Rufus For Real

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • About Me
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • About Me
×
  • chicken and ramen featured image
    Chicken and Ramen
  • smash tacos feature
    Smash Tacos
  • lemon shrimp pasta featured image
    Lemon Shrimp Pasta
  • skillet lasagna dinner ideas
    30 Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas
  • shrimp tacos feature
    Shrimp Tacos
  • crispy chicken salad feature image
    Crispy Chicken Salad
  • sheet pan pizza featured image
    Sheet Pan Pizza
  • pickled jalapeños featured image
    Pickled Jalapeños
  • chicken quesadillas featured image
    Chicken Quesadillas
  • gluten-free gumbo featured image
    Gluten-Free Gumbo
  • butter cake featured image
    Butter Cake
  • homemade corn tortilas
    Homemade Corn Tortillas

Home » Recipes » Southern Chicken Salad

Southern Chicken Salad

Modified: May 1, 2025 · Published: Jul 25, 2024 by Rufus · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

↓ Jump to Recipe

Southern Chicken Salad is an old-fashioned, classic recipe for so many reasons. It's incredibly easy to make, totally customizable, and can be enjoyed by everyone! It's great for meal prep and perfect for picnics. I love to keep this in the fridge for an easy lunch or a healthy snack for my kids. Whatever you do, just make it. It will be a new family favorite in no time!

Let's get started!

Jump to:
  • What People Are Saying
  • let's chat!
  • rotisserie chicken: a love letter
  • southern chicken salad ingredients
  • how to make southern chicken salad
  • recipe frequently asked questions
  • Southern Chicken Salad Recipe

What People Are Saying

"Absolutely the best chicken salad out there! The entire family loved it!" -Steve

chicken salad in a bowl with serving spoon

let's chat!

A Southern Chicken Salad recipe is something you need in your back pocket at all times. It's quick, easy, and so delicious. My version is perfectly savory with the addition of Old Bay and celery seed. Using a food processor also makes quick work of the chopping and creates the best texture for a spreadable salad.

I love making this recipe to eat throughout the week. It's virtually void of any sugars and it's full of protein. My kids love it on crackers, I send it with my husband to the office for his lunches, and I devour it in lettuce wraps. This Southern Chicken salad is a fresh, flavorful family favorite and stays on our rotation all the time.

rotisserie chicken: a love letter

I am and will always be a fan of using whole chickens in my recipes when possible. It is a better and safer option across the board. I love the ease of a rotisserie chicken and I also love the flavor of a roasted whole bird. Using one in this Chicken Salad recipe is no different.

I debone the chicken while it is still warm to make it easier. And, as always, I stick the carcass in the freezer to make bone broth later.

For this salad, I like the chicken broken down just a bit so I can spread it easier. Just a few pulses in a food processor is all you need. The combination of the dark and white meat is perfect for me. I absolutely love the flavor and I hope you'll try it this way, too!

southern chicken salad with saltine crackers

southern chicken salad ingredients

You won't need much for this Souther Chicken Salad, but here is a rundown of the who, what, why.

Shredded Chicken from a rotisserie chicken. It's delectable and tender and so full of flavor. Use one and your chicken salad will thank you for it.

Mayonnaise. Use a good quality one. I despise an avocado mayo. I just can't. I'm a Duke's girl from way back. That would be my recommendation.

Dill Pickle Relish. You can also mince up whatever pickle you prefer. Or, use sweet pickle relish. If you use sweet, just don't tell me about it. I shan't recover.

Old Bay and Celery Seed. These are the is top secret ingredients. But, now that we've let that cat out of the bag...it gives flavor to this salad that is just incredible. You have to try it!

southern chicken salad in a serving bowl

how to make southern chicken salad

Grab that food processor and let's go! Using a food processor for this recipe cuts down on the prep work immensely, but you can absolutely just use a knife if you would like.

To begin, I like to make the sauce portion of the Southern Chicken Salad. Add the mayonnaise, whole grain mustard, dill relish, Old Bay, celery seed, granulated garlic and onion to a large mixing bowl. Finish with the juice of half of a lemon and whisk to combine. Taste to check for salt. Add some if you would like and I love to add a healthy dash of fresh ground pepper.

Onto the food processor portion of our recipe. Start by pulsing the onion and celery until it's minced. Put that into a large mixing bowl with the salad sauce/dressing. Next, pulse the chicken. I like it cut down pretty small, but not so much that it is a paste. Add the chicken to the bowl. Mix everything together to combine.

You can obviously devour this as soon as it's made, but I do think it tastes better the next day. If you can stay strong, give the flavors time to get together and know one another!

chicken salad with saltine crackers

recipe frequently asked questions

Is this recipe gluten and/or dairy-free?

Both! There is no dairy or gluten in my Southern Chicken Salad recipe!

How do I serve this Southern Chicken Salad?

The age old question. You can eat this salad straight out of the bowl with a spoon. We love it on soft sandwich bread or saltine crackers. When I'm paying attention to the pesky carbs, I will put a scoop on top of a big salad or eat it with a lettuce wrap. You cannot go wrong.

