Easy New York Deli-Style Chicken Salad is a delicious, creamy, and dairy-free classic like the ones found in New York delicatessens. This budget-friendly recipe is a great way to use your leftover chicken!
About this salad...
This flavorful and creamy chicken salad is quick and easy to make.
It's also versatile. You can eat it as a classic sandwich piled high on slices of white, rye, or whole-grain bread, in a roll, or on a bagel. Have it in a wrap with lettuce. Or even just scoop it out of the bowl with crackers.
And you decide the texture. Make it with small chunks of chicken (like in the pic), chopped fine, or even put it in the blender!
And you can customize it with more veggies, herbs, and seasonings.
It makes a great side dish at picnics, barbeques, and events.
And it makes a delicious lunch for work or school, so you don't have to order out and spend extra money.
And it's a perfect way to repurpose your leftover moist chicken.
Plus, chicken has nutritional benefits!
A list of seasonings to keep in your pantry to be ready to make a variety of meals any time:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best way to use leftover chicken for this salad?
This recipe is designed for moist leftover chicken. Just cut the chicken into small chunks, chop it fine, or pulse it in a blender depending on the texture you prefer.
Is this New York deli-style chicken salad dairy-free?
Yes. This recipe is dairy-free, making it a great option for anyone avoiding dairy or keeping kosher.
How should I serve deli-style chicken salad?
It is incredibly versatile. Serve it piled high on white, rye, or whole-grain bread, inside a roll, wrap, or bagel, as a side dish, or simply scooped out of the bowl with crackers.
Can I customize this chicken salad recipe?
Absolutely. You can easily fold in extra chopped vegetables, fresh herbs, or your favorite seasonings to your taste. You can also leave out whatever ingredients you don't like and just keep the chicken and mayo!
Which mayo is best to use?
You can use whichever mayo you like, including low-calorie mayo. My favorite is Hellman's and Best Foods, which is the same mayo-the name is just different depending on where you are in the US.
But what is needed to make this New York Deli-Style Chicken Salad?
I hardly ever meal plan, so I like to keep a cupboard full of seasonings, spices, veggies, and canned goods in my kitchen to use whenever the mood strikes.
But these are all you need to have on hand to make this recipe even last-minute!
cooked chicken (preferably breast)
mayonnaise
celery
onion
white granulated sugar
dijon mustard or yellow mustard
salt
granulated garlic
white or black ground pepper
herbs or chopped vegetables, as desired
These deli salads make great sides for this dish!
- Deli-Style Cucumber Salad
- Deli-Style Red Cabbage Salad
- Dei-Style Coleslaw
- Deli-Style Broccoli Salad
- Deli-Style Potato Salad
Love chicken? Try these!
Easy New York Deli-Style Chicken Salad Recipe
Delicious and creamy chicken salad like you find in a deli! Perfect for leftover turkey.
Ingredients
- 1 ½-2 pounds cooked chicken (preferably breast), diced
- 1 cup mayonnaise*
- ½ cup celery, diced or chopped small
- ¼ cup onion, chopped or diced small
- 1 tablespoon white granulated sugar or to taste
- 1-2 teaspoons dijon mustard or yellow mustard, for slightly tangy flavor (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼-1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
- ¼ teaspoon white or black ground pepper
- additional herbs or chopped vegetables, as desired
Instructions
- Put chicken in a blender or food processor or mash well with a fork.**
- Combine chicken, celery, onion, and mayonnaise in a bowl.
- Mix in sugar, salt, garlic, and pepper.
- Add mustard, herbs, and/or chopped vegetables, as desired.
- Chill for at least an hour or so (chilled salad tastes better than warm).
Notes
*The best mayonnaise to use is Best Foods or Hellman's (they're the same, just with different names depending on where you live in the US).
**How you prepare yours depends on how fine you want your chicken. For more fine, use the blender. For less, use a fork.
Additional notes:
1) This recipe is very much "to taste." If you like more or less mayo, more or less spices, or more or less veggies, feel free to adapt.
2) If liquids seep out, mix before use or drain and add a little more mayo to keep salad creamy.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 354Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 22gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 254mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 17g
