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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Chicken

    Five Star Chicken Salad with Grapes

    Published: Mar 15, 2023 by Susie Weinrich · This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

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    Chicken Salad with Grapes is a classic dish that combines the savory flavors of cooked chicken with the sweetness of fresh grapes, the crunch of toasted pecans, and the freshness of dill. This Chicken Salad Recipe can be served as a light meal on its own, as a sandwich on bread or a croissants, on top of a lettuce salad, or just scooped up with buttery Ritz crackers.

    chicken salad sandwich with lettuce and thick cut tomatoes

    Use a rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken to make quick work of putting this recipe together. Or if I make a whole roasted chicken or two on the weekend, I will make this chicken salad recipe with the leftovers!

    Table of Contents hide
    1 Ingredients
    2 Ingredient & Recipe Tips
    3 Cooked Chicken – Shred or Chop
    4 Toasting Nuts
    5 How To Make Chicken Salad with Grapes
    6 Storing
    7 Serving Options
    8 Side Dish Ideas for Chicken Salad
    9 How Much Per Person
    10 More Salad Sandwiches
    11 Did you make this recipe?!
    12 Chicken Salad Recipe with Grapes

    Ingredients

    This will be the best Chicken Salad Recipe with Grapes you have ever had! The sauce is a perfect balance of salty, sweet, creamy and herby. It is all mixed with the perfect amount of sauce to coat the chicken and grapes.

    Pictured are the ingredients you need to put together your chicken salad.

    Ingredients to make chicken salad with grapes on a table
    Ingredients Clockwise: Cooked chicken, lemon, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, pepper, sugar, celery, mayo, sour cream, green onions, pecans, red grapes.

    Ingredient & Recipe Tips

    Remember these tips when you are gathering all your ingredients to make this Chicken Salad with Grapes Recipe

    1. Buy seedless red grapes that are firm to the touch. You do not want to be chomping down on grape seeds while you are eating your chicken salad! Red grapes can tend to be sweeter than green grapes, but either will work.
    2. Use the white and light green part of the green onion. That is the part that has the most flavor. The dark green part is more of a garnish.
    3. Don’t skip the lemon or sugar. Adding these two ingredients balances the sauce flavors perfectly. I always say “if you feel like your dish is missing something, it’s probably acid (citrus, vinegar, etc…)”.
    4. Buy Fresh Dill. The fresh dill adds a bright note to the dish that dried herbs just can’t do.
    5. Toast your nuts. This is what takes chewy nuts to crispy and flavorful. There are complete instructions for toasting nuts below and in the recipe card.

    Cooked Chicken – Shred or Chop

    You will need cooked chicken to make this dish. There are a few ways to get cooked chicken:

    • Easiest – buy a rotisserie chicken and use both breasts and maybe 1 thigh.
    • Moderate – poach chicken breasts, you’ll probably need about 3 to equal four cups.
    • Moderate – bake a couple chicken breasts in a 350 degree oven, on a rimmed baking sheet, drizzled with olive oil and salt/pepper, for about 25 minutes.
    • Moderate + – make a rotisserie or whole chicken in the instant pot.
    • Hardest – bake a whole roasted chicken.

    You can shred or chop the chicken for your salad.

    If you choose to chop your chicken I recommend chopping it pretty fine into small bite sized pieces, like the size of a blueberry.

    If you shred your chicken the very best way is to put your warm chicken in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment and run it for about 20 seconds. Shreds perfectly!

    Toasting Nuts

    The recipe calls for toasted pecans but you can certainly swap in walnuts or cashews.

    To properly toast nuts you place them in a dry pan (no oil), over medium low heat for about 3-4 minutes, shaking the pan once in a while so they don’t burn. You will know they are done once they start darkening in color and you can distinctly smell the nuttiness.

    How To Make Chicken Salad with Grapes

    This is a pretty simple recipe. You will start by making the dressing and then add the chicken and fruit/veggies.

    In a large mixing bowl combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, onion powder, garlic powder, sugar, salt, pepper and fresh dill. Whisk the dressing ingredients until thoroughly combined.

    creamy homemade dressing for chicken salad

    Then add the diced chicken, celery, green onions, grapes and toasted pecans to the
    dressing mixture and toss gently to combine.

    mixing chicken salad with grapes in a bowl

    Taste and adjust seasonings if desired. Serve right away or pop fridge for up to 4 days.

    Storing

    Just like a really good chili, this Chicken Salad Recipe with Grapes gets better with a little time, , which makes it great for meal prep! Make it a day ahead and store in the fridge overnight.

    If you have leftovers you can keep it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

    Serving Options

    There are so many ways you can enjoy chicken salad. Here are some ideas to get you started:

    Chicken Salad Sandwiches: Use this homemade chicken salad as a filling for sandwiches. Spread the salad between two slices of bread or buttery croissant. Add lettuce, tomato, and cucumber for extra freshness.

    Salad: Serve scooped on top of a bed of lettuce or mixed greens that are lightly dressed with a vinaigrette. (we love the House Vinaigrette at Aldi!)

    chicken salad on top of a bed of lettuce and mixed greens

    Lettuce wraps: Use large lettuce leaves, such as romaine or butter lettuce, as wraps for the chicken salad with grapes. Top the leaves with the salad, and roll them up like a burrito.

    Snack: Afternoon snack time- scoop a little chicken salad onto a cracker or cucumber round.

