The BEST Chicken Salad without Celery Recipe

Introduction

This chicken salad is a refreshing twist on the classic, made without celery but packed with crisp radishes and bright herbs. It’s creamy, tangy, and perfect for a light lunch or picnic. Plus, it comes together quickly using simple, wholesome ingredients.

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts (rotisserie style, cooked and shredded)
• 8 radishes (halved and finely sliced)
• 7g fresh parsley (roughly chopped)
• 3 green onions (finely sliced)
• 5 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp dijon mustard
• 1/2 tbsp runny honey
• 1/2 tsp sweet paprika
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Step 1: Shred the cooked chicken breasts and prepare the radishes, parsley, and green onions by slicing and chopping. Add all these salad ingredients to a large bowl.
2. Step 2: In a separate bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, dijon mustard, honey, sweet paprika, and lemon juice. Taste the dressing and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or more honey as desired.
3. Step 3: Pour the dressing over the chicken and vegetable mixture. Toss gently with spoons until everything is evenly coated. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Tips & Variations

• For extra crunch, try adding chopped toasted nuts like walnuts or almonds.
• Replace radishes with crisp cucumber or apples for a different texture and flavor.
• Use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise for a lighter dressing.
• Add a pinch of cayenne or smoked paprika to the dressing for a subtle kick.

Storage

Store the chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The flavors meld well over time, but the radishes may lose some crunch. For best texture, add fresh radishes just before serving if storing longer. Reheat is not recommended; enjoy cold or at room temperature.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use cooked chicken other than rotisserie?

Yes, any cooked chicken breast or thigh will work. Poached, grilled, or leftover chicken all make great options for this salad.

Is this salad suitable for meal prep?

Absolutely. Keep the dressing separate until ready to eat if you want to maintain maximum freshness. Otherwise, mixed salad can be stored up to 2 days in the fridge.

The BEST Chicken Salad without Celery Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 73 reviews

A fresh and flavorful chicken salad recipe that skips the traditional celery, using crunchy radishes, fresh herbs, and a tangy dijon-mayo dressing with a hint of honey. Perfect for a light lunch or a quick protein-packed meal.

• Author: Ria
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 2–3 servings 1x
• Category: Salad
• Method: No-Cook
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts (rotisserie style, cooked and shredded)
• 8 radishes (halved and finely sliced)
• 7g fresh parsley (roughly chopped)
• 3 green onions (finely sliced)

Dressing Ingredients

• 5 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp dijon mustard
• 1/2 tbsp runny honey
• 1/2 tsp sweet paprika
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Prepare Salad Ingredients: Shred the cooked rotisserie chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Halve and finely slice the radishes, roughly chop the fresh parsley, and finely slice the green onions. Combine all these in a large mixing bowl.
2. Make the Dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, dijon mustard, runny honey, sweet paprika, and lemon juice. Taste the dressing and season with salt and pepper as desired, adjusting the honey for sweetness if preferred.
3. Combine and Toss: Pour the dijon-mayo dressing over the chicken and vegetable mixture in the large bowl. Toss thoroughly with spoons until all ingredients are evenly coated in the flavorful dressing. Serve immediately and enjoy your fresh chicken salad!

Notes

• This chicken salad is perfect for meal prep and tastes great served chilled.
• You can substitute rotisserie chicken with any cooked chicken breast, shredded finely.
• For a lighter dressing, replace some mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
• Add a dash of smoked paprika instead of sweet paprika for a smoky flavor twist.
• Adjust honey quantity to balance sweetness with tartness according to your taste.
• Best served fresh, but can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Keywords: chicken salad, no celery chicken salad, rotisserie chicken recipe, easy chicken salad, healthy lunch, mayo dijon dressing, radish chicken salad