Have you tried the Chicken Salad Chick Classic Carol Chicken Salad? Some of us are lucky we are located near a Chicken Salad Chick restaurant, if one opens in your area, I recommend you go. Until then, here is my easy copycat Classic Carol Chicken Salad. This is the perfect light lunch!
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Chicken Salads at Chicken Salad Chick Restaurant
The Chicken Salad Chick restaurant prepares scratch-made chicken salad every day. They have traditional, savory, fruity, nutty, and spicy chicken salad. They also have delicious pimento cheese salad and egg salad.
Are you looking for an excellent recipe for chicken salad? This salad is freshly made and full of flavor. This copycat Chicken Salad Chick recipe will soon become your favorite. Did I mention it is an easy recipe to prepare?
What Makes The Classic Carol Chicken Salad so Good?
I think there are a few different elements that make this recipe unique.
- It calls for only chicken tenders. Chicken tenders shred wonderfully when pulled apart after cooking. CSC does not use chicken breast. They use tenderloins, and the strands of meat are shorter than in the chicken breast, so this way, your delicious chicken salad has a better texture.
- Celery is chopped super fine, so you don’t get large pieces.
- Also, dry Ranch salad dressing mix adds a unique flavor.
- This homemade version has the perfect balance of flavors.
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this tasty chicken salad:
- Chicken tenderloins
- Low-sodium chicken stock
- Mayonnaise
- Celery
- Dry Ranch salad dressing mix
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
I have chosen to cook chicken tenders in chicken stock for this recipe. I think this adds layers of flavor to the recipe. I think this adds layers of flavor to the recipe. Good quality chicken stock is made with carrots, celery, and onion. The chicken tenders pick up some of this flavor.
How to Make Chicken Salad Chick Classic Carol Chicken Salad
- Place the chicken tenders and chicken stock in a large pot.
- Heat the pot over medium heat, letting the chicken poach for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Ensure the chicken is fully cooked before proceeding.
- Once the chicken is cooked, shred it. You can use a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or manually shred the chicken tenders using two forks.
- Mix celery, mayonnaise, dry Ranch dressing, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Stir the chicken mixture until it is well blended.
- Add the shredded chicken into the bowl and stir until it’s fully incorporated with the other ingredients.
- Transfer the chicken salad to an airtight container.
- For optimal taste, prepare the chicken salad and chill it a few hours before it’s needed. This allows the flavors to meld together.
How to Serve Classic Carol Chicken Salad
If you dine at the Chicken Salad Chick, you can enjoy your chicken salad in two ways. One is a scoop of chicken salad on a bed of lettuce. I recommend using leaf lettuce for the best restaurant-inspired dish.
The other way you can have chicken salad is on a sandwich. Their sandwiches come with leaf lettuce and ripe tomatoes.
You can also stuff the chicken salad inside of a tomato or avocado. It’s entirely up to you.
What to Serve with Chicken Salad
Here are some ideas on what to serve with chicken salad:
- A simple and quick option that adds a satisfying crunch. You could go for classic potato chips, kettle chips, or even veggie chips for a healthier twist.
- Another quick option is serving it with crackers.
- A hot bowl of soup can complement a chicken salad sandwich quite nicely. Tomato soup, vegetable soup, or chicken noodle soup are great choices.
- A cold pasta salad with plenty of fresh veggies could be a refreshing side dish.
- Dill pickles or sweet gherkins can provide a tangy contrast to the creamy chicken salad.
- Slices of fresh fruit or a mixed fruit salad can be a refreshing and healthy side. Melons, berries, apples, or grapes would work well.
- A side of coleslaw can be a great match, as its tangy flavor can balance out the creaminess of the chicken salad.
- A simple green salad with a vinaigrette dressing can provide a light and refreshing contrast.
- Grilled veggies such as zucchini, bell peppers, and eggplant can add a smoky flavor that complements the chicken salad nicely.
