Indulge in a symphony of flavors with our delectable Chicken Salad with Toasted Almonds! This refreshing and satisfying dish combines tender chicken, crunchy almonds, crisp celery, and a creamy dressing, creating a perfect balance of textures and tastes. Served on a bed of fresh greens, it's a delightful meal that's easy to prepare and perfect for lunch, dinner, or a light snack.
This versatile recipe offers three variations to suit your preferences: a classic version with mayonnaise, a tangy Greek yogurt dressing, and an avocado-based dressing for a creamy and nutritious twist. Each variation brings a unique flavor profile, ensuring that there's something for every palate.
The classic mayonnaise dressing delivers a rich and creamy texture, while the Greek yogurt dressing offers a lighter and tangy alternative. The avocado dressing, with its vibrant green color and velvety texture, adds a touch of healthy fats and a creamy richness that complements the salad beautifully.
Toasted almonds play a crucial role in this dish, adding a delightful crunch and nutty flavor. The almonds are toasted to perfection, bringing out their natural oils and enhancing their aroma. They provide a delightful contrast to the tender chicken and crisp celery, creating a textural experience that keeps you coming back for more.
Whether you prefer the classic mayonnaise dressing, the tangy Greek yogurt dressing, or the creamy avocado dressing, this Chicken Salad with Toasted Almonds is sure to become a favorite in your recipe collection. Its versatility, ease of preparation, and delicious taste make it a perfect choice for any occasion.
OUR FAVORITE CHICKEN SALAD
Our favorite chicken salad has a few critical components: tender chicken, crunch, a little sweetness, and it needs to be easy to make. This recipe checks all the boxes. We have shared our basic recipe as well as a few suggestions for making it extra special. We highly recommend the toasted sesame oil - it adds a lovely umami flavor to the dressing. A little goes a long way, so only add a few dashes (not more than a 1/4 teaspoon). When we have the time, we poach chicken breasts for this salad. Here's our detailed recipe for how we poach chicken.
Provided by Adam and Joanne Gallagher
Categories Salad, Dinner
Time 10m
Yield Makes about 8 (1/2) cup servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Combine the chicken, celery, herbs, nuts, dried fruit, and fresh fruit (if using) in a medium mixing bowl.
- In another small bowl, stir the mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard, salt, and the black pepper together. Taste then add the optional ingredients. Toasted sesame oil adds umami (a little goes a long way), and the jam sweetens the dressing up a bit.
- Toss the dressing with the salad. Taste then adjust with more salt and pepper. Store, covered tightly, in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1/2 cup, Calories 197, Fat 13.4g, SaturatedFat 2.1g, Cholesterol 47.1mg, Sodium 269.9mg, Carbohydrate 5.2g, Fiber 0.9g, Sugar 3.2g, Protein 13.9g
CLASSIC HOT CHICKEN SALAD
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 425 F.
- Butter a 2-quart baking dish or baking pan.
- Combine the cubed cooked chicken, celery, mayonnaise, toasted almonds, lemon juice, and chopped onion in a bowl. Taste and add salt, if needed.
- Stir 1/2 cup of the toasted breadcrumbs into the chicken mixture.
- Spoon the chicken salad mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle with the shredded cheese.
- Toss the remaining 1 cup of toasted breadcrumbs with the melted butter. Sprinkle over the cheese layer.
- Bake the casserole for 15 to 20 minutes, until the topping has browned and the filling is bubbly around the edges.
- Garnish with chopped green onion tops or parsley, if desired.
- Serve the chicken hot with cooked rice and a tossed salad, steamed broccoli, or green beans.
- To toast the almonds, spread them out in a single layer in a dry skillet.
- Place the skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the almonds are lightly browned and aromatic.
- Remove to a plate or bowl immediately so they won't over brown.
- To make homemade toasted breadcrumbs , heat the oven to 325 F.
- Cut or tear fresh or day-old bread into small pieces.
- Spread out on a large rimmed baking sheet.
- Sprinkle with a small amount of kosher salt , if desired.
- Bake for about 12 to 14 minutes, or until dry and lightly browned.
- Crush the dried bread coarsely or finely and use in the recipe.
