This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Clayton’s Favorite Chicken Salad is creamy, tangy, and slightly spicy and sure to become a staple at your house.
I recently had a leftover rotisserie chicken and decided to put it to use in a chicken salad so we could have it on hand for the week. I wanted to make this slightly different than your classic chicken salad and ended up with a combination of red onion, jalapeño, garlic, capers, lemon, and cilantro and the end result is packed with flavor! Plus, the combination of mayo and Greek yogurt makes this extra creamy. My husband, Clayton, said it was his favorite chicken salad ever and, let me tell you, he does not say that lightly!
This has now become a staple in our fridge for weekly healthy go-to lunches. I love having a chicken salad or tuna salad prepped for the week for a quick, high-protein lunch to turn to. Plus, you can serve this in so many ways that everyone can prepare it just have they like it!
Ingredients:
- Diced Cooked Chicken
- Mayo
- Whole Milk Greek Yogurt
- Celery
- Red Onion
- Jalapeño
- Garlic
- Capers
- Fresh Cilantro Leaves
- Kosher Salt, or more to taste
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
Recipe Step-by-Step:
Step One: Combine Ingredients
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss to combine. Taste and add more salt and pepper, if desired.
Step Two: Chill
Store in an airtight container and let chill for at least 30 minutes before eating! This keeps well in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Step Three: Serve and Enjoy!
Serve the chicken salad chilled on a bed of greens, in a sandwich, or with crackers.
Recipe FAQ:
Yes, that will work fine if needed.
You can omit the jalapeño if preferred or try my more classic Tarragon Chicken Salad recipe!
The options are endless! I tend to serve mine over greens with some seedy crackers, but Clayton likes his as a sandwich or wrap with greens and sliced tomato if he’s feeling fancy!
I hope y’all love this chicken salad as much as Clayton and I do! Comment below once you try it!
For More Chicken Salad Recipes:
Everything Bagel Chicken Salad
Clayton’s Favorite Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups small diced cooked chicken I use Rotisserie
- ¼ cup mayo
- ½ cup whole milk greek yogurt
- ½ cup finely diced celery
- ½ cup finely diced red onion
- ½ cup seeded and finely diced jalapeño
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 4 tablespoons capers drained
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt or more to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Options Serving:
- crackers
- bread
- romaine, arugula, or other greens
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss to combine. Taste and add more salt and pepper, if desired.
- Store in an airtight container and let chill for at least 30 minutes before eating! This keeps well in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Serve the chicken salad chilled on a bed of greens, in a sandwich, or with crackers.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Photography and styling by Eat Love Eats.
THE BEST CHICKEN SALAD EVER!!! I’ve made it several times and always receive rave reviews. So fun to make and take on the boat or a picnic and serve over crackers with fresh fruit for a simple supper.
so glad you love it, krista!
Delicious – have already made it multiple times and whoever tries it absolutely loves it, including very picky eaters.
So glad to hear that!
Wow this recipe is SO GOOD. I never ever leave reviews or comments but I felt compelled. I ordinarily would not add cilantro and jalapeño to a chicken salad (for no reason other than that they are “unconventional” chicken salad ingredients) but I followed this recipe exactly as written and it is a 12/10. So much flavor! Thank you for sharing! Boring chicken salad should be a crime
So glad you loved it, Lindsey!
I actually didn’t have jalapenos when I saw this recipe pop up and used pickled pepperoncini instead (with a little of the brine). It was the perfect no cook summer lunch! Can’t wait to try it as written next time!
This recipe is amazing! So yummy! I guess I have a new favorite thing! And I roasted my own chicken using your Peruvian chicken recipe (love it). Using the roasted chicken, I made your sour cream chicken enchiladas and this chicken salad. So so good and thank you for sharing your talent with us!
This is a delicious chicken salad recipe! So flavorful! Perfect amount of heat. I had never made chicken salad with yogurt before and I absolutely loved it! Thanks for the recipe!!
This is delicious!! Such an easy and flavorful, healthy lunch. Will become a staple in our house.
This is the BEST chicken salad I’ve ever had. The jalapeño and cilantro make it and it’s not too spicy at all! Perfection!
so glad you loved it, too!
This was wonderful, I loved the flavor combination to mix it up from our basic chicken salad recipe. And I especially loved the jalapeno in this, it had a really nice afterburn without being too much. I will say, I did not *love* the yogurt in this, next time I will use only mayo. Will make again and kids loved as well. Thank you, Alex!!
Is there a way to make this dairy free?
you could just use all Mayo and no Greek yogurt here.