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Creamy, fresh, delicious, and full of flavor, this chicken Waldorf salad is perfect for a quick and easy lunch. Made with apple, walnuts, grapes, celery, and chicken breast and dressed with lemon and homemade mayonnaise.

chicken salad waldorf recipe

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Waldorf salad is a loved classic. It’s a deli favorite but it’s so easy to make at home.

Made with cooked chicken strips, this is a hearty salad that’s great for quick lunches. Made with a few simple ingredients, it’s simple but so tasty! Sweet grapes, earthy walnuts, and crunchy celery give this salad so much flavor and texture.

Be sure to try my Chicken Caesar Salad and Turkey Salad too!

Why you will love this chicken waldorf salad recipe!

  • Quick to make: It takes no more than 15 minutes to chop up the ingredients and mix everything together.
  • Hearty: Because we make this Waldorf salad with chicken, this is more than a side dish. It’s perfect for lunch or a warm-weather dinner.
  • So tasty: The combination of ingredients in Waldorf salad never gets old. Nice and creamy with hints of lemon, a little sweet and nutty, every bite is super delicious!
close up image of waldorf salad with chicken

Tools you will need

Ingredients for Waldorf salad with chicken

  • Mayonnaise: This is what gives this salad it’s creamy texture. I prefer to use a full fat mayo for the best texture and flavor, but you can use a low fat one if you prefer.
  • Lemon Juice: Just a little is used to add some acidity to balance out the flavors. Use fresh rather than bottled juice for the best taste.
  • Apples: Use sweet apples and core and cube them. I like to use a mix of red and green to add color.
  • Grapes: I use red seedless grapes and cut them in half before tossing with the other ingredients. You can use seedless green as well.
  • Celery: Thinly sliced celery adds a great crunch to the salad.
  • Walnuts: Coarsely chopped for texture and a delicious nutty flavor.
  • Chicken: To make this salad more filling, cooked chicken strips are added for additional protein.
chicken waldorf salad ingredients

How to make chicken Waldorf salad

  • In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
  • Stir in the apple, celery, grapes, and walnuts into the waldorf salad dressing.
  • Serve on a bed of fresh lettuce and top with cooked chicken strips.
process images of making waldorf salad with chicken

TIPS FROM NELI’S KITCHEN

Recipe Notes and Tips

  • For a healthier version of this chicken Waldorf salad recipe, you can swap some or all of the mayonnaise with plain or Greek yogurt.
  • You can use rotisserie chicken or make poached chicken if you don’t have any leftover cooked chicken.
  • Keep the healthy Waldorf chicken salad covered and refrigerated if not serving straight away.
  • If making ahead of time, leave the apples out until you are ready to serve so that they don’t brown.
  • Dried cranberries make an excellent addition!

Can you make it ahead of time?

This chicken Waldorf salad is best enjoyed on the day it is made as the apples can start to brown if it sits for too long. If you want to make it further ahead, leave the apples out and just add them in before serving. The salad will keep well, covered in the fridge, without the apples, for 3 to 4 days.

Why is it called Waldorf salad?

The original Waldorf salad recipe was first created at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City. It was served in 1896 at a charity ball. It didn’t contain nuts when it was first created, but walnuts were added early in the 1900s. Originally served as an appetizer or light meal, the addition of chicken in this recipe makes it more filling and hearty.

chicken waldorf salad over lettuce in a black bowl

What do you serve it with?

I like to serve this on a bed of lettuce for a delicious light and warm meal. It’s also great served in wraps or sandwiches. Enjoy a chicken Waldorf sandwich with a side of sweet potato chips or homemade baked fries, and a light tomato cucumber avocado salad.

waldorf chicken salad in a bowl

More Salad Recipes

If you loved this Waldorf chicken salad recipe, I am sure you will love these other easy main meal salads as well:

If you enjoyed this Chicken Waldorf Salad recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

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Chicken Waldorf Salad

Creamy, fresh, delicious and full of flavor, this chicken Waldorf salad is perfect for a quick and easy lunch. Made with apple, walnuts, grapes, celery and chicken breast and dressed with lemon and mayonnaise.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Save This Recipe

Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Delicious Meets Healthy.

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
  • Stir in the apple, celery, grapes, and walnuts into the Waldorf salad dressing.
  • Serve on a bed of fresh lettuce and top with cooked chicken strips.

Video

Notes

  • For a healthier version of this chicken Waldorf salad recipe, you can swap some or all of the mayonnaise with plain or Greek yogurt.
  • You can use rotisserie chicken or make poached chicken if you don’t have any leftover cooked chicken.
  • Keep the healthy Waldorf chicken salad covered and refrigerated if not serving straight away.
  • If making ahead of time, leave the apples out until you are ready to serve so that they don’t brown.
  • Dried cranberries make an excellent addition!

Nutrition

Calories: 399kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 18g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 574mg | Potassium: 611mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 6862IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition Disclaimer: Nutritional values are estimates and may vary with ingredients, brands, and portion sizes. For accuracy, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this recipe is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical or nutritional advice. I am not a doctor or a dietitian. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized guidance regarding your diet or health. For more details, please read my full disclosure page.

About Neli Howard

Meet Neli Howard, the food blogger and recipe developer behind Delicious Meets Healthy. With over 12 years of cooking experience, Neli shares easy, wholesome recipes made with real ingredients to help you cook stress-free, flavorful meals the whole family will love. Her work has been featured in Healthline, Forbes, CNN, and more.

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