Best 11 Cold Chicken Salad Recipes

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Indulge in a delightful culinary journey with our versatile cold chicken salad, a classic dish that offers a refreshing and satisfying meal. This beloved salad is not only easy to prepare but also incredibly customizable, allowing you to tailor it to your unique preferences. Whether you're looking for a light and healthy lunch option, a flavorful side dish, or a crowd-pleasing appetizer, our collection of cold chicken salad recipes has something for every palate. From the classic mayonnaise-based salad to variations featuring tangy yogurt or creamy avocado, each recipe offers a unique twist on this timeless dish. Discover the perfect combination of tender chicken, crisp vegetables, and flavorful dressings, and elevate your culinary skills with our curated selection of cold chicken salad recipes.

Here are our top 11 tried and tested recipes!

COLD CHICKEN MACARONI SALAD



Cold Chicken Macaroni Salad image

Cold macaroni salad meets chicken salad... good recipe for leftovers. If you want more flavor add in your favorite fruit, veggie, or whatnot--such as celery, grapes, or frozen green peas. Happy eating.

Provided by Lori Roper

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Macaroni Salad Recipes

Time 1h35m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 each skinless, boneless chicken breasts, diced
4 cups elbow macaroni
4 large eggs
1 cup mayonnaise, or more to taste
4 teaspoons white sugar
4 teaspoons white vinegar
1 teaspoon onion salt
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
1 pinch ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add chicken; continue to boil until no longer pink in the middle, 15 to 20 minutes. Let sit until cool enough to handle, then dice into small bite-sized pieces.
  • While chicken cooks, bring a second large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and rinse under cool water.
  • At the same time, place eggs in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, and let eggs stand in hot water for 15 minutes. Remove eggs from hot water, cool under cold running water, and peel.
  • Mix mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, onion salt, salt, mustard, and pepper together in a large bowl. Mix in eggs, pasta, and chicken, adding a little more mayonnaise if too dry. Chill for 1 hour, to overnight.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 468.5 calories, Carbohydrate 42.5 g, Cholesterol 119.6 mg, Fat 25.8 g, Fiber 1.7 g, Protein 16.2 g, SaturatedFat 4.4 g, Sodium 733 mg, Sugar 4 g

COLD CHICKEN PASTA SALAD



Cold Chicken Pasta Salad image

A very fresh take on pasta salad. Tweak to your liking with different veggies.

Provided by Say-Rah

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 3h21m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 14

⅓ cup olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
1 ½ tablespoons white sugar
1 ½ tablespoons grated onion
1 ½ teaspoons seasoned salt
1 ½ teaspoons dried basil
2 ½ cups water
2 cubes chicken bouillon
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
¼ cup chopped onion
1 (8 ounce) package vermicelli pasta, broken into 2-inch pieces
1 (14 ounce) can plain artichoke hearts, quartered
1 pint cherry tomatoes

Steps:

  • Whisk olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, grated onion, seasoned salt, and basil together in a bowl to make dressing. Transfer to the refrigerator.
  • Combine water and chicken bouillon cubes in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring until bouillon cubes are dissolved, about 5 minutes. Add chicken breasts and onion; simmer until chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 45 minutes.
  • Transfer chicken to a cutting board using a slotted spoon. Reserve broth in the saucepan. Cool chicken until easily handled, 5 to 10 minutes. Chop coarsely.
  • Pour several cups of water into the reserved broth in the saucepan; bring to a boil. Stir in vermicelli and cook until tender, about 6 minutes. Drain.
  • Mix dressing, chicken, and vermicelli together in a bowl. Add artichoke hearts and toss to combine. Refrigerate until flavors combine, 2 to 6 hours. Mix in tomatoes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 373.9 calories, Carbohydrate 39.7 g, Cholesterol 39.2 mg, Fat 14.7 g, Fiber 3.5 g, Protein 22 g, SaturatedFat 2.3 g, Sodium 898.3 mg, Sugar 4.9 g

ZESTY COLD CHICKEN PASTA SALAD



Zesty Cold Chicken Pasta Salad image

A quick, easy, tasty, and colorful chicken pasta salad that looks as great as it tastes. Serve at room temperature or cool for at least 1 hour.

Provided by Krysie

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Tomato Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 23m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 (8 ounce) package rotini pasta
1 cup fat-free mayonnaise
1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
½ teaspoon dried mustard
24 cherry tomatoes, halved
1 (15 ounce) can peas, drained
2 (5 ounce) cans chicken packed in water, drained
1 pinch paprika

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
  • Mix mayonnaise, lemon pepper seasoning, and dried mustard together in a large bowl. Mix in cherry tomatoes, peas, and chicken. Fold in rotini. Sprinkle paprika over salad before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 446.7 calories, Carbohydrate 69.3 g, Cholesterol 44 mg, Fat 7.3 g, Fiber 6.3 g, Protein 27.4 g, SaturatedFat 1.8 g, Sodium 1102.4 mg, Sugar 12.8 g

