Chicken Salad with Apples

4.86 from 7 votes

This Chicken Salad is packed with sweet apples and crunchy celery. It is great for barbecues, picnics and quick lunches during the week. Whip this together in just 15 minutes!

Prep Time15

Total Time15

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: American

Servings: Servings

Calories: 330.07kcal

Author: Sarah Hill

Equipment

Ingredients

3 cups cooked chicken chopped or shredded
1 celery stalk chopped
1 apple chopped
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
⅓ cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

Begin by chopping or shredding the cooked chicken. Cut the celery and apple into ½-inch pieces. Add to a large bowl.
3 cups cooked chicken, 1 celery stalk, 1 apple
Add the dijon mustard, mayonnaise, salt, pepper and lemon juice to the bowl.
1 tablespoon dijon mustard, ⅓ cup mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Mix everything together until well combined. Serve immediately on your favorite bread, over lettuce or as is.

Notes

Pat the chicken completely dry before chopping. Extra moisture is what waters down the dressing within a few hours.
To stop the apple from browning, soak the diced pieces in cold water with 1 teaspoon salt for 5 minutes, then drain, rinse, and pat dry. Keeps them crisp and pale for days.
Honeycrisp and Granny Smith hold their crunch best. Pears or halved red grapes work in a pinch, but add less crunch.
For a lighter version, swap the mayo for plain Greek yogurt and add a touch more salt to balance the tang.
No lemon juice on hand? Apple cider vinegar works, though it's tangier and less bright.
If it tastes off, add more mayo for a saucier salad, more salt or dijon if it's bland, or a drizzle of honey if it's too tangy.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Once dressed, don't freeze this salad. Mayo separates and turns grainy. Freeze the chicken and celery only, then add the apple and dressing after thawing.
Use plain, unseasoned cooked chicken for the best balance with the dijon dressing.

Nutrition