This chicken salad recipe has just 5 simple ingredients and is so tasty, crunchy, and light.It’s so easy and is the perfect salad to have on a bed of lettuce or on a sandwich!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Servings: 4
- Prep Level: Beginner +
What You’ll Love
- Simple Ingredients – Fresh wholesome flavor of shredded chicken, mayo, celery, and seasonings.
- Fast & Easy – Ready in under 20 minutes with a quick meal prep. Ideal for busy weeks, lunch boxes, and no-cook meals.
- Healthier Option – A simple healthy salad that is protein rich and gluten-free.
- Versatile – A delicious cold salad that is a “go to” recipe perfect for summertime picnics and family get togethers.
- Kid-Friendly – Fresh flavors everyone will love!
About Zoe’s Kitchen
Zoe’s Kitchen is a Mediterranean style casual fast food restaurant chain founded in 1995. There are only a few locations still open. Zoe’s menu has a wide variety of healthy recipes which is the unique aspect of this restaurant.
The menu includes various salads including a Greek salad with feta cheese and bell peppers and a delicious quinoa salad.The chicken kabobs, steak kabobs, and shrimp kabobs are family favorites.
Zoe’s Kitchen Chicken salad is one of the best I’ve ever tasted! So, if you have any leftover chicken, toss in some celery, mayonnaise, and a little salt and pepper. It’s a great way to make an easy recipe that I promise your taste buds are going to love!
Ingredient Notes
- Cooked Chicken Breasts – Tender white breast meat is the best. Leftover rotisserie chicken is perfect for this recipe. Canned chicken and leftover baked chicken including dark meat works.
- Mayonnaise – I’m a huge Duke’s Mayo lover! I love it’s tanginess and the fact that it has no sugar in it. I’ve been a fan of it for more than 20 years. However, any good mayonnaise is fine.
- Celery – You want the raw celery to be fresh. It adds so much flavor to this crunchy salad recipe!
- Sea Salt – Adding salt is completely optional. I have a family member that has to watch her sodium intake so I’m usually very light handed when adding salt. If you do choose to add it, use any salt without iodine for the best taste.
- Fresh Ground Pepper – fresh pepper is definitely more flavorful than pre ground pepper. It adds a bit of savor to the salad.
Easy Instructions
- Use two forks and shred the chicken.
- Rinse, dry, peel, and finely chop the celery. (See Top Tip)
- In a large bowl, Mix shredded chicken, celery, mayonnaise, sea salt, and fresh ground black pepper.
- Mix until throughly combined. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Top Tip
Celery strings can be a little tough and chewy sometimes and it is best to remove them. Use a vegetable peeler to lightly peel off the strings.
Variations and How to Serve
- Serve – My favorite sandwich is the rotisserie chicken salad sandwich with Swiss cheese, sliced tomato, lettuce, and thinly sliced onion on sourdough bread. Yummy! You can also serve chicken salad in pita bread or on a bed of lettuce.
- Customize – Zoe’s chicken salad is wickedly good but if you ever want to switch it up a little, do so by adding ingredients like: halved seedless grapes, pecan pieces, dried cranberries, chopped dill pickles, or a bit of fresh dill.
- Southern Salad – Add a chopped hard boiled egg and sweet relish to the chicken salad to create a more southern style recipe.
Storing
Store any leftover chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. To Freeze: Transfer chicken salad to a plastic zipper bag or an air tight container and freeze for up to three months. Allow the chicken salad to come to room temperature before serving.
If you like this tasty dish, check out more delicious recipes!
- How To Make Buffalo Wild Wings Potato Wedges – Kids love these
- Easy Slow Cooker Turnip Greens – Cracker Barrel Style – So easy
- Potato Salad Recipe – City Barbeque Style – Delicious!
The Best Chicken Salad Recipe – Zoe's Kitchen Copycat
This chicken salad recipe has just 5 simple ingredients and is so tasty, crunchy, and light.
It's insanely easy and is the perfect salad to have on a bed of lettuce or on a sandwich.
If you're looking for a “go to” recipe perfect for summertime picnics, family get togethers or a quick meal prep recipe, look no further than this delicious cold salad.Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked chicken breasts – shredded
- 1/2 cup celery – chopped
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt – or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper – or to taste
Instructions
- Use two forks and shred the chicken.
- Rinse, dry, peel, and finely chop the celery. (See Top Tip)
- In a large bowl, Mix shredded chicken, celery, mayonnaise, sea salt, and fresh ground black pepper.
- Mix until throughly combined.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
Helpful Tools
- Large mixing bowl
- Cutting board
- Sharp kitchen knife
- Wooden spoon
- Measuring cup
- Measuring spoon
- 2 forks for shredding the chicken
- Vegetable peeler (See Top Tip)
Top Tip
Celery strings can be a little tough and chewy sometimes and it is best to remove them. Use a vegetable peeler to lightly peel off the strings.
Ingredients
Cooked Chicken Breasts – Tender white breast meat is the best. Leftover rotisserie chicken is perfect for this recipe. Canned chicken and leftover baked chicken including dark meat works.
Mayonnaise – I'm a huge Duke's Mayo lover! I love it's tanginess and the fact that it has no sugar in it. I've been a fan of it for more than 20 years. However, any good mayonnaise is fine.
Celery – You want the raw celery to be fresh. It adds so much flavor to this crunchy salad recipe.
Sea Salt – Adding salt is completely optional. I have a family member that has to watch her sodium intake so I'm usually very light handed when adding salt. If you do choose to add it, any salt without iodine is best to use.
Fresh Ground Pepper – fresh pepper is definitely more flavorful than pre ground pepper. It adds a bit of savor to the salad.
- There are many styles and variations of chicken salad.
- Zoe's chicken salad is wickedly good but if you ever want to switch it up a little, do so by adding ingredients like: halved seedless grapes, pecan pieces, dried cranberries, dill pickles, or a bit of fresh dill.
- Add a chopped hard boiled egg and sweet relish to the chicken salad to create a more southern style recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Make Chicken Salad Ahead?
Yes, you can! Chicken salad can be made one to two days before serving.
What Is The Best Way To Store Chicken Salad?
Store any leftover chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Can You Freeze Chicken Salad?
You can freeze chicken salad in a plastic zipper bag or an air tight container for up to three months.
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