Chicken Salad Chick Classic Carol Chicken Salad

August 6, 2023 by Stephanie Manley, Last Updated February 19, 2024 143 Comments

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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!

Sandwiches made with copycat Chicken Salad Chick Classic Carol chicken salad.

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Table of Contents

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

Copycat Chicken Salad Chick Classic Carol chicken salad on a wood board.

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.

Copycat Chicken Salad Chick Classic Carol chicken salad served over lettuce.

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.

Sandwiches made with copycat Chicken Salad Chick Classic Carol chicken salad on a wood board.

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.

Overhead view of copycat Chicken Salad Chick Classic Carol chicken salad on top of lettuce leaves.

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