This chicken salad is surprisingly delicious with a unique flavor combination of sweet red grapes and walnuts. Think of Waldorf salad, but instead of apples, use grapes. And add chicken. Ok, so the only thing this has in common with Waldorf is the walnuts. But you get the idea. It is delicious on a bed of salad greens, or in a sandwich, or on crackers. Use a croissant if you’re not afraid of a heart attack.
Chicken Salad with Red Grapes and Walnuts (serves 8)
Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
- 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp. onion, minced
- 1 small bunch of red grapes, chopped
- 1 handful of walnuts, chopped
- 1 cup of mayonnaise
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
1) If you have the time, to get really juicy chicken breasts, cook on medium low heat in a pot of half chicken broth/half water for 1.5 – 2 hours. Take out of pot and let rest for few minutes, then chop. Or, use cooked leftover chicken chunks. Place chicken cubes in bowl.
2) Trim bottom of 2 washed stalks of celery. Cut thin vertical strips.
3) Finely chop. Add to bowl.
4) Add minced onion to bowl.
5) I’m not being accurate with saying ’1 small bunch of grapes’. But this is how much I used. Chop into quarter slices. Add into bowl.
6) Add walnuts to bowl.
You can see the bottom of my wine glass in this picture. Yes, please drink wine when you make something as simple as chicken salad.
7) Add one cup mayonnaise to salad. I used Hellmann’s made with Canola, it tastes just as good as regular, and about half the calories. Or you can use the mayo of your preference.
8) Squeeze half a lemon into salad. Mix with spoon, and salt/pepper to taste.
9) Serve as a sandwich, on a bed of salad, on crackers, etc. Refrigerate unused portions in airtight container.
Soooooooooooooooo gooooooooooooood. I will never make chicken salad without grapes again.
Your pictures are so great! This salad is a classic good one.
Thank you for the compliment! And I wish I could eat this salad every single day the entire summer.
The grapes make the salad incredible! Thanks for a great recipe.
Your welcome! It IS incredible :)
You know, dried cranberries also work well as an alternative to grapes. Just as tasty and good for you!
Thanks for the tip! I’ve seen alot of variations with dried cranberries too, they add that hint of sweetness to the salad.
Hey I was posting my own chicken salad recipe on my blog. It’s almost the same as yours. I forgot to take a picture of my chicken salad plated so when I searched for images I found your blog. I’m adding a link to your recipe in my post! Yours is very pretty too!
Hi Marie! Don’t you love when that happens? :P Sometimes I zone out and forget to take pictures of important steps. But your recipe looks good too, great minds think alike eh?
Awesome!! Thanks for sharing!!
Delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Oh my gosh! I had never had chicken salad with fruit and nuts before. The thought was…disturbing…at first. But while I was looking up chicken salad recipes, this one popped up so I gave it a look-see. The simplicity of the recipe and the beautiful eye-popping pictures got me thinking that I would try it. Man, am I glad I did! This is DELICIOUS!! I couldn’t stop eating it! I had it for lunch today…and I’m gonna make it again for my husband for dinner. I KNOW he’s gonna love it! I’m adding this recipe to my must haves! Thank you so much for sharing and opening my eyes to something new. :)
I make a very similar chicken salad. I use equal parts mayo and sour cream, a squirt of lemon, and bit of white wine to thin the dressing a bit. If I don’t have walnuts, I use pecans instead. Either red or green grapes are tasty too. You all get the picture. Improvisation in the kitchen is great.
Okay I have had this ridiculous craving for chicken salad ever since the fourth of July. I never eat it nor have I made it until today. I do love to cook and create, and find myself coming to this website for inspiration lately. I’m so glad I did because I just made the best chicken salad ever. I followed this recipe and added my own bit to it. I cooked my chicken breasts in a little Olive Oil, and sprinkled them with dried rosemary, sea salt and black pepper. Let them cool as I chopped grapes, celery, onion. Mixed equal parts of lite mayo and lite sour cream with a dash of lemon juice. The final ingredient that makes this even better? Candied walnuts and just a small handful. This is the best. Thank you for giving me the foundation to build upon!
We’ve been experimenting with canned meats, and I used canned chicken in this recipe. It was very good, and I served on Pillsbury French loaf and added some slices of sharp cheddar. Very good with a tropical fruit salad and some wine.
Thanks for sharing.amazing recipe.
OMG! Amazing! I left out the celery and added garlic powder. Did, half mayo and half a cup of mayo and half a cup of low fat sour cream for less calories!
*half a cup of mayo and half a cup of sour cream
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Chicken salad
I make mine similar…I add apples though. And, my mayo gets mixed with a bit of mustard, sugar & half and half….soooooo yummy!!!!