    Stuffed avocado or tomato: Cut an avocado in half and remove the pit or cut the top off a pepper and scoop our the seeds. Scoop the chicken salad with grapes into the avocado halves or peppers for a healthy and filling meal.

    Side Dish Ideas for Chicken Salad

    This recipe pairs well with a variety of side dishes. Here are some ideas to help you create a well-rounded meal:

    1. Fresh fruit: Serve a plate of sliced fresh fruit, such as watermelon, cantaloupe, or pineapple.
    2. Grilled vegetables: Grill some zucchini, bell peppers, or eggplant and serve them as a side dish. The smoky flavor of the grilled veggies will complement the sweetness of the grapes.
    3. Pasta salad: Toss together a simple pasta salad, the acidity of the dressing will balance out the creaminess of the chicken salad.
    4. Corn on the cob: Grill, boil or Instant Pot some fresh corn on the cob and serve it with a dollop of butter or a sprinkle of salt.
    5. Green salad: Serve a side salad of mixed greens with a simple vinaigrette dressing.
    6. Chips: Serve some sweet potato chips, kettle chips, or pita chips. This is a quick and easy side dish that will add some crunch to the meal.

    How Much Per Person

    Depending on how you are serving this chicken salad (dinner or snack) you will want to plan about 4-6 ounces per person. Since the recipe calls for 4 cups of chicken it should serve about 8 people.

    More Salad Sandwiches

    • Easy Egg Salad Recipe
    • Baked Artichoke Chicken Salad

    Susie Weinrich washing produce

    Did you make this recipe?!

    If you make this recipe I would love to hear your review. Pop down to the comment section and connect with me.

    Then sign up for our Weekly Newsletter so you never miss a new recipe!

    Rate This Recipe
    chicken salad with grapes on a croissant with lettuce and tomato

    Chicken Salad Recipe with Grapes

    A perfect chicken salad recipe with grapes and pecans, mixed with a creamy dressing that has dill, celery and green onions. Serve it on top of a bed of lettuce, on a sandwich or just as a snack.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved to Grow
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 0 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 8 sandwiches
    Calories: 320kcal
    Author: Susie Weinrich

    Ingredients

    • 4 cups cooked chicken breast diced or shredded -I like to use a rotisserie chicken
    • ½ cup mayonnaise
    • ½ cup sour cream
    • 2 Tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice
    • 1 tsp. onion powder
    • ½ tsp. garlic powder
    • 2 tsp. sugar
    • ¾ tsp. kosher salt
    • ½ tsp. black pepper
    • 1 Tbsp. (heaping) fresh chopped dill chopped
    • 3 stalks celery finely diced
    • 4 green onions/scallions sliced (use both the white and light green parts)
    • 2 cups red grapes halved or quartered if they are large
    • ½ cup toasted chopped pecans – see notes for toasting instructions
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    Instructions

    • Start by mixing the sauce in a large bowl. Combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, onion powder, garlic powder, sugar, salt, pepper and fresh dill.
      ½ cup mayonnaise, ½ cup sour cream, 2 Tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice, 1 tsp. onion powder, ½ tsp. garlic powder, 2 tsp. sugar, ¾ tsp. kosher salt, ½ tsp. black pepper, 1 Tbsp. (heaping) fresh chopped dill
    • Whisk the dressing ingredients until thoroughly combined.
    • To the sauce add the diced chicken, celery, green onions, grapes and toasted pecans and toss gently to combine.
      4 cups cooked chicken breast, 3 stalks celery, 4 green onions/scallions, 2 cups red grapes, ½ cup toasted chopped pecans
    • Taste and adjust seasonings if desired.

    Serving

    • You can serve the chicken salad immediately or chill in the refrigerator for a few hours.
    • Ways to serve chicken salad with grapes:
      Chicken Salad Sandwiches with lettuce and tomato on bread or croissant
      Salad
      Lettuce wraps or sandwich wraps
      Stuffed in an avocado, bell pepper or tomato
      Snack: scoop a little chicken salad onto a cracker or cucumber round.

    Storing

    • Keep any leftover chicken salad in the fridge, in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

    Notes:

    Toasting Nuts:
    Place your pecans in a dry skillet (no oil), over medium low heat. Let them roast for about 3-4 minutes, tossing them occasionally. This will make them flavorful and crispy. You will know they are toasted when they start to darken in color and smell very nutty. But, keep an eye on the pan so they don’t burn!
     
    Cooked Chicken Options:
    Store Bought Rotisserie Chicken (preferred method)
    Poached Chicken
    Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken
    All Purpose Instant Pot Chicken
    Baked Chicken Breasts (3) – Drizzle the chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle on salt and pepper. Bake on a rimmed baking sheet at 350 for about 25 minutes until the internal temp reaches 165°.
    PRO TIP for shredding chicken: if you choose to shred your chicken you can do it easily in your stand mixer. Place the WARM chicken breasts in the stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Run the mixer for about 20 seconds and watch it shred your chicken perfectly!
    Did you try this recipe? Connect with me & let me know how it turned out by commenting below!
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    Serving: 1serving (½ cup) | Calories: 320kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 329mg | Potassium: 349mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 353IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 1mg

    If nutrition facts are provided they are calculated as an estimate to the best of our knowledge.

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    About Susie Weinrich

    Susie Weinrich is the recipe developer, food photographer, and content creator behind Mom's Dinner. She has over 20 years experience in the food industry. Currently, Susie shares all her recipes and food knowledge on Mom's Dinner. You will find her recipes are easy to follow and full of tips and tricks to make sure the recipe you are making turns out perfect!

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