COLD SOBA-NOODLE SALAD WITH CHICKEN, PEPPERS, AND CUCUMBER



Cold Soba-Noodle Salad with Chicken, Peppers, and Cucumber image

Can't stand the heat? Let someone else roast the chicken, then combine it with quick-cooking noodles, raw veggies, and a stir-together sauce in this Cold Soba-Noodle Salad with Chicken, Peppers, and Cucumber dish.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Chicken

Time 25m

Number Of Ingredients 10

Coarse salt and ground pepper
8 ounces soba (Japanese buckwheat noodles)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, such as safflower
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, plus lime wedges, for serving
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 bell peppers (ribs and seeds removed), thinly sliced
1 cup torn fresh basil leaves
1 English cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded, and thinly sliced
1 rotisserie chicken, skin and bones removed, meat shredded (about 4 cups)

Steps:

  • In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook noodles until al dente; drain, and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together oils, lime juice, and vinegar; season dressing with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Add bell peppers, basil, cucumber, chicken, and noodles to bowl; toss with dressing. Serve noodle salad with lime wedges.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 554 g, Fat 18 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 50 g

COLD CHICKEN SALAD



Cold Chicken Salad image

This cool and creamy chicken salad recipe will be a big hit at your next picnic or cookout. We really enjoyed the flavor Miracle Whip brings to the salad. There's a slight tang from it. The chicken and pasta pair well with the delicious spices. Crunchy bits of celery throughout are yummy and add texture. Using a store-bought...

Provided by Lonna Weidemann

Categories     Chicken Salads

Time 25m

Number Of Ingredients 9

3/4 bag(s) elbow macaroni, cooked
1 1/2 c chicken, cooked
1 c Miracle Whip salad dressing
1 c mayonnaise
1/4 c chopped onion
1/4 c chopped celery
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder or salt
1/2 tsp Mrs. Dash all purpose seasoning

Steps:

  • 1. Boil noodles. Rinse with cool water.
  • 2. Chop all ingredients and set aside. I have made this various ways when it comes to the chicken. You can boil a chicken breast, use a can of shredded chicken, chop 3 chicken tenders from the store or use rotisserie chicken. I usually use the rotisserie as then I get 2 dinners out of one chicken.
  • 3. Mix together the mayonnaise, Miracle Whip, and spices.
  • 4. Add to a large bowl and toss with the pasta, chicken, onion, and celery. Chill for 1 hour.
  • 5. Serve with a roll for a great lunch or dinner.

COLD-SMOKED CHICKEN WITH BABY BOK CHOY AND CASHEW SALAD



Cold-Smoked Chicken with Baby Bok Choy and Cashew Salad image

Provided by Bruce Aidells

Categories     Salad     Chicken     Leafy Green     Nut     Poultry     Picnic     Quick & Easy     Lunch     Cashew     Summer     Bok Choy     Gourmet     Sugar Conscious     Dairy Free     Peanut Free     No Sugar Added     Kosher

Yield Main 4 main-course servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

6 baby bok choy, separated into leaves
2 tablespoons rice vinegar (not seasoned)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons hoisin sauce
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons Asian sesame oil
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
3 cooked cold-smoked chicken legs (see cooks' note, below), skin discarded and meat finely shredded (3 cups)
1 small seedless cucumber (usually plastic-wrapped), halved lengthwise, cored, and cut into 1/8-inch-thick matchsticks
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup roasted unsalted cashews (2 1/2 oz)

Steps:

  • Blanch bok choy in a 4- to 6-quart pot of boiling salted water until just wilted but still bright green, about 30 seconds. Drain in a colander, then rinse under cold water to stop cooking and drain well.
  • Whisk together vinegar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, pepper, and five-spice powder in a small bowl, then add oils in a slow stream, whisking until combined. Stir in sesame seeds.
  • Toss together chicken, cucumber, cilantro, and 1/3 cup dressing in a bowl.
  • Divide bok choy among 4 serving bowls and spoon chicken salad on top. Drizzle with some of remaining dressing and sprinkle with cashews. Transfer remaining dressing to an airtight container and chill for another use.

COLD FRUITED CHICKEN SALAD



Cold Fruited Chicken Salad image

Make and share this Cold Fruited Chicken Salad recipe from Food.com.

Provided by - Carla -

Categories     Chicken

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

1/4 cup dried apricot halves, quartered
1/4 cup red onion, Chopped
2 tablespoons dry white wine
2 tablespoons unsweetened orange juice
1 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
2 cups cooked chicken breasts, chopped
1/2 cup orange section, coarse chopped
1/2 cup red seedless grapes or 1/2 cup green grape
1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds
1/4 cup fresh parsley, Chopped
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 dash red pepper
4 leaves red leaf lettuce

Steps:

  • Combine quartered apricot halves, chopped onion, white wine, orange juice, and red wine vinegar in a saucepan, and bring to a boil.
  • Set aside to cool.
  • Combine apricot mixture with chicken, orange, grapes, almonds, parsley, pepper, salt, and crushed red pepper in a large bowl; cover and chill 1-2 hours.
  • Spoon chicken mixture onto a lettuce lined platter to serve.

