This Waldorf Chicken Salad is a classic chicken salad recipe that is made with simple ingredients. The grapes add subtle sweetness while the celery and pecan add the perfect crunch.
Looking for another yummy chicken salad to make for lunch? Try this easy healthy BLT chicken salad.
quick
easy cleanup
Quick Look: Waldorf Chicken Salad
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 👩🍳 Cook Time: 20 minutes
- 🕖 Total Time: 30 minutes
- 🍇 Servings: 4 servings
- ⚡️ Calories: 326 calories per serving (based on nutrition panel)
- 🔥 Cooking Method: Boil chicken and then just mix all ingredients together
- 🛒 Main Ingredients: Chicken, grapes, apple, mayo
- ⭐️ Difficulty: Extremely easy! This is a very simple meal prep recipe!
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Maria left this 5 star review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I’ve made this a few times, and it is very easy to make and very yummy!”
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Quick and filling lunch – Chicken salad has become my go-to lunch. It is delicious, easy to make, and so filling
- Meal prep favorite – It takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and then you can enjoy it all week long. I like to have mine in romaine or leaf lettuce boats or on a salad.
- Updated classic – This recipe is a spin on the classic Waldorf salad from the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. I love the crunch of the fresh celery and the sweetness of the fresh fruit. This is a balanced and delicious chicken salad that is perfect for a healthy and simple lunch.
For another healthy and simple chicken salad lunch, try this poppy seed chicken salad.
Ingredients You’ll need
Here’s a quick look at the ingredients you need to make this waldorf chicken salad recipe. For a full list of ingredients and amounts please head to the full recipe.
- Boneless skinless chicken breast – I used chicken breasts for the protein, but you could also use a rotisserie chicken and tear it into bite sized pieces
- Celery – the celery adds the perfect crunch to every bite
- Green apple – I love the tartness of green apple in this salad
- Red grapes – grapes are a staple of the waldorf salad, and they bring some nice sweetness to the recipe
- Pecans – pecans are my favorite for this recipe but you can use any nuts you would like. This added fiber makes the salad even more satiating
- Mayo – you can use storebought or my homemade recipe
- Lemon juice – a bit of citrus adds so much flavor to the dressing
- Salt and pepper – a teaspoon salt and pepper is all you need to make this delicious recipe, but you could also add a little garlic powder
Love the idea of this recipe? Another fun chicken salad variation is this dill pickle chicken salad.
How to make Waldorf Chicken Salad
Step 1: Boil chicken in water. Simmer for 14 minutes and then remove chicken from the pot to cool.
Step 2: While the chicken cooks, chop the celery, apples, pecans and grapes.
Step 3: In a large mixing bowl, combine mayo, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
Step 4: Add the celery, pecans, apples, and grapes to the mixing bowl. Stir to combine the ingredients.
Mad’s Expert Tips for the Best Waldorf Chicken Salad 🍇
- Get creative with the salad – You can mix up this chicken waldorf salad however you would like to make it your own. Crunchy walnuts are delicious in place of pecans. Red onions would be a great addition.
- Make the dressing creamier – To make your dressing even creamier, you could add sour cream or greek yogurt. If you add either, you can also add more tablespoons of lemon juice as needed to taste.
- Make your own mayo for an even fresher taste – Try my homemade recipe for mayo; it is super quick and easy!
Another fun chicken salad you can get creative with is this jalapeño popper chicken salad.
Recipe FAQs
How did Waldorf salad get its name
This recipe is inspired by the classic Waldorf salad from the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York.
What does a Waldorf salad contain?
A classic Waldorf salad consists of apples, celery, nuts, and grapes dressed in mayonnaise.
What nut does a Waldorf salad contain?
Typically, it contains walnuts, but I like to use pecans!
Storage of Waldorf Chicken Salad
Once prepared, store this chicken waldorf salad recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Other Easy Chicken Salad Recipes
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
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Recipe
Waldorf Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup sliced celery
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup chopped green apple
- 1/2 cup quartered red grapes
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts in a sauce pan and cover with cold water
- Place chicken on the stove and bring water to a boil
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the pot
- Simmer for 14 minutes and then remove chicken from the pot to cool
- While the chicken cooks chop the celery, apples, pecans and grapes
- In a large mixing bowl combine mayo, lemon juice, salt, and pepper
- Once the chicken has cooled, cube the chicken and add to the mixing bowl
- Add the celery, pecans, apples, and grapes to the mixing bowl.
- Stir to combine the ingredients until they are fully combined and coated in the mayo mixture
Recipe Notes
- You can mix up this chicken waldorf salad however you would like to make it your own. Crunchy walnuts are delicious in place of pecans. Red onions would be a great addition.
- To make your dressing even creamier, you could add sour cream or greek yogurt. If you add either, you can also add more tablespoons lemon juice as needed to taste.
- Try my homemade recipe for mayo; it is super quick and easy!
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
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