If you like poppy seed salad dressing then this is the chicken salad of your dreams! This chicken salad is amazing and so simple! I was shopping at Sam’s Club several weeks ago and taste tested some Sonoma Chicken Salad, it was delicious so I had to figure out how to make it at home. Following is the recipe I’ve come up with. It is my new favorite chicken salad. I’m going to start using the dressing to drizzle over green salads as well. My recommendation for the easiest way to make this is to cook the chicken in a slow cooker over night, toss it in an airtight container in the morning and refrigerate it, then by lunch time it will be cool enough to shred or chop and toss into the salad. I know this is going to be my new favorite dish for picnic lunches this summer. Just be sure after eating this chicken salad to smile real big… and check your teeth for poppy seeds =).
Note: some other good substitutions for the dried cranberries would be diced apples or grapes and another good nut option would be almonds or cashews, but I would recommend trying the recipe as written at least once. The ingredients listed are a perfect combination together. When served over some fresh rustic bread this sandwich is to die for!
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups cooked, shredded chicken (about 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast halves)
- 1 cup diced celery (about 3 stalks)
- 2/3 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries, such as Craisins, roughly chopped
- 2 Tbsp finely grated Parmesan cheese
- Sliced bread, for serving (here is a great recipe)
- 2/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup apple juice
- 3 Tbsp honey
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp prepared yellow mustard (optional)
- 1 Tbsp poppy seeds
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions
- In a large mixing bowl toss together shredded chicken, celery, pecans, dried cranberries and Parmesan cheese, set aside. In a separate mixing bowl whisk together all ingredients listed for the dressing until well blended. Pour dressing mixture over chicken mixture and toss to evenly coat. Serve over sliced bread, croissants or rolls. Store in refrigerator.
- Recipe Source: Cooking Classy
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious: I have half a rotisserie chicken leftover for costco and I was just thinking that I’d make a chicken salad and now I’ve find the perfect recipe! It looks packed with all sorts of goodies! Will have to make this tonight or tomorrow :) May 17, 2012 at 10:14am
JulieW8: I love the Sonoma Chicken salad! Thanks for the recipe – I’m going to have to try this. May 17, 2012 at 1:46pm
stacielk: This sounds delicious – wrote down the recipe – can’t wait to try it! May 17, 2012 at 5:58pm
Jaclyn: Thanks for the comments! I hope you all thoroughly enjoy! Have a great day! May 17, 2012 at 9:02pm
Debs @ The Spanish Wok: Oh this sounds delicious, that’s tomorrows lunch sorted, thanks. May 17, 2012 at 11:53pm
Jaclyn: Debs – youre very welcome! Hope you love it =)! May 18, 2012 at 3:32pm
Tessa: Easy cool meals like this are a must in the summer. I agree, these would make perfect picnic fare. Yum! May 18, 2012 at 8:13pm
Debs @ The Spanish Wok: Made this for lunch today. Adapted slightly to what I had in, but was so delicious, thanks. May 19, 2012 at 5:29am
Jaclyn: Debs – I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed =), thanks for taking the time to leave a comment letting me know! And your welcome! May 19, 2012 at 7:24pm
Georgia | The Comfort of Cooking: This looks so delicious, Jaclyn! Congratulations on your Foodgawker feature on Facebook, too. Thanks for sharing this great recipe! May 23, 2012 at 1:47pm
Linda @ Lemon Drop: this is looks sooo good. Pinned! May 23, 2012 at 2:17pm
j3nn: That looks incredible. Love the cranberries! That’s a neat twist. May 23, 2012 at 2:58pm
Jaclyn: Thanks Linda and Georgia! Thanks for letting me know it was featured on foodgawkers facebook =). May 23, 2012 at 3:02pm
meuc: Yummy…this looks delicious. Forgive my ignorance, but how do you cook the chicken breasts in the slow cooker? Do you put them in alone or with broth or some other liquid? Thanks! May 30, 2012 at 8:48am
Jaclyn: meuc – don’t worry it’s a good question, I just use 1 can of chicken broth when I cook them in the slow cooker. Your welcome =), I hope you enjoy! I just made these again on Monday for dinner, I love love love it! I used the recipe for no knead rustic bread I posted on monday, it’s a perfect combo. May 30, 2012 at 10:50am
Sonya: I made this and WOW was it delicious!! the dressing was so amazing and will be using it over salad aswell. My family just loved this recipe. Thanks so much! June 6, 2012 at 2:25am
Jaclyn: Sonya – I’m glad you loved this too =)! I love a simple, delicious chicken salad in the summertime. Thanks for your comment and your welcome! June 7, 2012 at 10:27pm
Binomial Baker: I tried out this recipe and used greek yogurt instead of mayo and threw in a few other twists. It was amazing! Thanks for the inspiration! June 9, 2012 at 3:34pm
Debs @ The Spanish Wok: Finally got around to blogging this delicious recipe of yours. I have adapted it slightly, hope you don’t mind.