- Potato Salad is a classic side dish for any sandwich and can be made in many different ways, with the addition of ingredients like dill, mustard, or even bacon.
- Bacon Baked Beans can add a sweet and smoky flavor, contrasting the creamy and savory chicken salad.
Possible recipe variations
If you want to make the Classic Carol, please follow the recipe as written. Remember that you could change this Chicken Salad Chick copycat recipe and make it your own with some of these additions. This way, you can customize this classic chicken salad and turn it into your favorite chicken salad.
- Add a tablespoon of finely minced jalapeno for some extra flavor
- You could stir in a couple of hard-boiled chopped eggs if you desire
- Add a tablespoon of chopped white onions to make their Dixie Chick Salad
- Add a couple of teaspoons of sweet pickle relish and a couple of hard-boiled eggs to make Olvia’s Old South
How to Store Homemade Chicken Salad
Both freshly prepared chicken salad and the leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It will last up to 5 days.
What type of mayonnaise does Chicken Salad Chick use?
They use Duke’s mayonnaise. I personally have made this with Hellman’s and had good results.
Is this copycat Chicken Salad Chick Salad gluten-free?
It depends on the ingredients you use when preparing the salad. You will have to check the label on each one to be sure.
Some store-bought chicken stock contains gluten. Both Duke’s Mayonnaise and Hidden Valley Ranch Original Dressing Mix are gluten-free.
More Tasty Chicken Salads
- Applebees Oriental Chicken Salad
- Chicken Salad Chick Grape Salad Recipe
- Cracker Barrel Grilled Chicken Salad
- Newks Chicken Salad
- Pecan Chicken Salad
Popular Chicken Recipes
- Alice Springs Chicken
- Chicken Gnocchi Soup
- Chicken Katsu
- Chicken Madeira
- Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas
- Hunan Chicken
- Lemon Pepper Chicken
- Olive Garden Chicken Scampi
Find the best copycat salad recipes and restaurant chicken recipes to make and enjoy.
Chicken Salad Chick Classic Carol Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders
- 32 ounces low sodium chicken stock
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons finely minced celery
- 2 teaspoons dry Ranch salad dressing mix
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the chicken by poaching in chicken stock. Fill a large pot with the chicken tenders and chicken stock. Poach over medium heat for about 15 to 20 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked.
- Shred chicken, the chicken can be shredded with a stand mixer by using a paddle attachment. Or you can shred the chicken tenders with two forks.
- In a medium sized bowl add celery, mayonnaise, dry Ranch dressing mix, salt and black pepper. Stir until well blended.
- Add shredded chicken and mix in well. Store chicken salad in an air tight container.
- The chicken salad tastes better if prepared a couple of hours before it is consumed.
- Serve in a sandwich or on a bed of lettuce.
Video
Notes
- For variety you can add a tablespoon or two of green bell pepper.
- This says fresh in an airtight container for 4 days after preparation.
McKenna
Mine is chilling in the fridge now!! So excited to try it!!
Shonna
So delicious, I served this at my card party, everyone asked for the recipe.
Stephanie
I hope you enjoy it.
Bob Kirkpatrick
Made it today and I’ve got to say it was exceptional! The tip on using stand mixer with paddle attachment made shredding the chicken easy! I did find that it needed the quantity of mayonnaise to be doubled and a half as was extremely dry. Other than that – superb and I will make again and again. Wife likes the Fancy Nancy so I added half of a Fuji apple diced, handful of grapes sliced in half and chopped pecans to this recipe. Daughter likes Jalapeño Holly so added diced jalapeños to the Classic Carol. All were excellent. Thanks!!!
Nicole Barrera
I’d like to try making the Barbie-Q or the Buffalo Barclay Chicken Salads. I moved to a new city that unfortunately does not have a Chicken Salad Chick so I’ve been trying to make my own versions. Would you know how much BarBQ Sauce (or Buffalo Sauce) to add to the Classic Carol recipe?
