Chicken Salad with Grapes is a classic! This version has walnuts (or pecans) for an added crunch. It has a great sweet and salty flavor, a crunchy texture, and the pop of those sweet grapes with everything? SO good. I like making this in bulk for lunches all week, served on a sandwich or scooped on a bed of greens, or even with crackers as a snack. It might just be the most perfect chicken salad in the world. And it’s easy to make it mayo-free by using sour cream or Greek yogurt instead!
If you’ve never tried chicken salad with grapes before, now’s the time my friend. You’ll never go back!
On the weekend, I like cooking up a whole chicken in my slow cooker. Then I use half of the the meat for a dinner, like chicken and dumplings, and I ALWAYS make this chicken salad with the rest of the meat.
For this chicken salad recipe, you can use mayonnaise, sour cream, or a mixture of both for the base. Or even Greek yogurt!
And there’s a secret here to making the best chicken salad – shred, don’t chop the chicken. Read on to learn why!
What kind of cooked chicken to use for chicken salad
You will need about 2 cups, or 1 pound of cooked shredded chicken for this recipe. If you have a little more or a little less, that’s fine.
I sometimes grill mine on my cast iron grill by brushing with olive oil and adding salt and pepper to each side. But a rotisserie chicken fresh from the store is a great way to make easy work of this recipe.
You can use leftover roast chicken, slow cooker whole chicken, poached chicken breasts, or whatever cooked chicken meat you have. You can even use canned chicken in a pinch!
For chicken salad, shred the chicken – don’t chop.
Here’s the secret for the best chicken salad: don’t chop, shred! I used two forks to do this.
When you shred it, there is more surface and nooks and crannies for the sauce to stick to, and it will stay in your sandwich better without falling out the sides as much. It’s physics, people.
How to make chicken salad with grapes
- Add to the bowl 2/3 cup of mayo or sour cream, or 1/3 cup of each. Season with salt and pepper to taste, add some fresh parsley, and mix.
- Add the shredded chicken to the bowl and mix well.
- Quarter some red grapes and slice some celery very thinly. Add them to a large bowl, along with some chopped walnuts and red onions.
- Mix together, and you’re done!
Variations
- Try adding other fruit, like apples, or other nuts, like almonds or pecans. It’s super versatile!
- I love the parsley in this, but it would be great with other herbs like mint or dill. You can also leave out the parsley if you want.
- Serve it on bread, or try on lettuce wraps for a low-carb version, or simply served on a bed of greens. I also love eating it for a snack with crackers straight out of the fridge!
Go ahead, try a spoonful. Or 7.
This recipe makes a bulk batch of chicken salad with grapes and walnuts, which is enough for 6-8 sandwiches. Elizabeth-sized sandwiches. I don’t mess around.
If you want less, adjust the ingredients accordingly :-)
Other Chicken Salad Recipes
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Chicken Salad with Grapes and Walnuts
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken shredded (such as rotisserie)
- 2/3 cup mayonnaise or sour cream or Greek yogurt, see notes
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion finely diced
- 1/2 cup red grapes quartered or halved, depending on size
- 1/2 cup celery diced
- 1/4 cup walnuts chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt plus more if needed
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper plus more if needed
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together the mayonnaise (2/3 cup), salt (1/2 teaspoon), black pepper (1/2 teaspoon), and fresh chopped parsley (2 tablespoons).
- Add the shredded chicken (2 cups), halved or quartered grapes (1/2 cup), diced celery (1/2 cup), chopped walnuts (1/4 cup), and diced red onion (1/4 cup). Stir well to combine.
- Serve on sandwiches with toasted bread, on lettuce wraps, or on top of a green salad.
Video
Notes
- Walnut substitution: Not a fan of walnuts? You can use slivered or sliced almonds, or chopped pecans, instead. For a nut-free version, use sunflower seeds in place of the walnuts, so you still have that awesome crunch.
- For a mayo-free version, try sour cream or Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise.
- Mix it up! Fruits are great in chicken salad- try using dried apricots, chopped apples, or even strawberries in place of the grapes.
- Storage: store in an airtight container in your fridge for about 3 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition Information Disclaimer
The provided nutrition information is my best estimate and does not include any added sodium from seasoning to taste, any optional ingredients, and it does not take brands into account. I use an automatic API to calculate this information. Feel free to calculate it yourself using one of these tools:
Diana
This was SO easy and delicious! I’ve made it many times now sometimes substituting craisins for the grapes. This is the only chicken salad recipe I now use! Thanks for the great recipe!
Elizabeth Lindemann
SO happy you liked it! Craisins work really well in this recipe. Actually, I have another very similar recipe made with craisins and turkey instead of chicken- more of a Thanksgiving feel to it :-) (here’s the recipe: https://www.bowlofdelicious.com/turkey-salad-with-cranberries-and-walnuts/)
Glenda
I’ve been making this with fresh tarragon and a combination of real mayonnaise and greek yogurt for more than 20 years. So fresh and flavorful! Thanks for bring this fantastic chicken salad back!
