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Home » Recipes

Aug 13, 2019 · Modified: Jul 18, 2024 by JCP

The Best Southern Chicken Salad

Hey, y'all! There is no food that I love more than chicken salad. It's easy-to-make, simple, and very reminiscent of my youth south of the Mason-Dixon Line. While there are many varieties that I love, I don't think that a classic, southern chicken salad can be rivaled. It's thick, flavorful, and should - in my opinion - have a grape in every bite. Looking for a recipe that you'll enjoy for years to come? Look no further than my guide on how to make the best southern chicken salad!

How To Make The Best Southern Chicken Salad

How to Serve

My chicken salad serves well with artisanal crackers, makes the perfect sandwich, pairs fantastic with celery and other raw vegetables, yet is best served on a buttery croissant. It's the perfect recipe to serve at a luncheon!

The Best Southern Chicken Salad Recipe - With Mayonnaise, Sour Cream, Grapes, and Celery
The Best Southern Chicken Salad

The Best Southern Chicken Salad

JC Phelps

Looking for the best southern chicken salad recipe? Look no further than this version from Kentucky food writer JC Phelps!

5 from 13 votes
Print Recipe
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Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course brunch, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine American, Southern

Servings 8 servings
Calories 462 kcal

Equipment

  • Stand mixer

Ingredients

  

  • 1 Rotisserie Chicken white meat only
  • 4 stalks Celery diced
  • 3 c. purple seedless grapes halved
  • 1 ⅛ c. mayonnaise can add more for desired consistency
  • ½ c. sour cream
  • 1.5 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. onion powder
  • Kosher salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste
  • Croissants halved
  • Bibb lettuce washed

Instructions

 

  • Remove white meat from rotisserie chicken; chop and add to a mixing bowl.
  • Thoroughly wash celery, dice, and add to the bowl.
  • Add mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the same bowl. Fold in all ingredients with a spatula.
  • Using a stand mixer, mix on the lowest power setting until everything is evenly combined. Stop frequently to stir with your spatula, being careful to not over-mix. If the mixture needs more mayonnaise, salt, or pepper, add at your discretion.
  • Cut grapes in half and fold them into the chicken salad.
  • Slice croissants in half, add washed bibb lettuce, and add desired amount of chicken salad. Enjoy!

Notes

If you want to add nuts, add to taste. I love adding pecans to this recipe! 

Nutrition

Calories: 462kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 22gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 15gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 495mgPotassium: 263mgFiber: 1gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 262IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 1mg

Keyword best southern chicken salad, chicken salad
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
The Best Southern Chicken Salad Recipe - With Mayonnaise, Sour Cream, Grapes, and Celery

Y’all come back now, ya hear?

My best,

JC

Keep Up With JCP Eats

Thank you so much for visiting the blog today! I’d love to keep in touch via social media. You can follow my content on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Tik Tok, Twitter, and LinkedIn. I also author a sister website to JCP Eats, Unabashedly Southern, on which I write about southern lifestyle. Read Unabashedly Southern here.

Love the recipe for the Best Southern Chicken Salad? Check out my other blog posts here!

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Reader Interactions

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Ailish says

    July 17, 2025 at 2:39 pm

    5 stars
    Seriously, the best chicken salad I’ve ever had. Usually don’t put grapes in my chicken salad but I will from now on. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

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JC Phelps Kentucky Blogger

Hey, y’all! I’m Dr. JC Phelps, but I'm better known as JCP Eats online. I’m so glad you’re here! I’m a fiercely loyal southerner, the most devout mayonnaise fan below the Mason-Dixon Line, and a lifelong believer that good food brings people together. Welcome to my Kentucky Kitchen!

Learn more about JC here.

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