One of my favorite summer splurge lunches is this chicken salad! Full of crisp vegetables, crunchy almonds, sweet cherries, and fresh dill, it is such a treat! We love to eat it on croissants or on crackers. It would be great on your favorite bread or roll, or even served on a bed of lettuce. The creamy sauce is perfect and makes this a lunch that you will dream about!
Crunchy Chicken Salad
Serves 8
4 cups shredded cooked chicken
3/4 cup diced celery
1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/2 cup dried cherries or cranberries
1/2 cup quartered red seedless grapes
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
1-2 tablespoons coarse grain mustard
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/3 cup fresh dill, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
In a large bowl, combine chicken, celery, onions, cherries, grapes, and almonds. Combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Pour dressing over chicken and toss until coated. Serve with your favorite rolls, crackers, or on a bed of lettuce.
Step-by-step tutorial:
Gather your ingredients. You will need shredded chicken (I cooked 2 large chicken breasts in my instant pot, then shredded with two forks), celery, green onions, dried cherries or cranberries, red seedless grapes (this is optional, but very good.... I didn't add them this time), sliced almonds, mayonnaise, course grain mustard, lemon juice, and fresh dill.
Chop the green onions, celery, and dill.
In a large bowl, combine shredded chicken, celery, green onions, cherries, and almonds. Stir together to combine. Season with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and stir until smooth.
Pour the dressing over the chicken and toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving.
This chicken salad not only tastes amazing, but is loaded with all sorts of crunch that makes it fun to eat!
The crunch of the almonds and celery plus the sweetness of the cherries and grapes are phenomenal. The lemon juice and fresh dill really add the final touch that will make this chicken salad your favorite!
Recipe Source: Recipe from a dear friend and amazing cook, Christy Hinckley