Basic Chicken Salad

Time :10 minutes
Yield :2 servings

The Scoop

When moving day, busy work schedules, or general adulting make cooking feel impossible, pulling together crispy toasted almonds, bright lemon, and leftover chicken is pure survival-mode genius.
Think of this as your official sign to stop overcomplicating lunch and let three main ingredients do the heavy lifting.
Hack it:
Swap half (or all) of the mayonnaise for plain Greek yogurt or sour cream for a tangy, high-protein twist.
Fold in halved red grapes, diced green apples, or dried cranberries for a sweet bite that balances the rich almonds.
Use shredded store-bought rotisserie chicken or canned chicken breast to skip cooking meat entirely and shave off prep time.
Toss in freshly chopped dill, tarragon, or chives to give the simple lemon-mayo dressing a bistro-style upgrade.
Leftovers:
Pile leftover chicken salad onto a slice of sourdough, top with a slice of sharp cheddar or Swiss, and broil until the cheese is bubbling.
Spoon the chilled salad straight into crisp butter lettuce cups or romaine leaves for an easy, low-carb lunch.
Pit an avocado and scoop a generous mountain of cold chicken salad into the center for an instant, healthy meal.
Toss leftover chicken salad with cooked, cooled short pasta (like rotini or macaroni) and a quick extra splash of lemon juice for a quick meal-prep dish.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup almonds, blanched and slivered
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 cups chicken meat, cooked and chopped
  • 1 stalk celery, chopped

Directions

  • Place the almonds in a frying pan and toast, shaking frequently, over medium-high heat. Be careful as the nuts can burn quickly.
  • In a medium bowl, mix the mayonnaise, the lemon juice, and the pepper.
  • Toss the sauce with the chicken, the toasted almonds, and the celery.
  • Serve.
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