If you’re looking for a chicken salad that perfectly balances creamy, tangy, sweet, and savory in every bite, this recipe is about to become your new favorite. The secret ingredient? Plump, tart dried cherries that add an unexpected burst of flavor and a touch of Midwestern charm to this classic dish. Whether you’re meal prepping for the week ahead, planning a picnic, or just need a quick but impressive lunch, this chicken salad delivers big on flavor while keeping the ingredient list refreshingly simple.
Homemade Chicken Salad Recipe
My husband Dave has been making this chicken salad for years as a quick, easy, and high-protein lunch option. He’s always used “some chicken, then a pinch of this, a handful of that…” never actually measuring anything out. After watching him prep this meal countless times, I’ve finally taken the time to perfect and write down the measurements that make his chicken salad so satisfying, so you can enjoy it too!
As Wisconsin residents, we’ve come to appreciate the special quality of Door County cherries, while our neighbors in Michigan are equally proud of their cherries (both states are famous for their exceptional cherry harvests). Both areas are known for their Montmorency cherries that have the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness that elevates this chicken salad beyond ordinary versions.
When the dried cherries blend with the creamy dressing, they create little bursts of flavor that pair beautifully with the savory chicken and crunchy celery. One taste, and you’ll never go back to basic chicken salad again!
Ingredients for Creamy Chicken Salad
- Cooked, Shredded Chicken Breast. I almost exclusively use our slow cooker shredded chicken because it’s juicy, flavorful, and super easy to make a large portion of. However, you can also boil chicken just for this recipe (see detailed instructions below in the ‘How to Cook Chicken Breast for Chicken Salad’ section)
- Celery. Adds a little crunch, helping to create a nice texture.
- Dried Cherries. Add a bright, tart, and almost juicy element to our salad that is such a delight.
- Mayonnaise. Used to make our creamy dressing.
- Paprika, Salt, and Pepper. Used to season and enhance the other flavors of our chicken salad.
See the recipe card at the bottom of the page for all ingredient measurements and recipe instructions.
How to Cook Chicken Breast for Chicken Salad
We personally love using our crockpot shredded chicken for this recipe! It’s an easy way to prepare a large portion of chicken that’s also seasoned well and super juicy!
Don’t have cooked chicken? Poach (or boil) chicken breast. Simply place your boneless, skinless chicken breasts into a large pot and add water until there is an additional 2″ of water above the chicken. Add about 1 teaspoon of salt to the water per pound of chicken cooking. Bring the water to a low boil, flipping your chicken with tongs during the process. Place a lid on the pot, turn off the heat, and allow the chicken to sit in the hot water for about 10 minutes (or until it’s reached an internal temperature of 165°F). Remove from the water and let the chicken rest a few minutes before dicing it into small cubes or shredding.
You can also use leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken too! Especially during the summertime, we love chopping up extra grilled chicken into cubes for this recipe.
How Much Shredded Chicken in a Breast?
A smaller, 6 ounce chicken breast will yield about 1 Cup of shredded chicken. An 8 ounce breast will yield about 1 + ⅓ Cup of shredded chicken. So if you have a one pound (16 ounce) container of chicken breast, you’ll end up with about 2 + ⅔ Cups of shredded chicken.
How to Make Homemade Chicken Salad
Add the chicken, cherries, and celery to a medium bowl and mix together.
Add in the mayo and spices.
Stir until well combined / well coated with the mayo. Taste and adjust to your liking.
Serve and enjoy!
Shredded Chicken Salad Variations
Use dried cranberries (craisins) instead of dried cherries. You can swap these out 1-for-1 if desired. You’ll still get a sweet and tart pop of flavor.
Add more texture with finely chopped nuts or apple. Adding chopped pecans, chopped walnuts, or chopped granny smith apple brings another fun textural element to this recipe (and adds a fun flavor twist too). I recommend adding in the same amount of nuts or apple as the diced celery outlined in the recipe card as a starting point.
Swap out half the mayo for plain Greek yogurt. This is a great way to keep things creamy, add a little tang, increase the amount of protein, and reduce the amount of fat. We use a mix of mayo and Greek yogurt in our Mexican tuna salad, and all Greek yogurt as our base in our popular no mayo tuna salad recipe!
