Dinner

Chicken Salad with Apples Recipe

Bylina moretti April 9, 2026April 9, 2026

Introduction

This Chicken Salad with Apples is a refreshing and easy dish perfect for a quick lunch or light dinner. The combination of tender chicken, crisp apples, and crunchy nuts creates a delightful texture and flavor balance.

The image shows three round tartlets placed on a white marble surface. Each tartlet has a golden-brown crispy base at the bottom, topped with fresh bright green leafy lettuce. On top of the lettuce, there is a generous scoop of creamy chicken salad mixture, which is white with visible small colorful bits of red apples, light green celery pieces, and brown nuts. The texture of the salad looks soft and chunky. In the background, a fresh green apple is visible out of focus. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
1 cup diced apples (about 2 medium apples)
½ cup diced celery
¼ cup finely chopped red onion
½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
½ cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, diced apples, diced celery, chopped red onion, and nuts if using.
Step 2: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, honey, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until smooth.
Step 3: Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and toss gently until all ingredients are coated.
Step 4: Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
Step 5: Serve on a bed of lettuce leaves or in a sandwich.

Tips & Variations

Use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise for a lighter version.
Swap the apples for grapes or dried cranberries for different sweetness and texture.
For added freshness, mix in chopped fresh herbs like parsley or dill.
Toast the nuts lightly to enhance their flavor and crunch.

Storage

Store the chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Stir well before serving. Avoid making the salad too far in advance to keep the apples crisp. If needed, the salad can be served chilled or at room temperature.

How to Serve

Small round slices of bright orange sweet potato form the base layer, topped with a thick mound of creamy salad mixture containing white, pale green, small dark red, and crunchy brown bits. This salad sits on a fresh green bed of leafy lettuce. The white plate below rests on a white marbled surface, with glimpses of green apples and pink flower petals blurred in the background. The scene is brightly lit, showing the textures of the creamy salad, crisp lettuce, and smooth sweet potato clearly. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use rotisserie chicken for this salad?

Yes, rotisserie chicken works perfectly and saves time. Just shred or chop it before mixing.

Will the apples brown if the salad is made ahead?

The lemon juice in the dressing helps prevent browning, but apples may still discolor slightly if left for too long. For best results, add apples just before serving if storing the salad for longer than a few hours.