COLD CURRIED CHICKEN SALAD WITH CRANBERRIES



Cold Curried Chicken Salad With Cranberries image

Make and share this Cold Curried Chicken Salad With Cranberries recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Redsie

Categories     Chicken Breast

Time 5m

Yield 2 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 cups cooked chicken breasts, cubed
1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
1 cup apple, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh grated gingerroot
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/3 cup low-fat mayonnaise
3 tablespoons cranberry-orange relish (bottled on shelf or fresh in deli section)
2 cups mixed baby greens

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except the greens.
  • Toss well, cover, and chill for 15 minutes (or make the day before).
  • Divide chicken salad in half and place each serving on top of mixed greens.

SALPICãO DE FRANGO - BRAZILIAN COLD CHICKEN SALAD



Salpicão De Frango - Brazilian Cold Chicken Salad image

This is a great favorite of Brazilians as a summer salad; great for picnics, it's almost a meal in itself... Found online and posted for ZWT7.

Provided by Artandkitchen

Categories     Chicken Breast

Time 20m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 -3 cooked chicken breasts, shredded (cooked)
2 slices ham, chopped
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
0.5 (8 ounce) can hearts of palm, chopped
0.5 (8 ounce) can corn
0.5 (8 ounce) can peas
1 apple, chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 green pepper, chopped (you can omit it, if you can't eat green peppers for any reason)
1 carrot, shredded
1/4 cup green olives
1/2 cup raisins
2 tablespoons mayonnaise (sprinkle with garlic salt before adding the mayo)

Steps:

  • Mix it all together and put it in the fridge until you're ready to serve.
  • If mangoes are in season, add one chopped mango. In Brazil, people like to sprinkle this salad with matchstick potato chips right before it goes to the table.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 296.1, Fat 8.5, SaturatedFat 1.8, Cholesterol 43.1, Sodium 358.4, Carbohydrate 39.4, Fiber 6.4, Sugar 21.2, Protein 19.4

HOT OR COLD CHICKEN SALAD



Hot or Cold Chicken Salad image

My husband brought this recipe home after having it for lunch at a friends home. We discovered it was great hot or cold. My neighbors request this salad cold for our get-togethers.

Provided by Grandma Joan

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 45m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

6 eggs, hard-boiled and chopped
2 cups instant rice, prepared as directed
3 cups cooked chicken, diced (I use leftover rotisserie chicken)
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onion (tops and bottoms)
8 ounces sliced water chestnuts
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup cashews
1 cup diced celery
2 ounces pimentos, diced (1/2 cup diced red bell pepper)
3/4 cup mayonnaise, I use light sometimes
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
1 (10 1/2 ounce) can cream of chicken soup, I use fat-free (condensed)

Steps:

  • In a small bowl mix mayo, lemon juice, and lemon pepper. Pour over the other ingredients and mix together.
  • If salad seems dry add a little chicken stock to moisten.
  • If hot put into a 9X11 inch oblong dish. Bake for 45 minutes at 350°, this dish may be made one day ahead, uncovered.

COLD CHICKEN QUINOA AVOCADO SALAD



Cold Chicken Quinoa Avocado Salad image

This is a summer-favorite of my family. It has a great fresh flavor and is so easy for a weeknight meal. The avocado is a fun alternative to a mayo dressing. Serve alone, on top of lettuce, or in a whole wheat pita.

Provided by Sroch

Categories     Salad     Vegetable Salad Recipes     Avocado Salad Recipes

Time 1h

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 cup water
½ cup red quinoa
2 avocados, peeled and mashed
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 pound cubed cooked chicken, chilled
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
2 tablespoons chopped scallions

Steps:

  • Bring water and quinoa to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until quinoa is tender and water has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool quinoa to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
  • Mix mashed avocado, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper together in a bowl until dressing is smooth.
  • Combine quinoa, chicken, tomatoes, and scallions in a bowl; add avocado dressing and toss to coat.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 311.1 calories, Carbohydrate 17.7 g, Cholesterol 56.8 mg, Fat 16.5 g, Fiber 6.5 g, Protein 24.6 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 83.6 mg, Sugar 1.8 g

Tips:

  • For the best flavor, use fresh, high-quality ingredients.
  • Be sure to chill the chicken and all of the other ingredients before assembling the salad.
  • If you are using a store-bought rotisserie chicken, be sure to remove the skin and bones before shredding the meat.
  • Shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
  • Add a variety of vegetables to your salad for flavor, texture, and nutrients.
  • Use a light hand with the mayonnaise or yogurt. You don't want the salad to be too heavy.
  • Season the salad with salt, pepper, and other herbs and spices to taste.
  • Serve the salad immediately or chill it for later.

Conclusion:

Cold chicken salad is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for lunch, dinner, or a snack. It's easy to make and can be customized to your liking. With so many different recipes to choose from, you're sure to find one that you'll love. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give cold chicken salad a try.

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