How to Serve
You can serve your chicken salad in several different ways. Here are some of our favorites:
- Use it as the protein on a green salad in a bowl.
- Served it on bread like a sandwich. Try it on a buttery croissant (our favorite!), between two slices of your go-to bread, open-faced on toast, or on your favorite bun or roll.
- Use a large tortilla and make a chicken salad wrap.
- Serve on lettuce leaves to make a lettuce wrap.
- Spoon it onto or use it as a dip with your favorite crackers.
What to Serve with Chicken Salad with Dried Cherries
Chicken salad can be served alongside a wide variety sides. Some of our favorite options include:
- Chips. You can’t beat the crunch of a good chip with a good sandwich! Try this with your favorite classic potato chips, sweet potato chips, or even veggie chips.
- Raw veggies, like carrot sticks, celery, or cucumber slices.
- Dill pickle spears. You’re often served sandwiches with a pickle spear for a reason – it’s a nice compliment to your sammie.
- A green salad. It can simply be greens tossed in a light vinaigrette, your favorite bagged salad, or something a little fancier.
- Soup. Who doesn’t love a good soup and sandwich combo? Try it with our Tuscan white bean and lentil soup, mushroom wild rice soup, black bean sweet potato chili, or any of your favorite soups.
- Classic BBQ sides. Like corn on the cob, baked beans, coleslaw, broccoli salad, etc. Our 101 4th of July Recipes post will give you all kinds of ideas!
Storage Information
Store prepared chicken salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Can you freeze chicken salad?
No, chicken salad does not freeze well. The mayo will separate and the flavor and texture is affected negatively.
Shredded Chicken Salad Recipe FAQs
Do you put mustard in chicken salad? While I have never done so, adding a squirt of mustard is a common way to add a tangy flavor to chicken salad. If you’d like to try this, Dijon is a popular choice.
Best seasoning for chicken salad? Our chicken salad with cherries uses a simple combination of paprika, salt, and pepper. Other seasonings you could try adding if desired include poultry seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, mustard powder, and celery seed. You could also try adding herbs (fresh or dried) like dill, parsley, or chives.
How to make bland chicken salad taste better? There are several ways you can do this:
- Simply try adding more of the spices called for in the recipe (it may be under seasoned to your taste).
- You can also try and liven it up by adding a little acid (like a dollop of plain Greek yogurt, a squirt of fresh lemon juice, or a little Dijon mustard mixed into the dressing).
- Toss in some fresh herbs like dill, parsley, or chives. Depending on the flavor profile of the salad, basil, tarragon, or mint may also work.
- Add aromatics like finely chopped onions (white or red), shallots, or fresh garlic.
Love This Recipe? Try One of These Chicken Recipes Next!
Homemade Chicken Salad with Dried Cherries
Equipment
- Medium Mixing Bowl
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 2 Cups cooked, shredded chicken* (you can also cube your chicken)
- ½ Cup dried cherries (option to rough chop to make smaller)
- ½ Cup finely diced celery (about 2 stalks)
- ½ Cup mayonnaise (we use regular, not low-fat)
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon salt (we use a few cranks from a grinder)
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper (we use a few cranks from a grinder)
Instructions
- Place the chicken, cherries, and celery into a medium bowl and mix together.
- Then add in the mayo and spices. Stir until all ingredients are well-coated with the mayo.
- Serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Use dried cranberries (craisins) instead of dried cherries. Replace the cherries 1-for-1 if desired.
- Add more texture with finely chopped nuts or apple. If desired, mix in the an equal amount of nuts or apple as the diced celery outlined in the recipe card as a starting point.
- Swap out half the mayo for plain Greek yogurt. This is a great way to keep things creamy, add a little tang, increase the amount of protein, and reduce the amount of fat.
- Add aromatics like finely chopped onions (white or red), shallots, or fresh garlic.
David says
Really tasty stuff! The cherries are a really nice touch. Filling and flavorful.
Meredith says
glad to hear you enjoyed this chicken salad with cherries David!
Leiah Fundell says
Loved this recipe. I added white onion and garlic powder and more seasoning, paired it with Costco croissants, and brought to a work potluck. Everyone loved it! Will make again and again.
Meredith says
I’m so happy to hear the chicken salad was a hit at your potluck!! Thanks for giving the recipe a try, and so glad to hear you enjoyed it.
Meredith says
love this version so much!