Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe

Our chicken salad sandwich recipe makes a fantastic springtime dish. It’s very healthy and very appetizing, even to picky eaters.

Our recipe comes with fresh veggies, succulent chicken and a hint of mayonnaise to make the dish creamy but still light. It’s simple  and delicious with each bite tasting like a little bit of heaven!This chicken salad dish goes with literally everything. Breakfast? Covered. Snacks? Great. You can even make it into a delightful entrée.

Is Our Recipe Healthy?

Due to the wisely chosen ingredients in this recipe, we can say yes.

To increase the nutritional value, we use sprouted wheat bread instead of popular white bread, and also add a variety of vegetables and fruits. Our top two today are: 

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Grapes: Grapes are a fat-free food, low in calories but rich in vitamins. Like other plant-based foods, this fruit is a powerhouse of antioxidants – especially phytochemicals. 

Studies have revealed that these phytonutrients can help maintain heart health and help in preventing some chronic diseases such as cancer.

Celery: Celery is known for being low in calories, but its health benefits go far beyond usage as a diet food. 

High in insoluble fiber, celery helps support gut health and boost the immune system. This veggie also contains a dozen types of antioxidants which are proven to protect against cellular damage.

The amount of mayonnaise used is the biggest factor that affects the saturated fat content and calories in this chicken salad sandwich. Our advice is to keep an eye on the volume of mayo in your chicken salad to keep it healthy, but still delicious.

Ingredients You'll Need

Chicken salad sandwiches are a hit for summer meals not only because of their fruit and veg, but also their protein and carbs. The combination makes it a favorite for picnics and gatherings. 

Our recipe is simple, delicious, and easy to whip up. Let’s start with some of the main ingredients:

1. Chicken

Both chicken breast or chicken thigh work well in a chicken salad sandwich recipe. We like to start with searing the chicken in a skillet with olive oil. It’s a simple technique to make your chicken tender inside and crispy outside.

2. Onion

Lime juice or vinegar in the dressing tones down the sharpness of raw onion. What remains is the natural sweet and crunchy texture that you will love.

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3. Celery

Celery gives a nice crunch and added variety to the salad. Chop the celery into small pieces so that it doesn’t overwhelm the other ingredients in your salad bowl.

4. Grapes

A little sweetness from grapes turns this dish into a star. You might be worried about the balance of mayonnaise with sweet grapes, but this is actually a heavenly combination. 

If you are not a fan of grapes, you can use other sweet fruits instead. 

While we chose this balanced combination of ingredients for our salad, you can easily add in or substitute different things to alter the flavor profile to your liking.

Dressing for Chicken Salad

Chicken salad would not be the same without its dressing. The basic dressing for the chicken salad sandwich recipe is quite simple. A pinch of salt, pepper, and mustard are mixed with mayonnaise. Then just add a little lemon juice to liven up everything. 

What Can You Use Instead of Mayonnaise in Chicken Salad?

If you are not a big fan of mayonnaise, don’t worry! There are other things you can use instead. Here are some substitute suggestions that can also lighten up the whole dish: 

Low-fat plain Greek yogurt: Having long been a top recommendation when it comes to hearty but healthy fermented dairy foods, Greek yogurt is not only calorie-light and protein-rich, but also super creamy and versatile.

Low-fat cottage cheese: Dissimilar to Greek yogurt, cottage cheese possesses a fair amount of saltiness in taste (much like mayonnaise), yet it’s still light, healthy, and high in protein. Perfect for either salad dipping or dolloping.

Hummus: hummus is a fiber and protein-rich dip. It’s wonderfully versatile, pairing well with veggies and meat, as well as going well with hot or cold treats.

For more chicken recipe ideas, have a look at our 50 healthy chicken recipes.

What Goes with Chicken Salad Sandwich?

There are a variety of ingredients you can use in this chicken salad sandwich recipe, such as tomatoes, onions, celery, grapes, green peas, mustard and bunches of herbs. 

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You don’t have to limit yourself to the ones we’ve suggested in this recipe. As long as they’re all fresh and clean, and in balanced amounts, then you’re good to go.

1. Eggs

An essential ingredient to any southern chicken salad sandwich is chopped boiled eggs. They help make the salad thicker and even creamier. 

2. Cranberries

A pop of sweet – tart dried cranberries brighten up the savory chicken and the creamy dressing. If you don’t have dried cranberries at home, don’t worry, other raisins will work great in this recipe as well. 

3. Apple

Chicken salad sandwich recipes can be made a thousand different ways, and apples are one of our favorite potential additions to the dish. Crunchy apples make the salad extra juicy and tasty.

4. Avocado

Avocado is a simple fruit to cream up your salad bowl. Dice up your avocado and mix it with other ingredients.

