Creamy Honey Mustard Chicken Salad
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Flavorful Creamy Honey Mustard Chicken Salad is made with tender rotisserie chicken, crisp celery, toasted slivered almonds and all coated in a sweet and tangy honey mustard sauce. It’s an ideal summer lunch!
Chicken salad is one of the best hot weather dishes. It’s a no cooking required recipe, you can prep it ahead of time making it an excellent option for get togethers or picnics, and there’s so many ways to season it and to serve it.
This creamy honey mustard chicken salad is a welcome change from the same traditional, mildly seasoned chicken salad.
To serve it you can keep it traditional and layer in some sort of bread such as hearty sandwich bread, French bread, sourdough, or rye. Or upgrade it and serve it in homemade buns, or croissants.
Then if you want to make it low carb simply serve it in romaine lettuce leaves, and to keep it really simple instead just chop everything small and serve it from a bowl with some larger crackers for dipping.
For those of you that love crispy chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, or a chicken sandwich paired with a creamy honey mustard sauce (like Chick-fil-A) this is the chicken salad for you! It’s such a satisfying upgrade on a classic chicken salad.
Honey Mustard Chicken Salad Recipe Ingredients
- Plain greek yogurt: I’ve made this with a few brands and one like Fage that’s very thick works best for a thicker sauce.
- Mayonnaise: I recommend a good quality mayo such as Hellman’s or Duke’s.
- Honey: Use a thicker honey if possible so the salad dressing isn’t overly runny.
- Dijon mustard: This is a bold mustard. You can adjust how much is added to taste for a stronger or more mild mustard flavor, the intensity varies by brand.
- Yellow mustard: The standard prepared mustard adds a classic flavor and a nice natural color.
- Salt and black pepper: Season with both to taste.
- Rotisserie chicken: You can use other lightly seasoned leftover chicken as well (even grilled chicken would be tasty). Either way just be sure the chicken is thoroughly chilled.
- Celery: Chop this into small pieces for even light crunch throughout.
- Green onion: This adds a little bite to the chicken salad, you can add more if preferred.
- Parsley: Use fresh for best flavor. This would also be good with a little fresh rosemary, tarragon or thyme as well.
- Almonds: I like to use toasted slivered almonds but you could also use sliced or chopped.
- Optional cooked bacon: I have made this with and without and enjoy it both ways.
How to Make an Easy Honey Mustard Chicken Salad
Make the dressing: In a large mixing bowl whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, honey, dijon mustard, yellow mustard, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
The honey mustard dressing can be made a few days ahead of time if needed, just store in the fridge in an airtight container.
Toss chicken salad ingredients with dressing: Add cooked chicken, celery, green onion, parsley and almonds. Also add bacon if you want to include it.
Toss mixture to evenly coat with the dressing mixture. Can serve right away or refrigerate.
Helpful Tips
Tangier: If you’d like it the chicken salad any tangier you can add a little more dijon mustard to taste or a spritz of lemon.
Sweeter: If you want it a little sweeter you can add a little more honey or some granulated sugar.
Thickening: For a thicker chicken salad just let it rest in the fridge for a few hours and the some of the sauce soaks into the chicken.
Healthier: To make this even healthier replace the mayonnaise with an equal part Greek yogurt (using 1/2 cup total). Also use just chicken breasts no chicken thighs.
Including fruit: If you want to include a fruit in this chicken salad I recommend chopped apples.
Adding cheese: To add pops of cheese flavor throughout you could try this with cubed cheddar or swiss. Or when making it into a sandwich just add a slice of one of those cheeses.
Storing Chicken Salad
Chicken salad typically lasts about 3 to 4 days in the fridge, if you began with fresh chicken made that day.
If it contains an acidic ingredient (such as this recipe does from the mustard) keep it stored in a non-reactive airtight container.
Serve it chilled for best taste.
More Summery Salad Recipes to Try
Apple Pecan Rosemary Chicken Salad
BLTA Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps
Poppy Seed Chicken and Grape Pasta Salad
Follow Cooking Classy
Creamy Honey Mustard Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup thick plain Greek yogurt, such as Fage
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 2 Tbsp dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 Tbsp prepared yellow mustard
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken, chilled, or cooked chopped chicken breast, chilled
- 3/4 cup diced celery
- 1/4 cup chopped green onion
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted
- 3 slices cooked bacon, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, honey, dijon mustard, yellow mustard, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add cooked chicken, celery, green onion, parsley and almonds. Also add bacon if you want to include it.
- Toss mixture to evenly coat with the dressing mixture.
- If you'd like it any tangier you can add a little more dijon mustard to taste or a spritz of lemon, if you want it a little sweeter you can add a little more honey. For a thicker chicken salad just let it rest in the fridge for a few hours allowing some of the sauce to soak into the chicken.
Notes
- This is delicious served over bread slices such as sourdough, rye, French, or wheat bread. Or for a low carb option serve in romaine lettuce leaves.
- Bacon not included in nutrition estimate as it is optional. Bread or other serving options also not included.
- If you want a more yellow chicken salad just add a few pinches of turmeric which will also boost seasoned flavor as well.
- You can serve this right away or store in the fridge in an airtight container for several days.