Classic Chicken Salad or Loaded with Mix-Ins? What’s Your Go-To?

[Charlotte Robert]

For those of you who make chicken salad regularly — do you prefer keeping it classic (just chicken, mayo, seasoning), or do you like adding mix-ins like grapes, apples, nuts, or fresh herbs?

I’ve noticed even small additions completely change the texture and flavor balance. Curious what combinations you all swear by — and what you absolutely avoid 👀🥗

[weinoo]

5 hours ago, Charlotte Robert said:

For those of you who make chicken salad regularly — do you prefer keeping it classic (just chicken, mayo, seasoning), or do you like adding mix-ins like grapes, apples, nuts, or fresh herbs?

I’ve noticed even small additions completely change the texture and flavor balance. Curious what combinations you all swear by — and what you absolutely avoid 👀🥗

 

This topic might help a little...

 

 

As might this one:

 

 

[Darienne]

Our take is chicken, mayo, green onions and celery, salt and pepper.  Period.  Oh, I chop the chicken finer than my husband does.

[lindag]

Dried cranberries (re-hydrated).

[BeeZee]

I lean towards curried chicken salad, with some finely chopped green apples, or honey-mustard-mayo with celery for crunch. Chicken being rather bland, I like the dressing to have some punch.

[blue_dolphin]

I have my personal “classic” tuna salad and egg salad, both just like my mom used to make. I rarely make chicken salad but when I do, it’s always something different, no “classic” there.
 

Restaurants in my area commonly offer a range of salads that can be “upgraded” with the addition of sliced, grilled chicken, steak or salmon.  That’s not what comes to my mind when I think of “chicken salad” but I guess they are. 

[Darienne]

1 hour ago, lindag said:

Dried cranberries (re-hydrated).

I'm going to try that next time.