Katelyn
Love chicken salad chick and have been looking for a copy cat recipe forever I can’t wait to try this one! I’d also love a copy cat for some of the other flavors like Dixie Chick, Sassy Scotty or Jalapeño Holly.
Scuhbuh
I followed the recipe, and it was so salty! It may be because the Hidden Valley Ranch dry dressing mix I used also has sodium in it. Anyway, just be very careful. I would add only half or maybe even less of the salt called for. You can always add more later. With the saltiness in check, this would be a great recipe! Thanks for the copy-cat recipe, Stephanie! We enjoy Chicken Salad Chick.
Terri J
I’d like to try to make their limited-time Tarragon Dijon chicken salad. Would you have any idea how much of each to add to the Classic Carol recipe?
Stephanie
I would start with 1 1/2 teaspoons of dijon mustard and 1/2 teaspoon tarragon.
Terri J
I just made it! Tastes divine!! Thank you! 🙂
Erica
Is this the Classic Carol?
Stephanie
Yes, this was my copycat for classic Carol.
Mansa Dumbre
Lacks 1 Tablespoon of freshly chopped dill.
Stephanie
I never noticed the dill weed in the salad when I ordered it. I used a bit of dry Ranch dressing mix in there to bring in the dill flavor.
Brian Johnson
But what brand of mayonnaise? I will just assume Dukes of course. We are opening our copycat store called Chicken Salad Jox and naming the recipes after college football teams. Not really but a fun idea. First one is Classic Cox since I am in SC, lol. Quickly followed by Tiger Tarragon. Haha have fun with the idea and a great way to name copycat recipes for foorball season.
Stephanie
I believe they use Dukes Mayonnaise.
madalin stunt cars 2
Yummy! I can’t wait to try it!
Melissa G
Would love to get the Fancy Nancy recipe as well.
Stephanie
Thanks for letting me know!
Sherry Canada
Gotta to have some chopped boiled eggs and 1 or 2 Tbs sweet pickle relish….yummmy Love to roll chicken salad in lettuce.
Scott
What kind of mayo did you use? Dukes is typical here in the south but I don’t think they use Dukes.
Stephanie
I did not specifically say Dukes, I used Hellman’s. I buy Hellman’s because it is sold in large jars at Costco here in Houston.
Nya
I used to work there. If I remember correctly they used Duke’s
Insider
I know some of the owners. They use dukes. They also steam the tenders and remove the tendon thing in the center before shredding. 🙂
Whitney Rae
Is it chicken stock or chicken broth?
Stephanie
I have used either, use what you have on hand.
Diane
I use the water that I boiled the chicken tenders in.
Kateena innis
I’m trying this tomorrow!!!! Nice and amazing recipe shared by you, thank you so much for that.
Pamela Martin
Excellent! It tastes wonderful. I like the white meat only because it has a cleaner taste but I have to admit that I just don’t like the dark meat of a chicken. This will be easy to make-n-take to work.
Joy
Have you tried to duplicate their lemon basil chicken salad? That one is particularly delicious.
Stephanie
I haven’t tried duplicating that recipe, I am sure it is good. I appreciate the suggestion.
Angelina
Sounds tasty, and I agree with you about using chicken tenders, Also, I think you meant to say chicken broth, not chicken stock, since stock is made from cooking down the bones, and broth is made from the meat. That being said, whenever I make chicken salad (I’m not referring to this recipe) I found that the tastiest chicken salad is made with equal amounts of light & dark meat. The dark meat (chicken thighs) add a LOT more flavor, which white meat just doesn’t have. I am however, anxious to try this chickens salad recipe, since it sounds amazing with the Ranch Dressing.
Jane Jameson
Excellent recipe for salad! I have used it for years. It was passed from my grandmother.
Joe
There’s no mayonnaise on the ingredient list.
Stephanie
There is now, I made an error.
Samantha
Can’t wait to try this recipe!