What to serve with chicken salad depends on what you’re doing with the final recipe. There are so many ways to serve it, the ideas are endless.
Whether you want to know what to serve with chicken salad on croissants, traditional chicken salad sandwiches, or topping a bed of lettuce with chicken salad, it’s a delicious dish to keep in the fridge. You can use any type of chicken to make chicken salad. If you want to cook the chicken yourself, a great way to start is with boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs.
The key to making your chicken salad inviting is to serve it in an appealing and appetizing way. A good chicken salad is one that offers a blend of flavors that complement each other.
Classic Chicken Salad
Most traditional chicken salad is made with chopped bits of chicken, mayonnaise (or miracle whip), celery, onions, and some seasonings. Sometimes I use jarred or fresh herbs to add even more flavor. Some people even like bacon bits mixed in.
You don’t need many ingredients to make it. I always start out with the basic recipe and add whatever I have on hand. My favorite add-on is sweet pickle relish.
There have been times when I use fruit, such as cut up mandarin oranges or bits of apple with a squirt of lemon juice.
I usually make it with leftover roast chicken or a rotisserie chicken from Costco or another grocery store. It’s one of the best dishes I make with leftover chicken.
Best Bread for Chicken Salad Sandwiches
The best bread for chicken salad sandwiches, in my opinion is one that’s dense and has a chewy crust. Since I have to choose gluten-free bread, my choices are limited.
However, for my husband, I like to get a multigrain bread that’s very crusty. He also enjoys pumpernickel and rye.
Enjoy it open-face on a single piece of bread or between two slices of bread.
It’s good on pita bread, either wrapped or in a pita pocket. I’ve had it on tortillas as well, and it’s good. In fact, I call that a chicken salad quesadilla. When you’re in the mood for a chicken salad sandwich, any kind of bread works … at least it does for me.
Other breads that are good to serve with chicken salad:
- Flaky croissants
- Buttery biscuits
- Southern-style cornbread
- Dinner rolls
Main Dish
Since chicken salad has protein, it works well as a main dish. You can serve a multi-salad meal with a green salad, egg salad, pasta salad, one of my favorite cucumber salads, fresh veggies, and potato salad.
You can serve it with a fruit salad along with crackers or toast tips. I’ve even added chicken to this macaroni salad for a delightful flavor sensation.
Side Dishes
There are so many side dishes that go with chicken salad it’s impossible to name all of them. Some of my favorites are foods that I can find in my refrigerator.
Here are some of what I consider the best options to serve with chicken salad:
- Sweet onions
- Red onion
- Green onion
- Sliced carrots
- Cut celery
- Lettuce (for lettuce cups)
- Sweet or dill pickles
- Slices of avocado or creamy avocado dip
- Fresh summer tomatoes
- Regular potato chips
- Sweet potato chips
- Tortilla chips
I also enjoy having either a chicken salad on lettuce or chicken salad sandwich with a bowl of soup. One of our favorites is this yummy homemade cream of tomato soup. This combination of two comfort foods is a delicious complete meal.
Type of Chicken Salad
There is a variety of types of chicken salad, as there is anything else. I typically make it with a mayonnaise base, but I’ve tried adding Greek yogurt instead. That gives it a tangy flavor, and it’s really good. Or you can mix the mayonnaise with sour cream.
Sometimes I chop up a variety of fresh vegetables to add color and crunch. But most of the time, I just use celery.
If you like even more flavor, try sprinkling a little curry powder, cinnamon, or soy sauce. Don’t be afraid to test your favorite seasonings. Start out by adding just a little bit to a small amount of the classic chicken salad mixture and taste it. If you like it, season the whole batch.
Storing Chicken Salad
The most important thing to remember is to keep your chicken salad refrigerated. I put mine in an airtight container and stick it in the fridge for up to several days. That way, you have a delicious protein for a salad or a yummy food to make a sandwich.
It’s a good idea to label the container with the date to make sure you eat it before it’s old. You can use a permanent marker or tape a strip of paper to the top with the date.
Leftover chicken salad is usually gone by the next day in our house, but I still like to put the date on the container.
Chicken salad is a delicious picnic food. But keep in mind that during the warmer months, you have to take extra care to keep it from spoiling. I recommend using a cooler for storage if you’re not close to a refrigerator.