Published: July 20, 2021 Modified: August 27, 2024 by Cathy Trochelman 17 Comments

Chicken Salad with Grapes

Clock icon 15 minutes

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The BEST Chicken Salad ever! This creamy chicken salad is loaded with red grapes, dried cranberries, green onions, celery, and chopped pecans for a deliciously savory-sweet combo that’s sure to become your new go-to!

When it comes to chicken salad, we all know the flavor possibilities are endless. They can be savory or sweet, creamy or not… but when you run across a keeper, you always know it.

I’ve tried a LOT of chicken salads in my day, but I have to say: there’s something about this Chicken Salad with Grapes that’s my all time favorite! It’s the perfect balance of savory, sweet, crunchy, creamy, and completely delicious. Some might even say addictive… and I would definitely be one of them.

It makes the best sandwiches (obviously) but it’s also SO good with crackers, on salads, or all on its own. And when you make it with rotisserie chicken, it’s super quick and easy! It’s perfect for parties or picnics, and one of those things everyone seems to love.

Whether you’re a long time chicken salad connoisseur or just getting into it for the first time, this Chicken Salad with Grapes is a must try. And I have the feeling it may just become your new favorite, too!

what you’ll need for this recipe

Chicken – I used 3 cups of cooked, chopped chicken. My favorite chicken to use for chicken salad is rotisserie, not only because it’s easy and convenient, but also because it’s incredibly moist and delicious. You can substitute chopped, cooked chicken breasts if you prefer.

Mayonnaise – I used 1 cup of classic Hellman’s Mayo for the creamy base. You can use any type of mayo OR substitute Miracle Whip or Greek yogurt.

Grapes – Grapes are one of the key ingredients in this recipe. I used 1/2 cup red seedless grapes because they’re typically sweeter than green grapes. You can substitute any color or use a combination.

Dried cranberries – Dried cranberries, also known as Craisins, can be found near the other dried fruits at the grocery store. I used 1/4 cup dried cranberries.

Onions – Onions help to balance out the sweetness of this recipe. I used 2 Tablespoons sliced green onions, which tend to be mild and good for salads. You could also use chopped red onion.

Celery – 2 stalks of chopped celery help to balance out the sweetness of this recipe. You can use either celery hearts or regular stalks.

Pecans – 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans add a nice crunch to the chicken salad. Walnuts or sliced almonds would also work, or in the case of a nut allergy, feel free to omit the nuts altogether.

Salt & pepper – I added 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper to bring out all the flavors.

how to make chicken salad with grapes

Chop the chicken. The first step is to shred or chop the chicken to desired size. There’s no clear rule of thumb, but I like to make sure it’s in bite size pieces.

Cut the grapes. Next, wash, dry, and cut the grapes in half.

Slice the celery & onions. Chop the celery and onions into small pieces. After all, no one wants a mouthful of either!

Assemble the chicken salad. Finally, in a large bowl, combine all the ingredients and stir. Chicken Salad can be served immediately on bread, croissants, or wraps OR it can be stored in the fridge for later.

storage tips

Leftover Chicken Salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I would not recommend freezing it, since the textures will be affected.

Recipe Variations

  • Substitute raisins for the dried cranberries
  • Use any type of nuts or omit them altogether
  • Add sunflower seeds for extra crunch
  • Add diced apples for more fruit flavor
  • Add your favorite fresh herbs, such as tarragon or thyme
  • Substitute green grapes for red
  • Substitute red onion for sliced green onion
  • Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice
  • Use Miracle Whip in place of Mayo according to your preferences
  • Serve in lettuce cups or over salad greens for a low-carb option

Chicken Salad with Grapes

The BEST Chicken Salad recipe ever! This creamy chicken salad is loaded with red grapes, dried cranberries, green onions, celery, and chopped pecans for a deliciously savory-sweet combo that's sure to become your new go-to!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 462kcal
Author: Cathy Trochelman

Ingredients

  • 3 cups cooked chopped chicken (1 rotisserie chicken)
  • 1 cup mayo
  • 1/2 cup red grapes halved
  • 2 stalks celery chopped
  • 2 tablespoons sliced green onions
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  1. Shred or chop chicken into bite sized pieces.
  2. Cut grapes in half.
  3. Chop celery and onions.
  4. In a medium mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well.
  5. Serve immediately on bread or with crackers OR store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Notes

Recipe Variations

  • Substitute raisins for the dried cranberries
  • Use any type of nuts or omit them altogether
  • Add sunflower seeds for extra crunch
  • Add diced apples for more fruit flavor
  • Add your favorite fresh herbs, such as tarragon or thyme
  • Substitute green grapes for red
  • Substitute red onion for sliced green onion
  • Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice
  • Use Miracle Whip in place of Mayo according to your preferences
  • Serve in lettuce cups or over salad greens for a low-carb option

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 462kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 31g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 469mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g

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Recipe Rating




17 Comments

  1. Yummy! My hubby and I enjoyed this recipe today for lunch and we absolutely loved it! We love adding grapes and pecans to our chicken salads, so tasty and adds more crunch to it! Can’t wait to make this again!

  2. This is so good. I added a little more celery and green onion and nuts as we love the crunch. I will definitely make again and again. 🙂

  3. The chicken salad recipe is delicious. The only change I made was to cut back on the Mayo and added a Tbsp of pickle juice.

  4. 5 stars
    Love this type of chicken salad. Mine has like yours the diced roasted chicken, celery, apple, green grapes, plenty of scallion and dill, pecans and a white balsamic vinaigrette with neutral tasting oil such as very good mild olive oil or canola oil, optional mayonnaise to taste , salt, pepper and a pinch of cayenne. This type of chicken salad has never any leftovers and enjoyed by all.

  5. Nice base recipe to tinker with. I might cut the salt to 1/4 tsp. and mayo back to 2/3 or 3/4 cup or try Miracle Whip maybe even half mayo and half Miracle Whip. I like pecans in chicken salad just didn’t feel like them this time. Thanks for the recipe, I will play around with it as we do sometimes to make it our own. Using rotisserie chicken makes it a lot faster to make, good idea!