This delightful Chicken Salad Sandwich recipe transforms simple ingredients into a flavor-packed meal that’s ready in just 10 minutes! Tender chicken, crunchy celery, sweet grapes, and zesty red onion come together in a creamy dressing, all nestled between buttery croissant halves. It’s the perfect balance of textures and flavors for a quick lunch or light dinner that feels special without any cooking required.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in Minutes: From start to finish, this chicken salad takes just 10 minutes to prepare. Perfect for those busy days when you need something delicious without the wait!
- Versatile: Works brilliantly as a sandwich filling, but can easily transform into a dip with crackers or a topping for green salads when you want to switch things up.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Prepare the chicken salad in advance and assemble sandwiches as needed—ideal for meal prep or unexpected guests.
- Balanced Flavors: The creamy dressing, tender chicken, sweet grapes, and crunchy vegetables create the perfect harmony of flavors and textures in every bite.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Mayonnaise: The creamy base that brings everything together, providing richness and moisture to the chicken salad.
- Dijon Mustard: Adds a tangy zip that cuts through the richness of the mayo and complements the chicken perfectly.
- Garlic Powder: Infuses the salad with a subtle savory note without the harshness of fresh garlic.
- Red Wine Vinegar: Brings a bright acidity that balances the creaminess and makes all the flavors pop.
- Fresh Dill: The herb that makes this chicken salad shine! Its distinctive flavor adds freshness and complexity.
- Cooked Chicken: The star of the show—use rotisserie chicken for convenience or leftover roasted chicken for amazing flavor.
- Celery: Provides essential crunch and a subtle peppery freshness that prevents the salad from feeling too heavy.
- Grapes: Sweet, juicy halved grapes add unexpected bursts of flavor and a delightful textural contrast.
- Red Onion: Contributes a sharp bite and beautiful color that elevates the whole sandwich.
- Croissants: Their buttery, flaky texture makes the perfect vessel for this chicken salad. Split them in half for easier eating!
- Butter Lettuce: Adds a fresh, crisp element and pretty green color to your sandwich.
Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Variations
Protein Swaps
Try using leftover turkey instead of chicken, or for a seafood twist, substitute with canned tuna or salmon.
Fruit Alternatives
Not a fan of grapes? Dried cranberries, diced apples, or mandarin orange segments make excellent substitutions.
Bread Options
While croissants are heavenly with this chicken salad, it’s equally delicious on toasted sourdough, wrapped in a tortilla, or stuffed in a pita pocket.
Flavor Boosters
Add some crumbled bacon, chopped nuts for extra crunch, or a sprinkle of curry powder for a completely different flavor profile.
How to Make Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Step 1: Mix the Dressing
In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, red wine vinegar, and chopped dill until smooth and well combined. This creamy base will coat every piece of chicken and vegetable perfectly.
Step 2: Add the Chunky Ingredients
Fold in the cooked chicken, diced celery, halved grapes, and diced red onion. Mix everything gently but thoroughly, ensuring all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing without breaking up the chicken too much.
Step 3: Assemble the Sandwiches
Split your croissants in half horizontally. Generously scoop the chicken salad onto the bottom half of each croissant. Top with a few leaves of butter lettuce and place the croissant top to complete your sandwich.
Pro Tips for Making the Recipe
- Chicken Preparation: For the best texture, use a mix of chopping and shredding when preparing your chicken—this creates more interesting texture than using just one method.
- Seasoning Adjustment: Always taste before serving and adjust salt or add a squeeze of lemon juice if needed to brighten all the flavors.
- Chill Time: While you can serve immediately, allowing the chicken salad to chill for 30 minutes before serving lets the flavors meld beautifully.
- Croissant Tip: Lightly toast your croissants for just a minute to prevent them from getting soggy, especially if you’re not eating right away.
How to Serve
Perfect Pairings
These sandwiches pair wonderfully with classic sides like potato chips, a simple green salad, or fresh fruit slices.
Presentation Ideas
For a lunch gathering, try serving deconstructed: place the chicken salad in a bowl surrounded by halved croissants, lettuce leaves, and additional garnishes so everyone can build their own.
Meal Combinations
Complete your meal with a cup of tomato soup in cooler months or a chilled gazpacho in summer for a satisfying lunch or light dinner.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store the chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors often improve after a few hours of mingling!
Food Safety
Because this salad contains mayonnaise, always keep it refrigerated and don’t leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours to prevent foodborne illness.
Meal Prep Tip
Prepare the chicken salad ahead of time but assemble sandwiches just before serving to keep the croissants fresh and crisp.
FAQs
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Can I use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise?
Absolutely! Greek yogurt makes a great substitute for some or all of the mayonnaise if you prefer a tangier, lighter chicken salad. Just be aware that the flavor profile will change slightly, so you might want to adjust your seasonings accordingly.
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What’s the best chicken to use for chicken salad?
Rotisserie chicken is my go-to for convenience and flavor, but any cooked chicken works well. Poached chicken breasts offer a clean flavor, while leftover roasted chicken adds more depth. Just make sure it’s cooled completely before making your salad.
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How can I make this recipe more filling?
To create a more substantial meal, add chopped hard-boiled eggs, avocado slices, or a handful of toasted nuts like walnuts or almonds to the chicken salad. You could also serve larger portions or add a slice of cheese to the sandwich.
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Can I freeze chicken salad?
I don’t recommend freezing this chicken salad as mayonnaise-based dressings tend to separate when thawed, and the celery and grapes will lose their pleasant crunch. This recipe is best enjoyed fresh or within a few days of preparation.
Final Thoughts
This Chicken Salad Sandwiches recipe might seem simple, but it’s the perfect example of how a few quality ingredients can create something truly special. The combination of creamy dressing, tender chicken, and pops of sweetness from the grapes creates a sandwich that feels like a treat, even on the busiest weekday. Give yourself the gift of an easy, delicious meal that takes just minutes to prepare but delivers maximum satisfaction!
Print
Chicken Salad Sandwiches Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-cook
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Chicken Salad Sandwich recipe is a perfect mix of creamy, tangy, and herbaceous flavors, combined with juicy chicken and fresh ingredients for a satisfying meal. It’s easy to whip up, customizable, and great for lunch, dinner, or even picnics.
Ingredients
For the Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons chopped dill
For the Salad
- 2 cups cooked chicken, chopped or shredded
- 1 rib celery, diced
- 1/2 cup halved grapes
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
For Assembly
- 4 croissants, halved
- Butter lettuce for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing
In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, red wine vinegar, and chopped dill. Ensure the dressing is smooth and well combined to evenly coat the chicken salad. - Combine the Ingredients
Add the cooked chicken, diced celery, halved grapes, and diced red onion to the prepared dressing. Stir the mixture until all ingredients are evenly coated and combined, creating a creamy, flavorful chicken salad. - Assemble the Sandwiches
Scoop generous portions of the chicken salad onto the bottom halves of the croissants. Top with butter lettuce and place the top halves of the croissants over the filling. Serve immediately for the best flavor.
Notes
- Instead of sandwiches, you can serve this chicken salad with crackers or on top of a bed of greens for a low-carb option.
- Since the salad contains mayonnaise, keep it refrigerated and avoid leaving it at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
- Rotisserie or leftover roasted chicken works perfectly, but you can also cook fresh chicken (like Instant Pot shredded chicken) to use in this recipe.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22
- Cholesterol: 50mg
