Curry Chicken Salad
This delicious Curry Chicken Salad features sweet chopped apples and creamy curry dressing. It is delicious for a quick and easy lunch and the perfect way to use leftover chicken.
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Hearty meal-sized salads are the best for lunch and healthy meal prep. We also love this Lemon Basil Chicken and Rice Salad and this Cowboy Caviar Salad. Check out all of our Salad Recipes for more inspiration.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- It is versatile! Enjoy this chicken salad as a sandwich filling, topping for a salad, or on its own.
- Using leftover rotisserie chicken makes this recipe quick and easy to prepare. It is ideal for busy days when you want something that doesn’t require a lot of prep time.
- This recipe is also naturally gluten free. Bonus!
Ingredients
Find the complete ingredient list, with measurements, in the recipe card below.
- Mayo – We use our homemade lemon mayonnaise because it is the BEST!
- Dill – Use fresh or dried dill.
- Curry powder – Curry flavor brings a warm, earthy taste.
- Turmeric – Similar to curry in its earthiness, with a brilliant orange color and a slightly peppery taste.
- Salt – A pinch of fine sea salt really brings out the best in all of your ingredients.
- Pepper – We use fresh ground pepper for a nice punch.
- Apples – The apple adds a fresh sweetness that compliments the spice and creaminess.
- Lemon juice – Fresh lemon will stop the apples from browning, and add a bit of tang to the salad.
- Onions – We use green onions, also known as scallions, to add flavor and color.
- Cooked chicken breasts – Chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces or shred it.
- Almonds – A handful of sliced almonds adds a bit of crunch and texture to the salad.
Equipment
- Mixing bowls – You will need one small bowl to mix the dressing and a large bowl to mix and serve the salad.
- Sharp chef’s knife – A quality knife with a sharp edge is key to safe and easy chopping. We use a Victorinox knife.
- Cutting board – Our favorite is a bamboo cutting board.
- This trio of bamboo cutting boards makes food prep easy.
- Care instructions included.
Instructions
Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the FULL recipe details.
Step 1
First, start by making the dressing.
Add the mayo to a small bowl with the curry powder, turmeric, salt, and pepper.
Using a spoon, stir it well until smooth and combined. Set it aside.
Step 2
Next, chop the apple into bite-size pieces and add it to the mixing bowl.
Pour on the lemon juice and stir to coat the apples.
Step 3
Then add the shredded chicken, chopped dill, and green onions to the bowl with the apples.
Give it a good stir to mix everything around.
Step 4
Next, pour on the dressing.
One more time, give the salad a store to coat the ingredients with the dressing. Sprinkle in the sliced almonds, and you will be ready to serve.
Expert Tip!
Refrigerate the salad for an hour before eating to allow the flavors to blend together. This enhances the taste and allows the flavors from the dressing to infuse into the chicken and other ingredients.
Substitutions
- Use fresh lime juice instead of lemon juice. They work the same way to stop the apple from oxidizing.
- Swap Greek yogurt for the mayo. Or try mashed avocado! After testing it out, we’ve found that avocado is a super creamy plant-based option.
- Instead of fresh dill, fresh cilantro or coriander can be used.
- Add chopped grapes instead of apples for that sweet, fruity component.
Recipe Variations
- Add additional seasoning, such as cumin and ginger, to enhance the flavor, or sprinkle in a pinch of cayenne for a bit of heat.
- Sprinkle in some golden raisins for a punch of chewy sweetness.
- Add some crunchy celery for a classic chicken salad vibe.
Serving Suggestions
- Scoop the chicken on top of a crisp lettuce salad for a delicious and satisfying lunch.
- Turn the chicken salad into a delicious sandwich or a lettuce wrap to keep it gluten-free. We like using butter lettuce for lettuce wraps.
- Spin it into a protein-packed snack by scooping it onto crackers or oven-baked pita chips.
FAQS
Absolutely! This recipe can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. In fact, the flavors develop even more. Just be sure to store it in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
This recipe’s spiciness is fairly mild. Because it is combined with the creamy mayo, the spice is very mellow. You can also adjust the spiciness by adding more or less curry seasoning.
Storage Tips
To Store: Keep the chicken salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.
We do not recommend freezing this recipe.
More Chicken Salad Recipes
**This recipe was originally posted on May 27, 2015, and updated on March 8, 2024, with recipe notes, writing, and photos.**
If you’ve tried this curry chicken salad recipe, please give me a rating and let me know how it turned out by leaving me a comment below. I’m always interested in feedback!
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Curry Chicken Salad
Ingredients
For the dressing
- ½ cup mayo
- ¾ tsp curry powder
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp ground pepper
For the salad
- ½ cup chopped apples
- ½ tbsp lemon juice
- ¼ cup fresh chopped dill
- ¼ cup chopped green onions
- 3 cups cooked and shredded chicken
- ¼ cup slivered almonds
Instructions
- Add the mayo to a small bowl with the curry powder, turmeric, salt, and pepper. Stir it well to combine and set it aside.
- Next, add the chopped apples to a large mixing bowl. Pour on the lemon juice and stir to coat the apples.
- Then, add the shredded chicken, chopped dill, and green onions to the bowl with the apples. Give everything a good stir to mix.
- Pour on the dressing and stir again. Sprinkle in the almonds and serve.
I just made this delicious curry chicken salad and it is wonderful! I did add red onion and a tsp of honey. Otherwise I followed the recipe. Thank you!
I love a little hint of honey! Great idea. 🙂
Love this recipe! I absolutely enjoyed these curry chicken salad and it’s so perfect that it’s gluten-free! It’s very easy to make and follow and came out super delicious. Thanks for this yummy recipe!
So happy you enjoyed it Hannah! Thanks for the great comment.