You don’t need to be too gentle while mixing up the ingredients. As you stir, the avocado will break down and then coat your chicken. Yummy!

5. Greek Yogurt

You can use Greek yogurt instead of a traditional mayonnaise base. It lightens the dressing and adds a pleasant tang note to the salad.

Calories

We strive to create healthy meals and serve this chicken salad with whole-grain bread, over a bed of lettuce and tomatoes. This chicken salad sandwich recipe contains 507 calories in each serving.

That’s enough to make the main dish, but we have lower-calorie options, like this Waldorf salad with chicken and this delicious summer salad, for a lighter meal.

Can You Freeze?

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A summer lunch is not complete without a bowl of chicken salad. It’s healthy, filling, and is packed with nutritious vegetables.

But can we freeze chicken salad and just reheat it whenever we want to use it? The answer is yes.

It’s safe to store your chicken salad in the freezer for up to 2 months. And if you store it correctly, the dish can even last longer and taste almost like the freshly made kind.

Freezing chicken salad requires a bit of attention. Prepare some containers, and we’re good to go!

You should pack ingredients individually in different bags. This way, you can keep them separate to avoid mixing flavors, and it’s also easier to thaw them later.

To make the best chicken salad from frozen ingredients, avoid freezing the mayonnaise. Freezing can cause changes to flavor and appearance; your dressing might end up with an unappealing consistency.

How Long Does It Last?

Cooked chicken and mayonnaise can be kept in the fridge for about 3 days. However, it’s always recommended to eat your food fresh, especially since the nutritional content of veggies and meat will degrade after 2 days.

To maximize the quality of chicken salad sandwiches, refrigerate them in an airtight container or plastic container.

What to Serve With

Although serving chicken salad on croissants for sandwiches has become the norm, we recommend having it on wheat bread with some home fries on the side to meet the recommended amount of calories for meals (not to mention, adding another veg).

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Apart from this delicious sandwich, we also have a few other we think you’d like to try:

• Pulled Chicken Burger: like pulled pork sandwiches, these burgers are the classic jam-packed with flavors and loads of nutrients. It’s simple to make, too: we get the greens washed and cut while letting the chicken simmer until just cooked, then pull it apart with two forks before assembling.
• Club Sandwich: this recipe cooks the chicken in spices, then sandwiches them between rye bread slices and lots of vegetables. Each sandwich has two layers, a side of fries, and a glass of juice.

Number seven of our easy chicken breast ideas list features the classic chicken burger, with a deep-fried filet in between the buns. Have a look at it for even more recipe ideas.

Chicken Salad Sandwich

5 from 3 votes

Subtle and pleasant plant-food flavors, combined with the tender and well-seasoned taste of chicken, make this chicken salad sandwich amazing all by itself. And don't forget the lime juice! A drizzle of this juice will raise your dish by adding zesty freshness.

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• cook TIME 30 mins
• prep TIME 15 mins
• total TIME 1 hr 45 mins
• INACTIVE TIME 1 hr

• COURSE Main Course
• CUISINE American
• SERVINGS
  4

  servings
• CALORIES 507 kcal

INGREDIENTS

1x2x3x

• 12 oz skinless boneless chicken breasts
• 12 slices sprouted wheat bread
• 4 oz tomatoes (2 medium, sliced)
• 2 oz lettuce (chopped)
• 2 oz cucumber (diced)
• 2 oz celery (diced)
• 1 oz sliced almonds
• 1 cup grapes (halved)
• 6 tbsp Japanese mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp onion (diced)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp lime juice
• 1/2 tsp traditional Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp cilantro
• 1 tsp scallion
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Image instructions

1

Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a cast iron pan on high heat. Arrange 12 oz chicken breasts in the pan to fry for about 15-20 minutes. Slightly season with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Turn over halfway through to ensure even cooking on both sides.

2

Once done, let them cool and cut into cubes.

3

In a bowl, add all the ingredients together: Chicken cubes, 2 oz cucumber, 2 oz celery, 1 cup grapes, 1 oz almonds, 6 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 tsp lime juice, 1/2 tsp mustard, 1 tsp cilantro, 1 tsp scallion, 1 tbsp onion.

4

Toss well. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour.

5

Finally, serve between bread slices with 2 oz chopped lettuce and 4 oz sliced tomatoes.

NUTRITION

Nutrition Facts

Chicken Salad Sandwich

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 507Calories from Fat 216

% Daily Value*

Fat 24g

37%

Saturated Fat 4g

25%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 3g

Cholesterol 92mg

31%

Sodium 545mg

24%

Potassium 549mg

16%

Carbohydrate 29g

10%

Fiber 10g

42%

Sugar 8g

9%

Protein 31g

62%

Vitamin A 421IU

8%

Vitamin C 7mg

8%

Calcium 38mg

4%

Iron 1mg

6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.