Delicious Chicken Salad with Grapes makes for the ultimate chicken salad sandwich! This recipe is easy to mix together with cooked chicken, grapes, green onions, chopped pecans and mayonnaise. It’s perfect for a hearty lunch, parties, and special events. Serve it on a lettuce wrap, your favorite bread or a croissant roll for a fancy touch!

Chicken salad with grapes served on a croissant.

Chicken salad with grapes is the perfect recipe for lunch or a light dinner, and takes hardly any effort to mix all together. We like to use shredded rotisserie chicken, so there is zero amount of cooking required. Simply shred up the chicken, mix in all the other ingredients, and let it chill until you’re ready to eat. It’s a great make-ahead dish and is delicious on buttery croissants or just served on sandwich bread or in a tortilla wrap. We even love to enjoy it with crackers!

I know, there are tons of chicken salad recipes out there, but this one is by far the best I’ve ever tasted!

This easy chicken salad recipe comes from Joanna Gaines and it is sure to please! It’s sweet, savory and satisfying. Since visiting Magnolia Table in Waco, and enjoying it for lunch, I’ve been dying to recreate it. When my sister let me borrow The Magnolia Table cookbook from Joanna Gaines, I was super excited to see the classic chicken salad recipe inside. There are many other recipes in the cookbook that I’m looking forward to making, but up first is this easy chicken salad with grapes recipe!

Such a quick and easy lunch to prepare and enjoy! The whole family enjoyed this salad and I’ll definitely be making again!

— Demeter
Three chicken salad sandwiches made with croissants.

Ingredients needed

The great thing about this chicken salad with grapes recipe is that it only requires a handful of simple wholesome ingredients! Feel free to add in any extras that you love, like pickles and fresh dill for a little tang. Here’s everything you’ll need to make it:

  • Shredded chicken. Use any cooked chicken for this recipe. We love using rotisserie chicken because it’s convenient and super flavorful.
  • Red seedless grapes. Adds just a hint of delicious sweetness. We really love the contrasting color of red grapes and they’re slightly sweeter than green grapes, but either will work.
  • Green onion or chives. Finely chopped for fresh flavor and a pop of color.
  • Chopped pecans. Use toasted pecans to bring out more of a nutty flavor. We love the crunch but you can omit the pecans if you’re not a fan of nuts.
  • Mayonnaise. The creamy salad dressing base.

For me, this recipe couldn’t get any more delicious! Make this for your next lunch gathering, shower, barbecue or for the tastiest lunch!

Shredded chicken, grapes, pecans and mayo divided into small bowls.

How to make this recipe

Let me show you how easy it is to whip up this tasty lunch!

Once you have all of your ingredients out and ready to go, chicken salad is as easy as stirring them together in a large bowl. Here’s the simple process:

  1. Prep the ingredients. Gather all of the ingredients and start by shredding the chicken, slicing the grapes, chopping the pecans, and slicing the green onion (or chives).
  2. Stir salad ingredients. Add all ingredients along with the mayonnaise and salt & pepper to a large mixing bowl, and stir to combine.
  3. Serve and enjoy! Now, you’ve got yourself a nutritious, delicious lunch! I told you this chicken salad recipe was easy! And it’s full of flavor, quick to make and super filling with all that protein!
Cutting up grapes and preparing ingredients for chicken salad.
Grapes, shredded chicken, and chopped pecans in a large glass mixing bowl.
Chicken salad with grapes in a large glass mixing bowl.

Extra sandwich ingredients

Chicken salad sandwiches are great with just the bread and salad, but we especially love to add extra ingredients for irresistible flavor and texture. Plus, many of these ideas also add nutrients. Here are some sandwich add-ons to try:

  • Add sliced pickles or celery for extra crunch.
  • I’m always a fan of avocado slices on my sandwich.
  • Top the salad with lettuce or salad greens for fresh flavor.
  • Adding fresh herbs, sprouts or pea shoots is a great way to add color, texture and nutrients.
  • Bacon slices make any sandwich more delicious! Wouldn’t you agree?!
  • Add a slice of fresh juicy tomato. This is a must for me when we have garden tomatoes!

Frequently asked questions

How to give chicken salad more flavor?

From spices to extra chicken salad ingredients, there are many ways to add extra flavor. The grapes in this recipe add sweetness that’s a nice contrast with the other savory flavors. You can also add red onion or dijon mustard for a little zip, parsley for freshness and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for brightness. Add salt and black pepper to taste!

Is chicken salad actually healthy?

It really depends on the recipe and how it’s served, but this specific recipe includes very simple whole food ingredients. The lean chicken gives this a nice boost of protein while the grapes, pecans and green onions add other nutrients. To decrease the fat, substitute all or part of the mayo with Greek yogurt to make the chicken salad dressing, and for a low-carb option, serve it on lettuce cups.

Should chicken salad be warm or cold?

Chicken salad is best when it’s served chilled. We recommend letting the mixture chill in the fridge 1 to 2 hours before serving. This also helps all the flavors meld together and intensify for the tastiest dish.

