When I was a kid, my grandma would make this homestyle chicken salad that was not only amazingly tasty but super easy. So, of course when I need an easy and yummy lunch I can rely on, of course I turn to her recipe.
Made with fresh chicken and a fun twist you might not expect, this chicken salad is just reliably tasty–and sometimes that’s the best thing you can ask for.
Oh, you need to know this surprise element? Yeah–you need to know it.
It’s pecans. Or apples. That grandma was a crazy one sometimes.
But primarily, it’s chopped pecans. You won’t believe the subtle flavor change that hands down to your chicken salad–this smokey soft vibe that you can really dig. And a tiny bit of texture that’s really unique.
And if you go the way of the apple? It’s a whole new dish, all crisp and crunchy with a burst of wow.
What You Need To Make Homestyle Chicken Salad
This is one of the first recipes I learned to make as a child. So, if you can follow some basic cooking instructions, you can make some homestyle chicken salad just like grandma used to make. Here’s what you need:
- 2 Whole Chicken Breasts
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup Chopped Celery
- 1/8 cup Chopped Pecans (or Chopped Apple)
- 1/2 cup Chopped Pickles
- 1 cup Cubed Cheese
- 1/4 cup Chopped Chives
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Celery Seed
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 4 cups Water (to boil the chicken in)
How to Make This Homestyle Chicken Salad
Step 1
Add chicken and water to a medium sized pot over high heat. Bring to a boil and cook at a simmer for 10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked all the way through.
Remove chicken from the stove and drain off the broth.
Using a fork and knife, or (which is my favorite way to shred chicken) grab your hand mixer and shred your chicken with it.
Step 2
Combine shredded chicken, celery and seasoning.
Step 3
Add in chives.
Step 4
Add pecans or apples–whichever you choose. My grandmother even used to add sliced grapes on occasion.
Step 5
Add mayonnaise, seasoning and stir to combine.
I like to serve with crackers or on a sandwich–although it’s great all by itself on a fork with a pickle for a side!
More Easy Chicken Recipes You’ll Love
If you love this easy chicken recipe, but you’re not quite ready to bust out your cutting board, just pin this to your favorite easy lunch recipes board on Pinterest so you can find it quick later!
Homestyle Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 2 Whole Chicken Breasts
- ½ cup Mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Chopped Celery
- ⅛ cup Chopped Pecans, or Chopped Apple
- ½ cup Chopped Pickles
- 1 cup Cubed Cheese
- ¼ cup Chopped Chives
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Celery Seed
- ½ tsp Black Pepper
- 4 cups Water, to boil the chicken in
Instructions
- Add chicken and water to a medium sized pot over high heat. Bring to a boil and cook at a simmer for 10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked all the way through.
- Remove chicken from the stove and drain off the broth.
- Using a fork and knife, or (which is my favorite way to shred chicken) grab your hand mixer and shred your chicken with it.
- Combine shredded chicken, celery, chives, pecans and seasoning.
- Add mayonnaise, seasoning and stir to combine.