Classic Chicken Salad
Now that Halloween is over, I thought about just diving headfirst into Thanksgiving recipes. I’ve already got a few up my sleeve for you that you’ll be seeing on the blog in the next few weeks! And who could honestly forget about my Stuffed Acorn Squash from early last week. Now that’s a tasty holiday recipe if I ever did see one.
But no. No, instead I decided to start your weekend off with a little detox from all the crap you may have been eating this week. My day job celebrated Halloween with cookies, candy, and cupcakes. Do you think I abstained from that? Absolutely not. So maybe this recipe is really just for me. I need a little break from sugar and crap, so this chicken salad is it!
There’s a very interesting grocery store about a half hour from where I live called Stew Leonard’s. The company must employ about a thousand marketing geniuses, because every time anyone walks in the store they are compelled to buy anything and everything. I’m pretty sure they employ all of the same tactics at Disney World.
A few weeks ago, Mike and I ventured out one sunny Saturday afternoon and ended up at Stew Leonard’s. I was really excited because I hadn’t been in years and I remember being obsessed with their chicken salad. Of course, we bought some. The Stew Leonard’s in Newington, Connecticut has a large area upstairs with several booths, tables, chairs, and bar stools. We picked a booth and started feasting on our purchases.
By now I’m old enough to realize that taste buds change over time. I like things now that I absolutely hated as a child. It doesn’t often go the other way, but I do find that I’m a lot less impressed with some foods now than I remember them. Stew Leonard’s take on chicken salad is one such example. Sure it was good. But it wasn’t drive-a-half-hour-just-to-obtain-it good. And it definitely wasn’t anywhere near good enough to warrant all the sketchy ingredients.
On our way home, I exclaimed: “I’m going to make that chicken salad for the blog!” Mike nodded in agreement. The key to Stew Leonard’s chicken salad is minced chicken and LOTS of mayo. Have I mentioned that the food processor is my very favorite kitchen appliance? I can’t believe I made it 29 years without one. Using the food processor to shred/mince the chicken gives you the same exact consistency as Stew Leonard’s. I wrote up my recipe that day and made my rendition of it the following weekend.
“Sometimes people want to eat their food in the form of a paste. That’s what Stew Leonard’s chicken salad is, and that’s what you’ve done here. Good job.” – Mike.
Mike is a fan, as am I! Not surprisingly, Stew Leonard’s version has some additives in theirs that makes the chicken salad last a little longer. Understandable I suppose from a grocery store standpoint, however not entirely necessary when you’re making food for yourself and your family in the comfort of your own kitchen. My take on Classic Chicken Salad features most of the very same ingredients, but I’ve simply removed the sugar, soy, and preservatives. Enjoy chicken salad as it should be. Paleo, Whole30, sugar free, dairy free, soy free, and yet packed to the brim with flavor. I made sandwiches for Mike on bread and I ate mine on lettuce wraps. Either way, it’s a crowd pleaser and will likely be your go-to chicken salad recipe for years to come. Make a batch on Sunday night and you’ll have a healthy lunch to eat all week! I hope you love it just as much as we do.
Classic Chicken Salad
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Butterfly each chicken breast and season to taste with garlic powder, sea salt, and fresh ground black pepper. Add the avocado oil to a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. When hot, add the chicken breasts and cook until no pink remains and breasts are cooked through. Remove from skillet and place on a plate to cool. When cooled, add the chicken to the food processor and pulse a few times until finely shredded.
- In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, celery, and white onion. Stir to combine. Add all of the spices and stir. Add in the lemon juice and mayo. Taste and add more spice if desired. Add more mayo if you would like a creamier consistency.
- Serve in lettuce wraps, sandwiches, over salads, etc. Enjoy!
