Best 7 Quick And Crunchy Chicken Salad Recipes

Indulge in a delightful culinary journey with our "Quick and Crunchy Chicken Salad" recipe, a symphony of flavors and textures that will tantalize your taste buds. This delectable dish combines succulent chicken, crisp vegetables, and a tangy dressing, resulting in a refreshing and satisfying meal.

Our collection of recipes offers variations to suit every palate, from the classic chicken salad with celery and mayonnaise to innovative twists like the avocado chicken salad with a creamy avocado dressing or the Asian chicken salad with a sweet and spicy dressing. Each recipe is carefully crafted with fresh ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, ensuring a fuss-free cooking experience.

Whether you're seeking a light and healthy lunch option or a vibrant side dish to complement your main course, our chicken salad recipes have got you covered. Discover the perfect balance of flavors and textures in every bite, and embark on a culinary adventure that will leave you craving for more.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

CRUNCHY CHICKEN SALAD

Crunchy Chicken Salad image

Picnic time! Pack Crunchy Chicken Salad for your next picnic in the park!

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories Entree

Time 22m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 package (3 ounces) Oriental-flavor ramen noodle soup mix
2 tablespoons sesame seed
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups cut-up cooked chicken
1/2 cup dry-roasted peanuts
4 medium green onions, sliced (1/4 cup)
1 bag (16 ounces) coleslaw mix

Steps:

Melt butter in 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Stir in seasoning packet from noodles. Break block of noodles into bite-size pieces over skillet; stir noodles into butter mixture. Cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly; stir in sesame seed. Cook about 2 minutes longer, stirring constantly, until noodles are golden brown.
Mix sugar, vinegar, oil and pepper in large bowl. Add remaining ingredients and noodle mixture; toss.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 360, Carbohydrate 24 g, Cholesterol 55 mg, Fat 2, Fiber 4 g, Protein 20 g, SaturatedFat 7 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 370 mg

COOL & CRUNCHY CHICKEN SALAD

Cool & Crunchy Chicken Salad image

When the weather sizzles, get your chill on with a cool chicken salad. Mine uses grapes, pecans and celery for that signature crunch. -Sarah Smiley, Bangor, Maine

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Lunch

Time 25m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

1/2 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon spicy brown mustard
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 cup seedless red grapes, halved
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup pecan halves, toasted
Lettuce leaves

Steps:

In a large bowl, mix the first eight ingredients until blended. Add chicken, grapes, celery and pecans; toss to coat. Serve on lettuce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 340 calories, Fat 24g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 69mg cholesterol, Sodium 311mg sodium, Carbohydrate 10g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 22g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

CRISPY CHICKEN SALAD WITH YUMMY HONEY MUSTARD DRESSING

Crispy Chicken Salad with Yummy Honey Mustard Dressing image

We drizzled Jillena's 5-star-rated Yummy Honey Mustard Dressing over a bed of fresh greens and air-fried chicken strips to create this flavorful main dish salad. Chill dressing, covered, up to 1 week. Makes about 1 1/3 cups dressing.

Provided by coweed

Time 40m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 19

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 ½ cups panko bread crumbs
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
cooking spray
½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons water
1 ½ pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
8 cups mixed spring salad greens
2 large carrots, peeled and sliced diagonally
1 cup sliced radishes
¾ cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
3 tablespoons honey
4 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Steps:

Heat oil in an extra-large skillet over medium heat. Add panko and garlic powder. Cook, stirring, until toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a shallow dish and let cool, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in parsley.
Coat an air fryer basket with cooking spray and preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Meanwhile, in another shallow dish, stir together flour, salt, and pepper. In a third shallow dish, whisk together eggs and water.
Cut chicken breasts lengthwise into 1x3-inch strips. Dip chicken strips into flour mixture, then egg mixture, then panko mixture to coat.
Working in batches, add chicken to the preheated air fryer. Cook, turning once, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest parts registers 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate; cover and keep warm.
Toss together salad greens, carrots, and radishes in a large bowl.
Stir mayonnaise, yellow mustard, honey, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice for dressing together in a small bowl.
Divide salad among plates, top with chicken, and drizzle with dressing.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 560.2 calories, Carbohydrate 43 g, Cholesterol 137.1 mg, Fat 32.3 g, Fiber 3.2 g, Protein 31.8 g, SaturatedFat 5.5 g, Sodium 679.9 mg, Sugar 11.2 g

CLASSIC CHICKEN SALAD

Classic Chicken Salad image

A classic chicken salad recipe is always a favorite at a picnic, a barbecue, or an office potluck! Just a few ingredients can be transformed into a cold, creamy salad or filling for a homemade chicken salad sandwich or wrap!

