also made these to take along on picnics, lake trips, and family reunions. It’s easy to make, looks beautiful, and tastes absolutely delicious.
Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe Ingredients
This chicken salad sandwich is always a go-to for making during large crowds for celebrations! We love how light and tasty it is and a perfect grab-and-go type of luncheon while enjoying each other company! The ingredients are fresh and delicious in every bite!
- Chicken – Cook and shred or cut up the chicken ahead of time. Smaller bite-sized pieces are best for chewy and taking a bite into with the sandwich.
- Mayonnaise – This is the creamy base that is stirred into the chicken salad. It is best to use mayonnaise and not the salad dressing type.
- Seasoning – Garlic powder and onion powder add in an onion and garlic flavor combination!
- Grapes – Wash your grapes and slice them in half or quarters to mix together. We used red grapes since they are sweeter than green grapes. Try to find large grapes for this ingredient.
- Cashews – Chopped cashews will give it a crunchy texture in every bite.
- Celery – Chop the celery into small, tiny pieces. Just enough to have a sweet, watery flavor but also very subtle.
- Green leaf lettuce – Assemble the chicken salad sandwich with a large leafy lettuce piece for a refreshing bite!
- Bread – Croissants, pita pockets, tortilla wraps, sliced bread, or rolls are all great types of sandwich bread for this chicken salad sandwich recipe.
Methods for Preparing the Chicken
There are a couple of easy methods to get perfectly cooked shredded chicken. Choose between a slow cooker, and stovetop, or purchasing chicken to make it easier. All these options make the best chicken salad recipe!
- Slow cooker – The one I like the best is using a slow cooker. When I need cooked chicken for a recipe, I place the chicken breasts in a slow cooker on high for 2 ½ to 3 hours with about a ½ cup of chicken broth per 3 chicken breasts. Sometimes I add seasonings depending on what type of recipe I am preparing. After it is no longer pink, I remove the chicken and shred it.
- Stovetop – Another method is to boil the chicken on the stovetop. Place the chicken in a saucepan and cover the chicken with water. Bring to a boil and then simmer until the chicken is no longer pink about 15-20 minutes. Remove the chicken from the water and allow to cool, then shred the meat with two forks.
- Storebought – If I’m really pressed for time, I use the Kirkland Signature brand canned chicken from Costco or I buy a rotisserie chicken and remove the meat from the chicken and shred it. All of these methods work well for the chicken salad filling.
Cooking Shredded Chicken in the Instant Pot
My favorite way to make shredded chicken is in the Instant Pot which is also known as a pressure cooker. I love it because it is fast, it cooks evenly, and the chicken comes out perfectly shreddable every time. I also love that you can cook the chicken from frozen (which is not recommended in a slow cooker). Shredded chicken in the Instant Pot couldn’t be easier! Follow these simple steps to make instant pot shredded chicken.
- Place chicken in the Instant Pot.
- Add water, seasonings, and a little butter (butter is optional but highly recommended).
- Seal and cook on high pressure for 20 minutes (30 minutes if cooking from frozen) then quick release.
- Remove chicken and shred.
Tips for Shredding Chicken:
There are many different ways to shred chicken but my favorite is to use a mixer. You can use a hand mixer or stand mixer. Just put the chicken in a mixing bowl and mix on low until the chicken is completely shredded.
Variations for the Chicken Salad Sandwich
This easy chicken salad recipe is a quick lunch or light dinner that is simple to make and tastes delicious! The flavor is incredible from a sweet, crunchy bite, to a savory and delicious flavor. Your tastebuds will be thanking you!
- Chicken – Since the chicken needs to be made ahead of time. This is a great way to use up leftover cooked chicken. If you need to make it ahead of time try using one of our favorite methods with the instant pot, or stovetop, or if you are out of time use a canned or rotisserie chicken.
- Grapes – We used red grapes, you are welcome to do a mixture of green and red grapes or only green grapes.
- Apple – We don’t have apples on the ingredient list but add a chopped apple instead of grapes for a different variation of chicken salad sandwich. It will also give a slightly different crunch!
- Nuts – Add an extra flavorful crunch with pecans, almonds, or walnuts in the chicken salad mixture. Make sure the nuts are chopped though. You can either chop them yourself or buy a bag of chopped nuts.
- Mayonnaise – If you don’t have mayonnaise try using sour cream or non-fat Greek yogurt. Both of these are great substitutes as well as give the thickness and flavor the chicken salad needs.
- Onion – Add a pretty red onion to the chicken salad sandwich! Either dice it into small pieces and add to the chicken salad mixture or slice it to assemble on the sandwich.
- Fruit – Try it with other types of fruit in the chicken salad mix! Dried cranberries are delicious as well as
- Low carb – Make it a low-carb option with lettuce wraps for the chicken salad.
“This chicken salad is delicious! It’s so easy to make and my kids loved it! Thanks!”
-Sophie
What to Serve with Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Chicken salad sandwiches are the perfect picnic sandwich and they pair well with so many different kinds of side dishes. Here are some of our favorites:
Frequently Asked Questions
This makes 6 to 8 sandwiches if using regular-size croissants, sliced bread, or wraps. If using mini croissants or dinner rolls, this recipe will make approximately 12 sandwiches.
Yes, but you have to make some modifications. You can mix the chicken, mayo, and spices together beforehand. You can also cut the celery and grapes beforehand. Right before you serve, mix the grapes, celery, and cashews into the chicken. Store everything in an airtight container.
Instead of using mayo, you can use Greek yogurt. You might need to add a little more salt and pepper to make up for the flavor, but the consistency is a good match.
Serve this chicken salad recipe on croissants, rolls, or bread slices. You can also use tortillas to make a wrap, pita pockets, or just plain over a bed of lettuce. If you want to make it a meal, I like to serve it with a side of fruit or potato chips.
Storing Leftovers for Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe
Place the chicken salad mixture into the refrigerator in an airtight container for two to three days. When ready to make a sandwich or enjoy the chicken salad, stir it before using. Then add the leftover chicken salad to a type of bread of your choice or butter lettuce for a lettuce wrap.
More Yummy Sandwich Recipes
How to Make a Chicken Salad Sandwich
Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups chicken cooked and shredded
- ⅔ cup mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup grapes cut in half
- ½ cup cashews
- ½ cup celery chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
- Green leaf lettuce
- Bread of your choice – croissants pita pockets, tortilla wraps, sliced bread, rolls
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a large bowl.
- Stir until combined.
- Spoon the chicken salad mixture onto croissants or bread of your choice and add a lettuce leaf.
Delicious , many requests for the recipe
This chicken salad is delicious! It’s so easy to make and my kids loved it! Thanks!
My kids love chicken salad and this got high marks from them.
You can also shred chicken in a KitchenAid mixer. After the boiling method, put the still hot chicken breasts in the bowl with the regular mixer and turn it on. Works great!
I too, use the Costco canned chicken. I’m all about easy breezy! I do make sliced sugared almonds and put those on top of my chicken mixture. So yum!
That’s a great idea – I’ll have to try it with sugared almonds next time. Thanks!
When I make chicken salad I’ve always put in pecans, but cashews may be a welcome change! Thanks for different ideas!
Great idea with the pecans! yum!