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Chicken Salad with Grapes is creamy, fresh, and filled with sweet grapes, crisp celery, and toasted almonds. It’s the kind of simple recipe that turns leftover chicken into an easy lunch or light dinner that feels fresh, satisfying, and easy to throw together.
This is one of my favorite ways to use cooked chicken when I want something quick that still tastes really good. You can make it with leftover shredded chicken or rotisserie chicken from the store, and if you like to prep chicken ahead for easy meals during the week, Instant Pot Shredded Chicken works really well here too. Once the chicken is ready, the rest comes together with a few simple ingredients and a creamy dressing that brings everything together.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Salad
This is one of those recipes that is easy to keep in your back pocket because it works for so many different days.
- A great way to use cooked chicken: This gives leftover chicken a fresh new use instead of another reheated meal.
- Creamy with a good mix of crunch: The dressing is smooth and simple, while the grapes, celery, and almonds keep each bite interesting.
- Easy to make ahead: You can make it in advance and keep it in the fridge for lunches or quick meals.
- Easy to serve different ways: Spoon it over greens, tuck it into a sandwich, roll it into a wrap, or serve it with crackers.
What You Need to Make It
This chicken salad recipe with grapes uses simple ingredients, but a few small details will help it turn out really well. Check the recipe card for the exact amounts.
- Cooked shredded chicken: Chicken breast like Instant Pot Shredded Chicken, Air Fryer Chicken Breasts and Cast Iron Chicken Breast keeps it a little lighter. Chicken thighs, especially Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs, give it a richer texture. Rotisserie chicken works well too.
- Red seedless grapes: These add sweetness and a fresh bite. Be sure to dry them well after washing so the dressing stays creamy.
- Celery: Celery gives the salad that classic crunch and keeps it from feeling too heavy.
- Toasted almonds: These add a little nuttiness and crunch. Toasting them brings out more flavor.
- Green onion: This adds a little bite without taking over the whole salad.
- Fresh herbs: Chives, parsley, dill, or tarragon all work well if you want to add a little extra freshness.
For the Dressing
- Mayonnaise: This gives the salad its classic creamy texture.
- Sour cream: Adds a little tang and keeps the dressing from tasting too rich.
- Fresh lemon juice: Brightens everything up.
- Sea salt and black pepper: Bring all the flavors together.
- Smoked paprika: Adds a little depth.
- Garlic powder: Gives the dressing a simple savory flavor.
How to Make Chicken Salad with Grapes
This easy chicken salad with grapes comes together quickly since the chicken is already cooked.
Mix the dressing
In a large bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder until smooth.
Add the chicken and mix-ins
Add the shredded chicken, grapes, celery, toasted almonds, green onion, and any herbs you’re using. Stir gently until everything is evenly coated.
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Taste, adjust, and chill
Taste the salad and add a little more salt, pepper, or lemon juice if needed. If you want it creamier, stir in a little more mayo. You can serve it right away, but it gets even better after a little time in the fridge.
Tips for the Best Texture and Flavor
A few small choices can make a big difference here.
- Use the chicken you like best: Chicken thighs stay a little more tender and rich, while chicken breast feels a little lighter.
- Toast the almonds first: It only takes a few minutes, and it gives the salad better flavor and crunch.
- Start with less mayo: You can always add more if the salad needs it.
- Dry the grapes well: Extra water can make the dressing thinner than you want.
- Cut bigger grapes smaller: If your grapes are large, quarter them so the salad is easier to scoop and eat.
Easy Swaps You Can Make
This creamy chicken salad with grapes is easy to adjust based on what you have in the kitchen.
- Swap the nuts: Pecans or walnuts work well instead of almonds.
- Change the herbs: Dill, parsley, chives, or tarragon all give the salad a slightly different flavor.
- Use turkey instead: This is also a great way to use leftover turkey. If you want a similar idea, my Turkey Salad Recipe is a good one to try.
- Lighten the dressing: Replace part of the mayo with plain Greek yogurt or a little more sour cream.
- Change how you serve it: For a lighter option, spoon it into lettuce cups or serve it over greens.
What to Serve with Chicken Salad with Grapes
This can absolutely be lunch all by itself, but it also works well as part of a bigger spread or lunch board. I’d include:
- A simple green salad or bowl of mixed greens
- Crackers, cucumber slices, or celery sticks
- Croissants, sandwich bread, or wraps
- Fresh fruit on the side
- Other chicken salad lunch ideas like Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
- You can also add Easy Tuna Salad as an option for those who want an alternative to chicken.
Questions About Chicken Salad with Grapes
Yes. This is a great make-ahead recipe, and the flavor gets even better after it chills for a bit.
Chicken breast, chicken thighs, and rotisserie chicken all work well. Pick the one you like best or whatever you already have on hand.
Yes. Red grapes are a little sweeter, but green grapes work too.
Make sure the grapes are dry before you add them, and start with just enough dressing to coat everything well.
Yes. You can leave them out or swap in walnuts or pecans. You could also keep it nut-free.
How to Store It
- Store: Keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Serve: This is best served cold. Just give it a quick stir before serving if it has been in the fridge for a while.
Chicken Salad with Grapes
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Ingredients
- 3 cups Shredded Chicken, cooked, breast or thighs
- 1 cup Red Seedless Grapes, pat dry before cutting in half or into quarters
- ⅓ cup celery, thinly sliced
- ½ cup toasted almonds, chopped
- 1 green onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp Fresh herbs, finely chopped (optional: chives, parsley, dill, or tarragon)
Creamy Dressing
- ⅓ cup Mayonnaise, or up to ½ cup for an even creamier finish
- 2 tbsp Lemon Juice, fresh from 1 lemon
- 2 tbsp Sour Cream
- ½ tsp Natural Ancient Sea Salt, or more to taste
- ¼ tsp Black Pepper, or more to taste
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
Optional: For Serving
- Sandwich bread, croissants, brioche buns, or rolls
- Lettuce leaves
Instructions
- Prep the Ingredients: Shred the cooked chicken and place it in a large bowl. Halve or quarter the grapes, slice the celery and green onion, and chop the toasted almonds.
- Add the dressing ingredients to a bowl: In a large bowl, add the mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper, paprika, garlic powder and sour cream to a small bowl
- Whisk until smooth.
- Add the remaining chicken salad ingredients to the dressing: Add grapes, celery, almonds, green onion, and herbs (if using) to the chicken.
- Gently fold until everything is evenly coated.
- Chill (Optional): Cover and refrigerate for 15-30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Assemble the Sandwiches or Lettuce Wraps: Serve the chicken salad on toasted bread, croissants, or buns for an easy chicken salad sandwich. You can also add the mixture to butter lettuce to make lettuce wraps or lettuce cups.
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Recipe Notes
- Use the chicken you like best: Chicken thighs stay a little more tender and rich, while chicken breast feels a little lighter.
- Toast the almonds first: It only takes a few minutes, and it gives the salad better flavor and crunch.
- Start with less mayo: You can always add more if the salad needs it.
- Dry the grapes well: Extra water can make the dressing thinner than you want.
- Cut bigger grapes smaller: If your grapes are large, quarter them so the salad is easier to scoop and eat.
Nutrition Details
The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used.
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