Provided by Holly Nilsson

Categories Salad

Time 15m

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

2 cups cooked chicken (chopped)
½ cup mayonnaise
1 stalk celery (chopped)
1 green onion (diced (or chives or red onion))
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
½ teaspoon seasoned salt
pepper to taste
1 teaspoon fresh dill (optional)

Steps:

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve as a sandwich or over salad.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 206 kcal, Carbohydrate 1 g, Protein 15 g, Fat 16 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Cholesterol 48 mg, Sodium 362 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1 g, ServingSize 1 serving

CRUNCHY CHICKEN SALAD

Crunchy chicken salad image

Crunchy chicken salad full of fresh Asian flavours

Provided by Good Food team

Categories Dinner, Lunch, Main course, Snack, Starter, Supper

Time 40m

Number Of Ingredients 18

Ingredients

4 tbsp Vietnamese fish sauce (nuoc mam) or Thai fish sauce (nam pla)
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp sugar , or more to taste if liked
½ tsp coarsely ground black pepper
1 small red chilli , seeded and finely chopped
200g white cabbage , finely shredded
2 medium carrots , finely shredded
1 small onion , finely sliced
2 tbsp roughly chopped fresh mint leaves
2 tbsp roughly chopped coriander leaves
3 garlic cloves , peeled
3 plump fresh red chillies , halved and seeded
1 tbsp caster sugar
3 tbsp Vietnamese fish sauce (nuoc mam) or Thai fish sauce (nam pla)
3 tbsp rice vinegar
small bunch of fresh mint
2 tbsp salted peanut , very finely chopped

Steps:

Half fill a medium wok or deep frying pan with water, sprinkle in half of the fish sauce and bring to the boil. Turn down the heat to a simmer, lower the chicken into the water and cover the pan with a lid. Simmer for 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Lift the chicken out of the water and leave until cool enough to handle.
Meanwhile, mix the remaining fish sauce in a large bowl with the lime juice, sugar, pepper and chopped chilli. Tip in the cabbage, carrots and onion. Mix well.
Shred the chicken and toss it into the salad with the herbs. Mix again, cover and leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours (overnight is ideal).
To make the nuoc cham sauce, pound the garlic, chillies and caster sugar to a paste using a pestle and mortar. Mix in the fish sauce, vinegar and 6 tbsp water. (It will keep for up to 4 days in the fridge.)
To serve, toss the salad, taste and add more sugar, if you like. Scatter mint leaves on each plates, pile the salad on top and sprinkle with peanuts. Serve with individual bowls of nuoc cham sauce to pour over.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 212 calories, Fat 5 grams fat, SaturatedFat 1 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 20 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 8 grams sugar, Fiber 3 grams fiber, Protein 22 grams protein, Sodium 4.98 milligram of sodium

CRUNCHY-STYLE CHICKEN SALAD

Crunchy-Style Chicken Salad image

Water chestnuts and pecans dress up this creamy chicken salad sent by Margaret McNeil in Memphis, Tennessee. It looks especially pretty nestled on a bed of lettuce leaves, but it also makes a fun sandwich filling.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Lunch

Time 10m

Yield 2 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken
3 tablespoons chopped celery
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons chopped water chestnuts
4 teaspoons sweet pickle relish
4 teaspoons diced pimientos, drained
1 tablespoon chopped pecans
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 lettuce leaves
1 hard-boiled large egg, sliced

Steps:

In a bowl, combine the first nine ingredients. Serve on lettuce-lined plates. Garnish with egg slices.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 304 calories, Fat 14g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 202mg cholesterol, Sodium 692mg sodium, Carbohydrate 10g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 34g protein.

CRUNCHY ASIAN CHICKEN SALAD

Crunchy Asian Chicken Salad image

With convenient coleslaw mix and ramen noodles, you can create a tasty main-dish salad in just 15 minutes.

Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories Entree

Time 15m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 package (3 oz) oriental-flavor ramen noodle soup mix
2 tablespoons sesame seed
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups cut-up cooked chicken
1/4 cup dry-roasted peanuts, if desired
4 medium green onions, sliced (1/4 cup)
1 bag (16 oz) coleslaw mix (8 cups)
1 can (11 oz) mandarin orange segments, drained

Steps:

In 10-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in seasoning packet from soup mix. Break block of noodles into bite-size pieces over skillet; stir into butter mixture. Cook noodles 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in sesame seed. Cook about 2 minutes longer, stirring occasionally, until noodles are golden brown; remove from heat.
In large glass or plastic bowl, mix sugar, vinegar, oil and pepper. Add noodle mixture and remaining ingredients; toss. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 290, Carbohydrate 26 g, Cholesterol 50 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 3 g, Protein 16 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, ServingSize 1 Serving (about 1 1/4 Cups), Sodium 260 mg, Sugar 16 g, TransFat 1 g

Tips:

Use high-quality chicken. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your salad. Look for chicken that is fresh, organic, and free-range.
Cook the chicken properly. Overcooked chicken is dry and tough, so be careful not to overcook it. Cook the chicken until it is cooked through but still juicy.
Use a variety of vegetables. This will add flavor, texture, and color to your salad. Some good choices include celery, onion, grapes, and nuts.
Use a creamy base. This will help to bind the salad together and make it more flavorful. Some good choices include mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, or sour cream.
Season the salad to taste. Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste. You can also add herbs, such as dill or parsley, for extra flavor.

Conclusion:

Chicken salad is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for lunch or dinner. It is also a great way to use up leftover chicken. With a few simple ingredients, you can make a chicken salad that is both healthy and satisfying. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal, give this chicken salad recipe a try.