Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe

What's your favorite chicken salad sandwich recipe? No doubt you have a recipe that you've always made or one that is an old family favorite. One handed down from you mother or even one your grandmother used to make.

To me, those are the best kind, but it doesn't hurt to make an old favorite even better. You can add to the recipe or even substitute ingredients for a totally different taste! There are probably just as many variations of chicken salad as there are people who make them.

Our favorite, is an adaptation of another standby, tuna fish salad. It's similar because at first we just changed the tuna to chicken and were pretty happy with the taste. Then we started experimenting, mostly from hearing about others additions and wanting to be adventurous.

A new addition

Have you ever added apples to your chicken salad sandwich recipe? Well believe it's delicious. If you haven't tried it yet, it's definitely worth it. I have to admit I was a little skeptical at first. So I just took a teaspoon of salad and added a couple chopped apples.

I was hooked, and my family loved it, too! The apples added just the right amount of sweetness (or tartness if you use granny smiths). It just goes to show you that what sounds a little odd or different ma be just the thing to make an old family favorite into a new one.

Our recipe started with left-over chicken, slightly chopped. We like ours chunky, but you can chop it as fine as you like (especially if using it for tea sandwiches).

Then we added just a few other ingredients – onion powder, basil, and mayonnaise. Last we added chopped apples, I think we had gala or delicious on hand. I like mine served on 100% whole wheat bread, slightly toasted. English muffins, kaiser rolls, or pita pockets would work just as well.

Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe

Here's our basic chicken salad sandwich recipe. We're sort of a throw together family, so ingredients are based on our tastes. You can add what you like and leave off the rest and adjust the ingredients and seasonings depending on you and your family's taste.

• 1 chicken breast, cooked and chopped (or leftover chicken to make 1 ½ cups)
• ½ teaspoon of each – onion powder, garlic powder, and basil
• 1 T minced onions
• 1 T minced celery (our daughter is allergic to celery so this is optional for us)
• ¼ c chopped apple
• 2 T pickle relish
• 1-2 T mustard
• ¼ to ½ c mayonnaise or salad dressing (we use mayonnaise most of the time which is why we like the sweetness of the relish and apple)

Mix all ingredients together. Chill if desired. Serve on whatever type of bread or rolls you like. We like something with a little bite to it for salad type sandwiches. If the bread is too soft, it tends to soak up the moisture and fall apart. If it's too hard, your ingredients tend to squish out the sides when you're trying to take a bite.

But it's up to you. The bread is as much a part of the experience as the filling itself. So don't be afraid to experiment. I think most sandwich enthusiasts are experimenters by nature, so go for it!

Chicken salad sandwich recipes can even be gourmet style. If you'd like something a little more fancy, try one of the following two recipes. They are sure to tantalize your taste buds.

Apple Walnut Chicken Salad Sandwich

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken (rotisserie works great!)
• ½ cup diced apple (Granny Smith recommended)
• ¼ cup chopped walnuts, toasted
• 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
• ⅓ cup mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 4 slices of sourdough bread
• 2 lettuce leaves

Instructions:

1. Toast the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Set aside to cool.
2. In a bowl, combine shredded chicken, diced apple, toasted walnuts, dried cranberries, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly.
3. Toast the sourdough bread to your liking.
4. Layer a lettuce leaf on one slice of bread, scoop generous portions of chicken salad on top, then cover with another slice of bread.
5. Slice in half and serve immediately for a crunchy, sweet, and savory treat!

Curried Mango Chicken Salad Wrap

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked, diced chicken
• 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• ½ teaspoon honey
• ¼ cup diced fresh mango
• 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
• ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
• 2 large whole wheat tortillas
• 2 cups mixed greens

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, curry powder, and honey until smooth.
2. Add diced chicken, mango, cilantro, and red onion to the bowl. Mix until the chicken is evenly coated.
3. Lay a tortilla flat and add 1 cup of mixed greens in the center. Spoon half of the chicken salad mixture over the greens.
4. Roll up the tortilla tightly, folding in the edges as you go to form a wrap. Repeat with the second tortilla and remaining chicken salad.
5. Slice wraps diagonally and serve as a flavorful, portable meal option!

Both of these sandwiches are perfect for lunch or a light dinner! If you love vintage recipes, check out this Chicken Apple Spread from Vintage Recipe Project. (Link opens in a new window).

What do you think?

Use the form below to add your favorite chicken salad sandwich recipe. Let us know what you think of ours and add your recipe as well.

A quick word. This page may contain affiliate links. 

ShareFacebookXRedditMessengerWhatsAppPinterestTumblr

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

1. Click on the HTML link code below.
2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.