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Home » Recipes » Single Serving Salads

By Joanie Zisk Published: May 4, 2022 · Updated: Jul 30, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links · Please read my disclosure

Chicken Salad For One

Jump to Recipe

This single serving chicken salad recipe is the perfect one to use if you have leftover chicken from a previous meal. It's filled with chopped nuts, grapes, celery, and so much flavor!

a pink bowl filled with chicken salad on a silver tray next to a bowl of crackers and a bowl of red grapes

I think chicken salad is the ultimate summertime comfort food. It's creamy, filling, and filled with fresh flavors and ingredients. The best part of making chicken salad is that there's minimal cooking involved, especially if you're using leftover chicken - when you do, there's really no cooking necessary!

This chicken salad with grapes is the perfect throw-together meal! It's perfect as a hearty lunch, a side dish, or a light dinner. This easy salad can be enjoyed with crackers, in a sandwich, or in a lettuce wrap.

Why This Recipe Works

  • A great way to use leftover chicken: If you have about a small amount of cooked chicken leftover from a previous meal, or grocery store rotisserie chicken, this chicken salad is a delightful way to use it up.
  • Made with the tastiest creamy dressing: After cutting the chicken into cubes, we toss them in a creamy dressing with the simple classic flavors of mayonnaise and tangy stone-ground mustard or dijon. Chopped pickles, celery, and nuts give the salad a nice crunch while crisp grapes provide a pleasant pop of sweetness.
  • Ready in minutes: If you've got the ingredients on hand, the salad comes together in minutes.
  • Recipe doubles well: This is the best chicken salad recipe and if you want to make extra, just double or triple the ingredients.

RELATED: Apple Recipes For One

Ingredients

chicken salad ingredients on a cutting board in a kitchen
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Ingredient Notes

  • Cooked chicken: Chicken salad is an excellent way to use up leftover chicken.
  • Celery: This ingredient gives the salad some crunch.
  • Grapes: I mostly use red grapes but green grapes are delicious in this salad too.
  • Dill pickle: I chop one small dill pickle wedge which adds a great tangy flavor. If you love pickles, feel free to add a little extra.
  • Nuts: My favorite nuts to use are pecans. You can add chopped walnuts or cashews, or sliced almonds instead.
  • Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise in chicken salad is so good! You can replace the mayo with mashed avocado and sour cream for a different version, or use Greek yogurt instead.
  • Stone ground mustard: Feel free to add more mustard than called for in the recipe if you like a stronger mustard flavor.
  • Salt and black pepper: After you make the salad, taste it and add additional salt and pepper if you feel it needs it.

See below for ways to use leftover ingredients.

How To Cook Chicken For Chicken Salad

There are times when I crave chicken salad but don't have any cooked chicken on hand. If that happens, consider cooking a boneless, skinless chicken breast or thigh.

If you are going to cook chicken specifically for chicken salad, the easiest thing to do is poach it.

Here's how to poach chicken:

  1. Place the chicken on the bottom of a small pot. Sprinkle ⅛ teaspoon of salt and add any aromatics you might be using like smashed garlic, lemon slices, fresh ginger, or fresh herbs.
  2. Cover the chicken with enough cool water to cover the chicken by an inch or so.
  3. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat. You may see a little foam rise to the surface as the water comes to a boil. You can leave the foam or skim it off the top if you will be using the water for soup or a sauce.
  4. As soon as the water comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let the chicken simmer until cooked through, about 10-12 minutes. To check for doneness, an internal thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken should read 165° F, and the juices will run clear when you pierce the chicken with a knife.
  5. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and cover. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

How To Make Chicken Salad For One

See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.

  1. Add all of the ingredients to a medium-sized bowl and stir well.
  2. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  3. Serve at room temperature or chilled
chicken salad with grapes in a mixing bowl on a kitchen counter

RELATED: Comfort Foods For One 

Expert Tips

  • You can reduce the calories by replacing mayo with Greek yogurt. For a different flavor, mash ½ of an avocado mixed with a tablespoon or so of sour cream.
  • Use canned chicken in a pinch.
  • Use dried cranberries or raisins instead of grapes. Start with 2 tablespoons and add as much as you'd like.
  • Top your salad with fresh herbs for an extra pop of flavor.
  • If you don't have chicken but have leftover turkey, use it instead. It's the perfect swap!
  • This chicken salad recipe is easy to customize. Feel free to add more or less of each ingredient.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Will Chicken Salad Last?

Although chicken salad is best the day you assemble it, you can actually make the salad a day or two ahead of time. The salad will keep well for up to 3 days in the fridge.

Is Rotisserie Chicken Okay To Use?

Absolutely! A rotisserie chicken is great to use for meal prep and a little leftover rotisserie chicken is ideal for making a chicken salad.

Can I Leave The Grapes Out?

Yes, feel free to substitute dried fruit like cranberries or use bits of fresh pineapple or chopped apples instead.