Serving suggestions

There are so many options for ways to serve chicken salad with grapes! Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Sandwich. Chicken salad is traditionally served on sandwich bread and even though it’s super simple, it’s pretty darn delicious. You can even jazz it up by serving it on croissants, brioche bread or a toasted bagel. When I ordered the chicken salad sandwich at The Magnolia Table, it was served the BEST way, in my opinion, on croissants!
  • In lettuce cups. If you’re looking to keep things really light with a low-carb option, filling lettuce cups with chicken salad is a great choice. So fresh and crisp!
  • With crackers or chips. My kids love to spoon chicken salad onto buttery crackers and I have to admit, it’s incredible. You can also use it as a dip with crackers or chips.
  • Wrapped in a tortilla. Spoon a serving of this in a wrap or tortilla for a chicken salad wrap.
three chicken salad sandwiches made with croissants

Variations

This salad is fabulous as-is, but you can easily swap out the ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes. Here’s some ideas:

  • Different fruit. If you don’t have grapes, try adding chopped apple, raisins or dried cranberries. You could also just omit the grapes.
  • Nuts. This recipe calls for chopped pecans, but you can use other types of nuts, like almonds, walnuts, or cashews. Not a fan of nuts? They are completely optional.
  • Low-fat chicken salad. Replace the mayo with mashed avocado and sour cream for an avocado chicken salad. Or for a low fat version, replace some or all of the mayo with Greek yogurt.
  • Chicken. Rotisserie chicken is delicious in this chicken salad, but you can also use any leftover cooked chicken you have on-hand. Try our delicious baked chicken breasts. Canned chicken works too.
  • BBQ chicken salad. Make a BBQ version by adding 2-3 tablespoons of your favorite BBQ sauce in place of some of the mayonnaise and leave out the grapes and pecans.
  • Seasoning. Add spices to this recipe to add different flavors like garlic, paprika, curry powder, or even mustard. Try chipotle seasoning and lime juice or a dash of cayenne pepper with pickled jalapeños for a spicy version.

Expert tips

This salad recipe is super easy, but here are a few tips so that it turns out perfect every time!

  • This recipe takes a total time of 10 minutes to whip up, but I like to refrigerate it for at least an hour to give the flavors a chance to come together.
  • We don’t recommend freezing chicken salad because the mayo will separate when defrosting. You can freeze the cooked chicken, then just defrost it in the refrigerator the day before you want to make the salad, and add the other fresh ingredients the day of.
  • This is a great recipe to make-ahead at the beginning of the week for grab-and-go lunches, and my go-to when I have a busy schedule ahead. You’ll never want to go back to store-bought chicken salad again!

Storage recommendations

This healthy chicken salad with grapes is so tasty there probably won’t be leftovers! But if there is, it will keep fresh in the fridge for up to about 4 days. That means, this recipe totally works for meal prep! Store it in an airtight container for best results. Give it a good stir when you’re ready to serve it.

Don’t leave it out at room temperature for more than two hours for food safety.

chicken salad sandwich with grapes and rotisserie chicken on a croissant

More delicious salad recipes

Looking for more easy salad recipes to whip up? Try these other favorites!

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.

Chicken salad with grapes served on a croissant.
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Chicken Salad with Grapes

Yield: 10 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Chicken Salad with Grapes is perfect for parties or everyday lunches. It’s flavorful with lots of texture and color. This easy salad can be made with leftover grilled chicken, baked chicken or rotisserie chicken. Serve it up on lettuce or a croissant roll for a fancy touch! Can also easily be made Whole30, paleo and gluten free!
Author: Kim

Ingredients

  • 5 cups shredded chicken from rotisserie chicken
  • 1 1/2 cups halved red grapes
  • 3/4 cup chopped pecans, optional
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onion, light and dark green parts or chives
  • 1 1/4 cups mayonnaise, (preferably Hellman's brand)
  • Salt & pepper to taste

For serving:

  • 12 small croissants, sliced horizontally in half
  • 6 butter lettuce leaves

Instructions 

  • Combine the chicken, grapes, pecans (if using), and green onion in a large bowl and toss to combine. Add the mayonnaise and salt and pepper to taste and stir until well coated.
    making chicken salad in a large glass mixing bowl
  • Serve immediately or cover and chill until cold, 1 to 2 hours. Taste for seasoning. Serve on croissants with lettuce leaves. Store chicken salad in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
    chicken salad sandwiches made with croissants

Notes

Nutritional information only includes salad and not any type of bread. This chicken salad can easily be made Whole30, Paleo and Gluten Free, depending on the type of mayo used and the way that you choose to serve it.
Recipe from The Magnolia Table Cookbook from Joanna Gaines. Photos by Sasha at Eat Love Eats.
Author: Kim
Course: Lunch, Salad
Cuisine: American
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 281kcal, Carbohydrates: 4.7g, Protein: 9.8g, Fat: 24.5g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 11.8g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4.9g, Cholesterol: 32.4mg, Sodium: 403.1mg, Potassium: 266.4mg, Fiber: 0.2g, Sugar: 3.5g, Vitamin A: 5IU, Vitamin C: 1.1mg, Calcium: 2.4mg, Iron: 2.2mg

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