Almond Chicken Salad

Almond Chicken Salad is a great lunch option! Tender chicken with crunchy almonds tossed in a creamy, honey sweetened dressing.

If you are looking for a great way to use leftover chicken why not turn it into lunch the next day? This  Almond Chicken Salad does just that and it is a crowd pleaser. It is loaded with tender chicken, crunchy celery and nutty almonds all tossed in a delectable sweet and creamy dressing.

This quick and easy way to jazz up your lunch requires just a handful of ingredients and can be on your table in a flash. Whether you serve it on it’s own, on bread as sandwiches or on lettuce as a low carb meal, you’re going to love this. 

The ingredients you need to make Almond Chicken Salad:

There is two parts to this almond chicken salad: the chicken mixture and the dressing. For the chicken mixture you’re going to need: 

• CHICKEN: Any cooked shredded chicken will do. 
• ALMONDS: Slivered almonds work perfectly in this. 
• CELERY: For the added crunch. 
• ONION: This also adds crunch and flavor. I like to dice them small so that the onion flavor isn’t too overpowering.

For the creamy dressing you’ll need: 

• MAYONNAISE: It is what gives the salad it’s creaminess. 
• APPLE CIDER VINEGAR: Adds acidity. 
• HONEY: When I originally made this dressing, I didn’t add the honey. After I revamped it, I tried it and WOW. The little touch of sweetness adds another layer of flavor to the dressing and is so good. 
• GRANULATED GARLIC: you can also use garlic powder or garlic salt. If you use garlic salt go easy on the additional salt. 
• SALT AND PEPPER: Just to taste! 

How do you make Almond Chicken Salad? 

It literally could not be easier! Especially if you’ve already got the chicken shredded. 

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STEP #1: Combine chicken, celery, onion and almonds together in a bowl. Mix well. 

STEP #2: Whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, honey and granulated garlic. 

STEP #3: Pour dressing over the top of the chicken mixture and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve alone, on bread or lettuce for a low carb meal. 

I love chicken salads because they are so incredibly versatile. To make this a more classic Napa Valley (or Panera) style chicken salad, simply add some sliced grapes. I’ve also made a few other chicken salad variations over the years, if you’re looking for some check these out: 

Creamy Dill Chicken Salad

Curry Chicken Salad

Lemon Pepper Chicken Salad Sandwich

Moroccan Chicken Salad Sandwich

Note: This recipe was originally posted in 2009. It was updated in 2022 with new photos and a modified recipe.