Poppy Chicken Salad June 11, 2012 at 5:40am
Trinie: Super yum! You’ve posted some really great recipes where I can sneak veggies in! Thank you! I haven’t had any complaints in the peanut department! :) June 19, 2012 at 12:52pm
تحضير الكسكس: thank you so much August 1, 2012 at 5:04am
Anonymous: I am wondering if you could use greek yogurt instead of the the mayo in the dressing? August 19, 2012 at 8:35am
Jaclyn: Anonymous – I think that would be fine, it obviously wont have the rich creamy flavor that mayo gives but it will definitely be healthier and lower fat =). I hope you enjoy! August 21, 2012 at 8:15am
Brittany: Made these last night. SO delicious!! Did not have apple cider vinegar so substituted seasoned rice wine vinegar and they came out great. Definitely a staple sandwich for us now. January 28, 2013 at 10:32am
Jaclyn: Brittany – that is awesome to hear! Thanks so much for leaving a comment! January 30, 2013 at 1:11pm
Sarah: My daughter loves anything chicken. She is also very picky on food. I found this receipt and tried. She loves it. She had it for three dinners within a week. You can tell how much she liked it. I started to use your website as my favorite food website. February 16, 2013 at 10:02am
Jaclyn: Sarah – that is so great to hear I’m so glad you daughter loves this. Also thank you so much for your kind compliment, I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed my site =)! and I know how it can go with picky eaters I have two young kids myself =). Thanks again I hope you continue to enjoy what you find here! February 19, 2013 at 9:49am
Laura: Best chicken sandwich I’ve ever made! Thanks for the wonderful recipe! March 13, 2013 at 5:11pm
Jaclyn: Laura – I’m so glad you thought so! Thanks for leaving a comment! March 14, 2013 at 4:12pm
Erin: This was awesome. It was a party in my mouth! The only thing I was missing was a croissant. Next time I will make sure I have some on hand. March 25, 2013 at 11:52am
Jaclyn: Oh I know, I love chicken salad on croissants, amazingly good! March 25, 2013 at 6:14pm
Mindy: Hands down, this is an AWESOME chicken salad. I held an informal luncheon the other day, and everyone raved at the luscious sandwich that I created with some rustic bread. Later on, I used the salad as a snack on Town House Crackers and was so delicious. It was a big rave by my friends and, consequently, felt so proud! Hugs. April 21, 2013 at 5:53pm
Jaclyn: That’s so great to hear Mindy! I’m happy you and your friends enjoyed this, thanks for your comment! May 7, 2013 at 9:04am
Danielle: I lacked a few of the ingredients (apple cider vinegar, apple juice, and dried cranberries), but I subbed in white grape juice for the apple juice and rice vinegar for the apple cider vinegar. It was still amazing and I got many, many compliments. Next time I’ll be sure to have everything to make this to reach it’s amazing potential. :) June 17, 2013 at 4:39pm