Elizabeth Lindemann
Oh wow, I LOVE the idea of using fresh tarragon and part Greek yogurt! I’ll have to try that next time. Thanks for the tip!
RRRobin
I made it with yoghurt for a friend who doesn’t eat mayo. There was some left and I add mayo — 500% better!’
Jan
Do you use miracle whip or real mayonnaise?
Elizabeth
I use real mayo!
Jan
Thank you for the delicious recipe! I made it tonight and my husband who dislikes chicken salad loved it!! I added some chunks of Granny Smith Apple because I’d tasted some years ago very similar to yours that had them in it. This is now my go to recipe! ?
RRRobin
This is my go to recipe also! Apple is a must; pear is also good addition.
Elizabeth Lindemann
So glad you liked it!
Nancy
Best chicken salad yet. I combined regular and lite mayo and lite sour cream. My husband was eating it before I could get in frig to chill. Thanks for great recipe!
Elizabeth
So happy you and your husband liked it! Thanks for the comment :-)
Ashkey C
What is the serving size for the nutrition information? I see the recipe makes 6 cups, but I’m unsure of serving size. Thank you!
Elizabeth
Hi! Oops, forgot to add that in when I did the recipe. I fixed it above! It yields about 6 cups, and the serving size is about 1 cup. Keep in mind, I’m not a nutritionist and this is my best estimate! Hope that helps :-)
Liza
Great recipe. I used 1/2 cup each of lite mayo and sour cream and doubled the amount of grapes and nuts. Delish
Elizabeth
So glad you liked it! I actually just made it yesterday too. It’s one of my favorites!
Gernaine Ramondetta
Hi. Elizabeth, this sounds delish!!! Have you ever used canned chicken ?
Thanks,
Germaine
Elizabeth
Thanks! I’ve never used canned chicken before, but I think it would work fine :-)
Elyse
Yuuuuum!!! Can this be frozen and if so how long for?
Elizabeth
This is definitely one recipe that I would NOT freeze. The texture of the grapes would be weird and I think it would be pretty soggy. What you can do is freeze just the chicken (or turkey!) meat, and then defrost/mix the salad when you are ready! Hope that helps :-)
Angela
I make this exact recipe only I add bacon, yum yum:)
Elizabeth
Yum, BACON! I’ll have to try that next time :-)
deb
I have always used bacon also. Making it for 30years
Aletha Natiuk
This recipe was very good! I used Greek Yogurt instead of sour cream or mayo, seasoned it with some lemon juice, chives, garlic and onion powder, and it turned out fantastic! I also used green Cotton Candy grapes, and they worked well with the recipe. Definitely will make this again, as the family ate all my salad!
Elizabeth
I’m so glad you like it! It’s still my go-to chicken salad recipe. I keep seeing cotton candy grapes at the store but I haven’t tried them yet- I’ll have to give them a try! :-)
Steve
Awesome chicken salad. Made some for work tomorrow to share with fishing buddy of mine. What can I not taste test it? Lol
Elizabeth
So glad you liked it! It’s STILL my go-to chicken salad recipe.
Marisa
This is still my go to recipe for chicken salad. Thank you for sharing.
Elizabeth
Thanks Marisa! I make it ALL the time. One of my favorites :-)
summer
This dish is amazing on pita bread!!! Try it! You won’t be disappointed!!!
Elizabeth
Pita bread is the BEST BREAD! :-)
Dawn
I add a little grated ginger and a bit of curry powder.
Elizabeth
Yum- I love curried chicken salad! I have a recipe for that on my blog as well, with raisins.
Tiffany
Thank you for sharing! This sounds right up my alley for chicken salad. I can’t wait to try this one out!
Elizabeth
You’re welcome! Hope you like it.
Karen
I’m going to make this for a luncheon I’m having on Monday. I ‘M GOING TO ADD some peas tho and put on lettuce leaves and service with warm rolls
Elizabeth
Love the idea of adding peas! I have it on lettuce leaves all the time for a lower carb option. Sounds yummy- have fun and hope you like it!
Denise Plank
Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for!
Caroline
I made this for lunches for the week and it is AMAZING! I added 1 tsp of sricha to the mix and added a little spice. Thank you so much for sharing. This might become a staple.
Elizabeth
Thank you so much, I’m glad you liked it!! Love the sriracha idea- I will sometimes add cayenne pepper to chicken salad or tuna to spice it up a bit.
Food to Fitness
This looks so delicious. Will definitely try it out. Thanks!
Elizabeth
Thanks! Hope you enjoy!
gpmagija
I think I know what I’m going to make for my next lunch at work :)
Elizabeth
Hope you love it! :-)
Indrė
I did ;) we have only microwave in office and warmed chicken in it taste awful. This was very good, because I don’t need to make it warm :)