- Freeze extra breadcrumbs in a zip-close food storage bag.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 634 kcal, Carbohydrate 24 g, Cholesterol 98 mg, Fiber 3 g, Protein 24 g, SaturatedFat 12 g, Sodium 775 mg, Sugar 3 g, Fat 49 g, ServingSize 1 casserole (4 to 6 servings), UnsaturatedFat 0 g
CHICKEN SALAD WITH TOASTED ALMONDS
This unusual and refreshing chicken salad is perked up by the addition of toasted almonds, tangy pineapple, crunchy water chestnuts and sweet grapes.
Provided by sal
Categories Salad
Time 10m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a large bowl, toss the chicken with the lemon juice. Cover and chill for 2 hours.
- Mix the salad dressing, salt, pineapple, grapes, almonds, water chestnuts and lettuce into the chicken until evenly combined. Chill until serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 484 calories, Carbohydrate 21.8 g, Cholesterol 86.1 mg, Fat 31.7 g, Fiber 2.6 g, Protein 27.3 g, SaturatedFat 5.3 g, Sodium 787.6 mg, Sugar 16.8 g
CHICKEN SALAD WITH TOASTED ALMONDS
Pineapple and nuts add a distictive flair to this tasty chicken salad. Try substituting leftover turkey around the holidays for the chicken.
Provided by Steve P.
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 2h
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a large bowl, toss the chicken with the lemon juice.
- Cover and chill for 2 hours.
- Mix the salad dressing, salt, pineapple, grapes, almonds, water chestnuts and lettuce into the chicken until evenly combined.
- Keep chilled until serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 248.9, Fat 16.4, SaturatedFat 2.2, Cholesterol 24.2, Sodium 709, Carbohydrate 22.1, Fiber 3.5, Sugar 12.1, Protein 7.6
ALMOND CHICKEN SALAD
My mother used to prepare this chicken salad with grapes and almonds for an evening meal during the hot summer months. It's my favorite of my mother's chicken salad recipes. You can also serve it as a delicious but quick luncheon or potluck dish. -Kathy Kittell, Lenexa, Kansas
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 15m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine chicken, grapes, celery, onions and eggs. In another bowl, combine the next 9 ingredients; stir until smooth. , Pour over the chicken mixture and toss gently. Stir in almonds and serve immediately, or refrigerate and add the almonds just before serving. Garnish with kiwi if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 351 calories, Fat 23g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 152mg cholesterol, Sodium 540mg sodium, Carbohydrate 10g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 25g protein.
ORIENTAL CHICKEN SALAD WITH TOASTED ALMONDS
I always keep slivered almonds and rice wine vinegar on hand in order to mix this version of a grilled chicken salad up fast and easy.
Provided by Rutecki Family
Categories < 30 Mins
Time 20m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Prepare lettuce. Slice green onions. Toast almonds (watch closely). Bake breast and shred with fork.
- For dressing, combine ingredients and cook until dissolved over medium heat.
- To serve, combine all ingredients and toss with dressing.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 600.3, Fat 48.6, SaturatedFat 7.1, Cholesterol 46.4, Sodium 1633.4, Carbohydrate 25, Fiber 3.8, Sugar 18.6, Protein 19.5
Tips and Conclusion
To make the perfect chicken salad with toasted almonds, follow these tips:- Use high-quality chicken. A good option is to use leftover roasted or rotisserie chicken. If you're using fresh chicken, poach it or cook it in a slow cooker until it's tender and juicy.
- Toast the almonds. This will bring out their flavor and make them more crunchy.
- Chop the celery and onion finely. This will help them blend in with the other ingredients.
- Use a good mayonnaise. A good option is to use a homemade mayonnaise, but you can also use a store-bought mayonnaise.
- Season the chicken salad to taste. This may include adding salt, pepper, and other herbs and spices.
- Serve the chicken salad on a bed of lettuce, or in a sandwich or wrap. This chicken salad with toasted almonds is a versatile dish that can be served in many different ways. It's a great option for a light lunch or dinner, and it's also a popular party food. The toasted almonds add a nice crunch and flavor to the salad, and they also help to keep it moist. This salad is also relatively healthy, as it's made with lean chicken, celery, and onion. Overall, chicken salad with toasted almonds is a delicious and versatile dish that's perfect for any occasion. With its simple ingredients and easy preparation, it's a great option for busy weeknights or casual gatherings.
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