Easy Curried Chicken Salad Recipe (2024)

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This easy Curried Chicken Salad makes the perfect sandwich, wrap, or salad on a big bed of greens. Thanks to toasted almonds and fresh grapes it has just the right balance of crunch and sweetness.

If you’ve been paying crazy prices for Curried Chicken Salad at Whole Foods or your local deli, you’ve come to the right place. This chicken salad recipe is easy to make, and thankfully, costs so much less than the stuff at the salad bar.

Curried Chicken Salad has been popular for decades, and really, what’s not to love? Tender roasted chicken breast tossed with nuts, fruit, and celery in a fragrant turmeric-and-spice-scented mayonnaise dressing…yum. Add or subtract ingredients to make your version exactly the way you like it.

Recipe ingredients

Ingredient notes

• Celery seed: I really like celery seed in chicken salad. But, if you don’t have it and you don’t want to buy it, it’s okay to leave it out.
• Chicken:Leftover rotisserie chicken or even something like Cajun Chicken works great in this recipe.
• Grapes: I prefer to quarter my grapes for chicken salad so they are roughly the same as everything else. But, it’s okay if you just cut them in half.
• Slivered almonds: To toast your almonds, cook them in medium skillet over medium heat until browned and fragrant, stirring occasionally, about 3 to 5 minutes.

Step-by-step instructions

1. In a large bowl, add mayonnaise, lemon juice, curry powder, celery seed, and salt and pepper to taste (I like ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper). Whisk to combine.

2. Add chicken, celery, grapes, scallions, almonds, and parsley. Toss to coat. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper.

3. Serve on bread or in lettuce cups.

Recipe tips and variations

• Yield: This recipe makes about 6 cups of Curried Chicken Salad, enough for 8 sandwiches, ¾ cup salad per sandwich.
• Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: Unfortunately, due to the mayonnaise, this recipe doesn’t freeze well.
• Whole30 Compatible: Use an approved mayonnaise such as Primal Kitchen Mayo and substitute lettuce leaves for the bread.
• More mix-ins: Try shredded carrots, roasted cashews, Mango chutney, diced apples, raisins or cranberries, or some cooked quinoa.
• Lettuce wraps: Serve in lettuce cups or over a salad for a delicious light lunch.
• More deli salads:If you love this Curried Chicken Salad, be sure to explore myclassic Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad,Egg Salad,Ham Salad,Potato Salad, and my favoriteMacaroni Salad.