This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This Tarragon Chicken Salad is simple, flavorful, and (dare I say) my favorite chicken salad ever!
What makes this chicken salad standout from others that I’ve shared on the blog before is the use of fresh tarragon, which is a leafy green herb widely used in French cooking. It has a strong, anise-like that immediately elevates any dish. For example, this otherwise ordinary chicken salad is truly restaurant-worthy — and I give all the credit to the tarragon! Even if you find yourself turned off by the flavor of licorice, I’m right there with you so trust me when I say that the herb works so well here.
For this recipe, I was inspired by the chicken salad from Bird Bakery (if you’re Dallas or San Antonio, then you know exactly what I’m talking about). It’s savory, but the touch of dried cranberries gives it a bit of sweetness and tartness that leaves you wanting more!
The other trick that I do here, which makes this salad extra creamy and delicious, is using my stand mixer. While you can use a good old-fashioned spatula and mixing bowl to combine all of the ingredients together, I love throwing everything in my KitchenAid mixer and letting that do the work. It shreds the chicken ultra-fine, which means you get the perfect bite of chicken, celery, onions, herbs, and cranberries in every bite.
ingredients:
- Cooked Rotisserie Chicken
- Celery
- Sweet Onion
- Fresh Tarragon
- Unsweetened Dried Cranberries
- Garlic Powder
- Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
- Mayonnaise
- Dijon Mustard
- Kosher Salt
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
step-by-step:
step one: mix the chicken salad
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the chicken, celery, onions, tarragon, cranberries, garlic powder, lemon juice, mayonnaise, and mustard. Beat on medium speed until the chicken is finely shredded and everything is very well combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
step two: chill and serve
Transfer to an airtight container and chill in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve.
recipe faqs:
Yes! Just be sure to shred the chicken really fine using your hands, then add it to a large bowl with all of the other ingredients and stir to combine until everything is very well incorporated.
I love to eat this chicken salad as is, tucked into romaine lettuce cups, with crackers for dipping, or sandwiched between toasted whole wheat bread.
If you want to change up your usual chicken salad routine, you need to try this herbaceous Tarragon Chicken Salad! Let me know what you think of this riff in the comments below.
want More Chicken Salad Recipes? try these!
Clayton’s Favorite Chicken Salad
Tarragon Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked rotisserie chicken
- 1/2 cup finely diced celery
- 1/2 cup finely diced sweet onion
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh tarragon leaves
- 1/2 cup unsweetened dried cranberries
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- kosher salt, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the chicken, celery, onions, tarragon, cranberries, garlic powder, lemon juice, mayonnaise, and mustard. Beat on medium speed until the chicken is finely shredded and everything is very well combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Transfer to an airtight container and chill in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Dalish! But did change it up abit….added chopped apple, swapped green onion for red, tarragon vinegar for lemon juice, and added a little sour cream to the dressing…summery yumm!
This is a regular in our meal rotation. SO DELICIOUS!
Love this one! Make it for trips all the time. I sometimes add some chopped pecans.
So good!! It does not get old! I’ve made it the past couple of weeks for my husband and I. We’re new parents and it’s been so nice to have something prepared to grab!!
Another home run!! This is a keeper and I’ve shared it with several people. I love the addition of the mustard. I’m a huge fan of tarragon chicken salads and so glad I tried this.
Didn’t have fresh tarragon so I subbed basil from the garden with a little dried tarragon and it was delicious!
Amazing recipe !!! I made this recipe last week for my husband and I ( I doubled it) and it was gone within 24 hrs lol I’m planning on doing it again this week.
I just can’t help but ask what are the yellow looking things I see in your salad? Lemon zest ???
yes, correct!! lemon zest! 🙂
What would you sub for chicken to make vegan (aleks you have vegan mayo)?
I don’t cook Vegan much, so I am not a huge help here I am sorry; however, perhaps you could drain and rinse some chickpeas and mash them up with the recipe and use vegan mayo?
Love this recipe! Always a favorite in our house. The recipe is very open for customization. Sometimes we throw in chopped jalapeño or dried cherries instead- whatever we have on hand!
Made this exactly as the recipe suggested except for the fruit. Was a huge hit and so yummy. Making it again today for a pre-4th of July party.
Can I use miracle whip ? Also dried tarigon if so how much
I don’t recommend using Miracle Whip, as it has such a different taste than most mayo. But if you like the flavor of it, than it should be fine to use. As far as dried tarragon– I really recommend using fresh here to liven up the chicken salad! But if you use dried, I think 1 tsp. should be good. 🙂