By: Jill Mills Posted: Jul 11, 2026

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This Classic Chicken Salad Recipe is a simple, no-frills lunch made with shredded chicken, celery, and green onions tossed with mayo and dill. Quick, easy, and great for weekday meal prep!

Close up of chicken salad on a croissant

I think this classic chicken salad recipe is the perfect example of keeping things simple and easy but still delicious. I’ve made many variations of chicken salad over the years, including BLT chicken salad, chicken salad with grapes, and cranberry walnut chicken salad. Those are all fantastic, but if I’m being honest, this classic chicken salad recipe is the one I make the most.

It requires just a handful of ingredients and about 10 minutes of prep. I rarely need to run to the grocery store to make it and yet it’s so flavorful. It’s lightly creamy with a bit of crunch from the celery, and the fresh dill gives it a big pop of flavor. I love to keep this in the fridge and use it to quickly make sandwiches for lunch throughout the week.

Why We Love This Classic Chicken Salad Recipe

Ready in 15 minutes. I love how little prep this recipe requires. The celery needs to be chopped but otherwise, it’s really about tossing everything together in a bowl. Use rotisserie chicken or canned chicken to make it even easier.
Simple and adjustable. I intentionally kept this classic chicken salad recipe simple, without a bunch of other ingredients. Sometimes all you need is a few things to make a yummy lunch. Plus, the simplicity leaves plenty of room for the recipe to be adapted to different preferences.
Make-ahead friendly. While you can definitely enjoy this chicken salad as soon as it’s prepared, I personally love to make it ahead of time. It’s perfect for weekday lunch meal prep!

Overhead view of ingredients needed to make classic chicken salad

Ingredient Notes

This simple chicken salad requires just a handful of ingredients. Here’s an overview of each one; the exact measurements can be found in the recipe card below.

Chicken – Rotisserie chicken is a great option but any cooked and shredded chicken works.
Mayonnaise – The base for the creamy sauce.
Celery – Adds some crunch.
Green onion – I like the softness of the green onion compared to red or white onion for this salad.
Spicy brown mustard – Adds an extra layer of flavor to the dressing.
Seasoned salt – I like Nature’s Seasons but any seasoned salt works.
Dill – Fresh dill is great. Freeze-dried is also a great option.

Overhead view of classic chicken salad recipe ingredients in a bowl

How To Make Classic Chicken Salad

This easy salad takes just a few minutes to prepare, making it great for busy weekdays. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Combine the ingredients. Add all of the ingredients to a bowl. Stir to combine.
Taste test. Give the chicken salad a taste. Adjust the salt and pepper as needed.
Enjoy. Refrigerate or enjoy immediately on bread or a croissant.

A chicken salad sandwich on a plate with chips and pickles

Tips & Variations

Here are some ways to customize this classic chicken salad recipe, plus a couple of general tips.

Any chicken works. For the chicken, you can cook it yourself, use a rotisserie chicken or you can also buy pre-cooked, seasoned and shredded chicken. For one pound, I found it cost less than cooking raw chicken myself and saved time!
Add more mayo if needed. This chicken salad recipe isn’t too heavy on the dressing. If you find the salad is too dry, add a little more mayo.
Make it salty & sweet. You can also add 1 cup of halved grapes and 2 Tablespoons of slivered almonds to make a salty sweet mix.
Make ahead. This chicken salad can be enjoyed immediately but I’ve found that it’s even better when it’s had a chance to chill first.

Classic chicken salad on a croissant on a white plate

Ways To Serve It

My favorite way to enjoy this chicken salad is as a sandwich. I love to use my sourdough discard sandwich bread to make a quick and easy lunch. It’s also delicious on croissants.

For a lower carb option, serve it in a lettuce wrap.

Classic chicken salad in a plastic container

Proper Storage

Store leftover classic chicken salad in an airtight container in the fridge. It’s best enjoyed within 4 days. Just give it a good stir before serving and add more mayo if it’s too dry.

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