How to Make Chicken Salad

Chicken salad is a versatile dish that can be brought to a summer potluck or served as an elegant main dish at a bridal shower. This guide will teach you the basics of preparing this simple dish!
Chicken Salad Tips
1. Can substitute light mayonnaise or yogurt to reduce fat and calories
2. Make ahead of time to let flavors blend
3. Add fruit or vegetables as desired

What You'll Need for Basic Chicken Salad

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
- The main ingredient in chicken salad is chopped chicken. Consequently, the key to success with chicken salad is ensuring that the chicken you start with is well seasoned and moist.Tom's River Times: Secrets Of Great Chicken Salad (May 7, 2008) Although chicken salad is a great use for leftover chicken, poaching chicken specifically for the salad ensures moist chicken.YumSugar: Monday's Leftovers: Chicken Salad with Cumin Carrot Raita Girl Interrupted Eating: Poaching a Chicken You can also tailor the seasonings in the broth you use to poach the chicken to match the flavors you'll be using in the chicken salad itself.Herald Review: Poaching Chicken Brings Out the Flavor (May 15, 2008)
1. Poach the chicken.
2. Chop chicken into bite-sized pieces.
Step 2: Mix the Dressing
- Feel free to experiment with the dressing, adding fruits, vegetables and seasonings as desired. Start with this basic recipe, then look at the variations below for inspiration!
1. Combine the mayonnaise with the lemon juice in a bowl big enough to hold the completed salad.
2. Add salt and pepper to taste.
3. Add any additional seasonings you're using to "dress up" the salad.
4. Combine well.
5. Add the celery and onion.
6. Refrigerate while the chicken is poaching to allow the flavors to blend.