How long will this recipe stay good in the fridge?

This chicken salad will stay good up to 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

Can you freeze chicken salad?

I would not. The veggies in the salad will not that well and you'll end up with a watery mess.

shop kitchen essentials

350
chicken salad in a bowl with serving spoon

Southern Chicken Salad Recipe

Print Recipe
Southern Chicken Salad is the best version of an old-fashioned, homemade classic. It's simple, delicious, and loved by all. Let's go!
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken, chicken salad, dairy-free, gluten-free
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Servings 8 servings
Calories 191
Author Rufus
Prevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

  • food processor
  • chef's knife
  • cutting board
  • large mixing bowl
  • measuring spoons
  • measuring cups

Ingredients

  • 1 rotisserie chicken, deboned
  • 2-3 stalks celery
  • 1 med red onion

Chicken Salad Dressing

  • ¾ mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup dill relish
  • 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Old Bay
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
  • 1 teaspoon celery seed
  • ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
  • ½ teaspoon granulated onion
  • kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Mix the chicken salad dressing ingredients together in a large bowl.
  • Using the food processor pulse the celery and onion until minced. Add this to the dressing.
  • Pulse the chicken until the meat is fine, but not a paste. Add the chicken to the bowl, stirring to combine everything.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 191kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 502mg | Potassium: 402mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1mg


If you guys make this Southern Chicken Salad, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments!

Thank you!

I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Southern Chicken Salad recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok! And, please leave a comment or star rating below. I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces. And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don't hesitate to contact me!

Happy Cooking!

-Rufus

Rufus for Real is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I may earn a commission, with no additional cost to you, if you purchase through those links. 

  • bowl of italian penicillin aka pastina
    Pastina aka Italian Penicillin
  • no knead bread feature image
    Dutch Oven No Knead Bread
  • close up of a bowl of roasted nuts
    Roasted Nuts
  • This is a piece of mongolian beef picked up by chopsticks. Perfect for a fall dinner.
    Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef
  • This is a bowl of shrimp and okra gumbo.
    Shrimp and Okra Gumbo
  • A mug of chicken bone broth garnished with a parsley leaf. Ingredients for the broth such as peppercorns, himalayan sea salt, and fresh herbs surround the mug.
    Chicken Bone Broth
  • Brown butter chocolate chip cookies with flaky sea salt
    Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • instant pot taco chicken with jalapenos, radish, cheese, lettuce, lime, salsa, avocado garnishes
    Instant Pot Taco Chicken

More Tasty Recipes

  • bowls of seafood chowder and someone holding a piece of crusty bread
    Seafood Chowder
  • picture of a white serving bowl of slow cooker beef ragu topped with parmesan cheese shavings and fresh parsley garnish. sitting on a wooden surface with a navy napkin.
    Slow Cooker Beef Ragu
  • this is a picture of sliced cornbread served alongside black-eyed peas on a wooden background
    Easy Cornbread
  • This is a picture of prime rib soup garnished with a dollop of sour cream, fresh thyme leaves on a wooden surface
    Prime Rib Soup

Comments

  1. JodieRiddel says

    August 07, 2024 at 9:53 am

    5 stars
    There are many savory chicken salad recipes, but this is the winner!

    Reply
    • Rufus says

      August 07, 2024 at 4:18 pm

      Thank you so very much! I'm so glad you liked it!!!

      Reply
  2. Heather Dunlap says

    November 01, 2024 at 9:57 am

    5 stars
    Great chicken salad for a picnic or road trip!

    Reply
  3. Steve says

    May 01, 2025 at 4:32 am

    5 stars
    Absolutely the best chicken salad out there! The entire family loved it.

    Reply
    • Rufus says

      May 01, 2025 at 8:04 am

      This made my day! I"m so very glad you guys liked it!

      Reply
5 from 3 votes

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Welcome!

I'm, Rufus and I am so very glad you're here! I've got all the tried and true recipes you'll need for your everyday life!

More about me

Delicious Dessert Recipes

  • chocolate tart garnished with flaky sea salt and chocolate shavings
    Chocolate Tart
  • this is a picture of peanut clusters topped with red and green Christmas spinkles on a parchment paper background
    Peanut Clusters
  • This is a picture of a baking dish of cinnamon rolls with one roll removed and sitting on a small white plate
    Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
  • This is a picture of the slice of pumpkin cheesecake with a salted caramel drizzle. the cheesecake is also garnished with flaky sea salt, candied pecans.
    Pumpkin Cheesecake
  • This is a picture of Hot Chocolate Cookies stacked on top of each other with a large glass of milk in the background.
    Hot Chocolate Cookies
  • This is a photo of apple cider donuts with a maple glaze.
    Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Me
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Shop

Contact Me

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases with no additional cost to you.

© 2025 Rufus For Real. All rights reserved.

Psssttt...

This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience, analyze site traffic, personalize content and serve targeted advertisement.  By continuing to browse rufusforreal.com you will consent to our use of cookies. 

Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.