Serving Suggestions

  • Sandwich: Make a chicken salad sandwich with your favorite bread.
  • Lettuce wrap: Spoon the salad over lettuce leaves to make a chicken salad lettuce wrap.
  • Wrap: Turn it into a wrap with homemade tortillas.
  • Dip: Enjoy with crackers or chips.
  • Salad: Pour it on top of a bed of greens like lettuce or spinach.
a bowl filled with chicken salad with grapes next to a bowl of crackers

Chicken Salad Variations

Customize your chicken salad with any of these mix-ins:

  • Diced carrots
  • Diced radishes
  • Cherry or grape tomatoes
  • Chopped sweet or red onions
  • Chopped parsley or basil
  • Fresh or pickled chopped jalapeños

Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients

If you have any ingredients leftover from this chicken salad recipe, you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:

  • Cooked chicken: Chicken Pot Pie, Chicken Caprese Salad, Enchiladas Verdes, Chicken Tortilla Soup, Chicken and Golden Rice
  • Celery: Baked Stuffed Fish, Tomato Sauce, Shrimp Creole, Potato Salad, Tuna Salad
  • Pickles: Juicy Lucy, or enjoy with a Reuben Sandwich, Turkey Wrap, or Southwest Wrap
  • Pecans: Butter Pecan Granola, Pecan Pie, DoubleTree Cookies, Mini Hummingbird Cake, Carrot Cake
  • Stone-ground mustard: Mashed Potatoes, Crawfish Beignets, Ham and Cheese Dutch Baby, Poppy Seed Dressing
  • Mayonnaise: Pineapple Lime Jello Salad, Goat Cheese Dressing, Ranch Dressing, Potato Salad, Tuna Salad
chicken salad on a cracker

More Classic Salad Recipes

Here are a few single serving light, fresh and healthy salad recipes:

  • Cucumber Salad
  • Tuna Salad
  • Taco Salad
  • Cobb Salad
  • Greek Salad
  • Potato Salad
  • Pasta Salad
  • Caprese Salad
  • Spinach and Orzo Salad

If you would like additional information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.

For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.

If you’ve tried this chicken salad or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below. Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!

a bowl filled with chicken salad with grapes next to a bowl of crackers

Chicken Salad For One

This chicken salad recipe is the perfect one to use if you have leftover chicken from a previous meal. This tasty chicken salad is filled with chopped nuts, grapes, celery, and so much flavor!
4.93 from 14 votes
Print Pin Rate
See the post above for expert tips,
FAQs and ways to use leftover ingredients.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American, Salad
Servings: 1 serving
Calories: 572kcal
Author: Joanie Zisk

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl

Ingredients

  • 1 cup diced cooked chicken
  • 1 celery rib , chopped
  • ½ cup chopped red grapes
  • ¼ cup chopped dill pickles
  • 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
  • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon stone ground mustard
  • ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt (optional)
  • ⅛ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper (optional)
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Add all of the ingredients to a medium-sized bowl and stir well.
  • Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Notes

Expert Tips
  • You can reduce the calories by replacing mayo with Greek yogurt. For a different flavor, mash ½ of an avocado mixed with a tablespoon or so of sour cream.
  • Use canned chicken in a pinch.
  • Use dried cranberries or raisins instead of grapes. Start with 2 tablespoons and add as much as you'd like.
  • Top your salad with fresh herbs for an extra pop of flavor.
  • If you don't have chicken but have leftover turkey, use it instead. It's the perfect swap!
  • This chicken salad recipe is easy to customize. Feel free to add more or less of each ingredient.
Nutrition Facts
Chicken Salad For One
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 572 Calories from Fat 423
% Daily Value*
Fat 47g72%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 23g
Monounsaturated Fat 16g
Cholesterol 18mg6%
Sodium 318mg14%
Potassium 308mg9%
Carbohydrates 18g6%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 13g14%
Protein 35g70%
Vitamin A 182IU4%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 55mg6%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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About Joanie Zisk

Joanie Zisk is the creator of OneDishKitchen.com, the number one go-to site for single serving recipes. The aim of One Dish Kitchen is to inspire individuals with access to single serving recipes that will enable them to enjoy the preparation of a meal that will nourish both body and soul. Her website is filled with hundreds of easy, flavorful recipes that are tailored for those cooking for one. Joanie is the author of "The Ultimate Cooking For One Cookbook" and her recipes and food photography have been featured in various publications including, TODAY.com, Huffington Post, Real Simple, Self.com,Women’s Day, Buzzfeed, and others. Come say hello and follow Joanie on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lisa Furman says

    June 17, 2022 at 5:31 pm

    This is my go to recipe. Now that it's warm out I'm making it every week or two. Always a touch different and always delicious!

    Reply
  2. Brenda says

    June 03, 2022 at 1:24 pm

    The pinterest button used to be in the recipe. It is not there now. ???

    Reply
    • Joanie Zisk says

      June 03, 2022 at 2:41 pm

      The Pinterest button is just below the recipe title and also in the recipe box at the bottom of each page.

      Reply
  3. J.Hegyi says

    May 05, 2022 at 10:58 am

    Great, versatile recipe.

    Reply
  4. Vickie says

    April 23, 2021 at 5:02 pm

    I just got the cookbook ” THE uLTIMATE COOKING FOR ONE COOKBOOK ” Can’t wait to try the great recipes ❣😀

    Reply
  5. Nan says

    July 07, 2016 at 11:54 am

    Chicken salad is my go-to summer cold salad. I like this easy for one version because then I'm not eating it for days straight!

    Reply
  6. Beth says

    July 06, 2016 at 11:28 am

    Best chicken salad recipe ever!

    Reply
    • J.Hegyi says

      May 05, 2022 at 6:16 pm

      Great recipe.

      Reply
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