14 Chicken Salad Recipes to Make for Lunch

Caitlin Bensel
Caitlin Bensel

Creamy, satisfying and packed with protein, what’s a better option for lunch than chicken salad? These recipes transform chicken into tasty sandwiches, wraps or salads like our Marry Me Chicken Salad Sandwich and our Bang Bang Chicken Salad. With these versatile recipes, you’ll never enjoy chicken another way again.

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Marry Me Chicken Salad Sandwich

Photographer: Stacy Allen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Photographer: Stacy Allen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

This Marry Me Chicken Salad Sandwich takes the satisfying combination of creamy, savory and tangy flavors from the original dish and gives it the sandwich treatment. We add a handful of peppery arugula to give a vibrant bite to every mouthful, but you can use baby spinach in its place if you prefer.

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02 of 14

Bang Bang Chicken Salad

Photographer: Stacy K. Allen, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Julia Levy.

Photographer: Stacy K. Allen, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Julia Levy.

This bang bang chicken salad is a delicious dish that combines tender chicken with crisp chopped bell pepper, carrots and scallions. The star of the salad is the creamy, sweet-and-spicy bang bang sauce, made with mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce and a hint of Sriracha for heat. It’s easy to prepare and makes a satisfying lunch, light dinner or appetizer served with crudités and crackers.

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03 of 14

Rotisserie Chicken Salad Melt

Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist Tucker Vines

Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist Tucker Vines

This classic chicken salad melt features a dressing lightened up with yogurt and shredded rotisserie chicken for ultimate convenience. We cook the sandwiches two at a time on medium-low heat to crisp up the bread and melt the cheese without having to worry about burning. If you have a sandwich press, you can skip Step 3 and use your press set on medium heat instead.

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04 of 14

Tangy Chicken Salad with Grapes

Antonis Achilleos
Antonis Achilleos

Sweet red grapes and crunchy celery make this chicken salad sing, and also balance the slight tang from the yogurt and lemon. But go ahead and customize the mix-ins with whatever you desire (perhaps some chopped nuts or dried fruit) because this chicken salad recipe is easily adaptable. We use rotisserie chicken (look for unseasoned to keep sodium in check!) to simplify things, but any leftover cooked chicken will work.

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Avocado Chicken Salad

Caitlin Bensel
Caitlin Bensel

This avocado chicken salad is herbaceous, bright and creamy. The blend of cilantro, dill and chives pairs nicely with fresh avocado. Enjoy this easy chicken salad over lettuce, on crackers or in a wrap.

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06 of 14

Chicken Waldorf Salad

Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Sally McKay, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel

Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Sally McKay, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel

Leftover cooked chicken makes this chicken Waldorf salad, loaded with apples, grapes, celery and walnuts, a snap to assemble. If you use rotisserie chicken, keep in mind that it’s salty and omit the salt in the dressing. Serve over watercress, with a chunk of whole-grain baguette.

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07 of 14

Turmeric Chicken & Avocado Wraps

Heami Lee, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley

Heami Lee, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley

These chicken salad wraps are packed with ingredients that help reduce inflammation. Turmeric, with its bright golden hue, is well-known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, while chickpeas add fiber and plant-based protein. Mix up the chicken salad at the beginning of the week to enjoy in a wrap or serve it over greens if you prefer.

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08 of 14

The Best Chicken Salad Recipe for Sandwiches

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

What’s the key to the best chicken salad? Use punchy, flavorful ingredients that pack in the flavor, like zesty herbs, acidic lemon juice, sharp onion or shallots. This herbaceous chicken salad recipe is perfect sandwiched between two slices of whole-wheat country bread, but don’t stop there! Enjoy it with crackers, in a wrap or serve it on top of greens.

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09 of 14

Creamy Pesto Chicken Salad with Greens

For a healthy variation on creamy chicken salad, we’ve replaced half the mayonnaise with basil pesto. Serve over greens or make it into a sandwich for a healthy lunch.

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Classic Dill Chicken Salad

We lightened up the creamy dressing in this healthy chicken salad recipe with a combo of mayonnaise and plain Greek yogurt. Dill, grapes, celery and walnuts make up this classic chicken salad but feel free to experiment with your favorite fruit, vegetables and herbs. Serve it open-face on toasted bread or scoop it on top of fresh salad greens.

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3-Ingredient Creamy Rotisserie Chicken Salad

Carolyn Hodges
Carolyn Hodges

We put a flavor twist on the classic chicken salad by using a lemon-herb mayonnaise. Try other mayo varieties—like roasted garlic or chipotle lime—in this fast, no-cook lunch recipe. Serve this rotisserie chicken salad with whole-grain crackers.

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Avocado Ranch Chicken Salad

Avocado makes an exceptionally creamy and healthful dressing for this chicken salad. A bit of ranch dressing with pickled jalapeño adds a tangy spin to the lunchtime classic. Serve it on a slice of whole-wheat toast for an open-face sandwich or in a lettuce cup for a low-carb lunch.

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Copycat Arby's Chicken Salad Sandwich

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

This copycat Arby’s chicken salad sandwich is simple to make at home. A creamy dressing coats the chicken, with the signature ingredients of apple, red grapes and chopped pecans adding flavor and crunch.

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Chicken Salad

Photographer: Jason Donnelly

Photographer: Jason Donnelly

This chicken salad recipe combines Greek-style yogurt and mayonnaise for a creamy dressing. Sweet apple, toasty hazelnuts and crunchy celery balance the flavors and texture. Serve on toasted baguette or atop lightly dressed greens.

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Original Source:

https://www.eatingwell.com/chicken-salad-recipes-11886230