Southern Chicken Salad
Everyone has their own favorite chicken salad recipe, and this southern chicken salad is my favorite. Packed with bright lemon, celery and onion you can whiz it up in the food processor in no time.
Jump to Recipe
- Cook your own chicken breasts or grab a rotisserie if you’re in a hurry but it will have a different flavor if you do.
- Use good mayonnaise (Duke’s) for best results or a homemade version
- Best made 1-2 days in advance for best flavor
- Cannot be frozen
- Use plenty of celery and fresh lemon juice for best flavor. No fake bottled juice.
- Nuts are optional but pecans and walnuts both work well.
Southern Chicken Salad
Southern chicken salad with celery, onions and plenty of zesty lemon make this a great appetizer or main dish choice.
Ingredients
- 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2/3 cup celery
- 1/4 yellow onion
- 1/3 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice no bottled stuff
- 3/4 tsp salt or to taste
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Fill a 2 1/2 quart pot with water and add a little salt to flavor the water. When the water is boiling, add the chicken and cook until tender and no longer pink in the center, about 30 minutes. Remove the chicken and allow it to cool enough to handle.
- In the mean time, add the celery and onion to the food processor and pulse for about 30 seconds until the vegetables are finely chopped. Add them to a bowl and chop the pecans if you didn't buy them already chopped. You can do that by hand or put them in the food processor--just don't chop them too small. You want them to still have some crunch.
- Once the chicken is cool enough to handle but still warm, remove any tough areas from the chicken and break the meat into quarter-size chunks and throw it in the food processor. I do my chicken breasts one at a time because I have a small food processor. If you have a large one, you can do them all at once. Pulse the machine until the meat is finely chopped and no large chunks remain. This usually takes about 20 seconds or so. Add your chicken to the vegetables and pecans.
- Stir in the mayonnaise, salt, pepper and lemon. Taste for seasoning. Wrap the salad in plastic wrap and allow it to sit in the fridge several hours or overnight for the best flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 359kcal
Tried this recipe?Tag us on Instagram @feastandfarm and hashtag it #feastandfarm
I did this for dinner TONITE and it was GREAT!! I used half the mayo and used Cole Slaw dressing for the other half of mayo and added a little relish. Instead of the food processor, I just cut everything up into chunks and mixed it all together and it turned out chunky and delicious!!! Yum yum!!!
Wonderful Sherle!
Nice variation is subbing Asian Sesame salad dressing for some of the mayo and couple squirts of worchesshire.
Love the lemon! It’s my favorite way to brighten things up.
I eat chicken salad several times a week but after a while the same thing can get old so I’m looking forward to trying out your version!
This looks incredible! Can’t wait to try it out 🙂