A chicken salad sandwich is a delicious treat that you can customize with any number of flavors. The benefits to making your own chicken salad are that it's very simple, tastes very fresh and you can control the ingredients that go in. Unlike the chicken salad you buy in the store, this one has only all natural ingredients. Chicken salad is perfect for a lunch time treat or with some crackers at a buffet.
Chicken salad as we know it in the U.S. originally became popular in the 1950s. It's usually made with leftover or canned chicken and usually also some chopped fruits and vegetables. Everything is served together as a creamy spread that's held together with a fat-based binder, like mayonnaise or salad dressing.
What Ingredients Do I Need?
You can start with this base and then dress it up however you want:
- 2 cups cold, cooked shredded chicken. You can cook your own at home, use leftover chicken, buy a rotisserie chicken or even use canned chicken breast.
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 cup chopped green onion
- 3/4 mayonnaise
- salt and pepper to taste
Simply combine all the ingredients together and mix well!
Now you can to customize your chicken salad to suit your cravings however you like:
- Cut grapes in half and toss them in for some sweetness and a little extra crunch
- Add chopped hard boiled eggs for extra protein
- Dried cranberries can add a little zing
- Herbs like tarragon and oregano add lots of unique flavor and little calories
- A pinch of curry powder can make it spicy and exotic
- Diced bell peppers (any color) add crunch and freshness
Those are only a faction of the things you can do to upgrade your chicken salad. The possibilities are limitless...whatever you are craving or happen to have in the fridge you can just chop it up into little bite size pieces and throw it in. It's a perfect way to sneak in some of that produce hangin' out in your fridge if you don't know what to do with it.
How Should I Eat It?
Definitely the most popular way to consume your chicken salad is in a sandwich. This kind of sandwich can be good on any kind of bread from simple white or wheat toast to a buttery croissant. If you have some crackers on hand you'll find yourself snacking on crackers and chicken salad, which can be especially tempting if you're watching some TV. Another great way to enjoy your chicken salad is by eating it with...more salad! You can make your favorite salad a complete meal by adding a scoop on chicken salad on top. If you'd like to serve your chicken salad at a buffet or for a group try serving it on a bed of lettuce leaves or in a hollowed out tomato or bell pepper.