Southern Style Chicken Salad
Southern Style Chicken Salad is a creamy, comforting classic made with tender chicken, hard-boiled eggs, crisp celery, sweet pickle relish, and a tangy mayonnaise dressing. It is perfect for sandwiches, croissants, crackers, lettuce cups, and easy meal prep.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 6 servings
- Category: Lunch
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Southern American
- Diet: Low Calorie
Ingredients
- Cooked chicken, shredded or finely chopped
- Hard-boiled eggs, chopped
- Celery, finely diced
- Sweet pickle relish
- Mayonnaise
- Yellow mustard
- Onion, finely diced
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Paprika, optional
Instructions
- Place the cooked, cooled chicken in a large mixing bowl and shred or chop it to the desired texture.
- Add the chopped hard-boiled eggs, diced celery, onion, and sweet pickle relish to the chicken.
- In a separate small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, yellow mustard, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Stir until smooth.
- Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and gently stir until all the ingredients are evenly coated.
- Taste and adjust the salt, pepper, mustard, or relish as desired. Sprinkle with optional paprika if using.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
- Serve chilled on sandwich bread, croissants, crackers, lettuce leaves, or alongside fresh vegetables.
Notes
- Use completely cooled cooked chicken for the best texture. Leftover or rotisserie chicken works well.
- For a sweeter variation, add halved seedless grapes or additional sweet pickle relish.
- For extra crunch, add chopped pecans, toasted almonds, or additional celery.
- For more tang, add extra yellow mustard or a small splash of pickle juice.
- For a lighter version, replace part of the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt.
- For a spicy variation, add cayenne pepper, hot sauce, or finely diced jalapeño.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use within 3 to 4 days.
- Keep the chicken salad properly chilled when serving at picnics, potlucks, or outdoor gatherings.
- Freezing is not recommended because the mayonnaise dressing may separate and the celery can lose its crisp texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 145 mg
Find it online: https://thefamilycooking.com/southern-style-chicken-salad/
