Love protein-packed salad recipes? Try my steak salad, Caesar salad with chicken, avocado chicken salad, and shrimp salad next. What’s my shortcut to a really epic chicken salad? Make my famous rotisserie chicken salad recipe. It’s quick, easy, and very versatile; enjoy it as an irresistible side dish or main dish, or bring it with you to the potluck! No one will guess that it only took you 15 minutes to throw together.
Why I love this recipe
Quick, easy, and convenient. This salad is known as a lazy chicken salad recipe because you don’t have to cook the chicken from scratch. Just toss the store-bought rotisserie chicken with the rest of the ingredients and dig in! Fresh flavor. I made this salad with a medley of crunchy celery, zesty onion, and tangy lemon juice, so there’s no shortage of vibrant flavors and textures. So easy to customize. Toss through your favorite veggies, change up the dressing, or add some fun mix-ins.
Ingredients needed
Rotisserie chicken. My favorite quick and convenient protein for chicken salad. I typically grab a ready-made one from the store, but if you’d like to cook one at home, go for it (try my Instant Pot shredded chicken, air fryer whole chicken or spatchcock chicken). Mayonnaise. I prefer full-fat regular mayo for the most flavor, but a healthier low-fat mayo works well, too. Greek yogurt. It lends a tangy flavor and creamy texture, and I personally love that it adds some extra protein. Feel free to use regular plain yogurt instead. Lemon juice. Freshly squeezed lemon juice will always give you the best flavor. Dijon mustard. Just a little mustard adds a hint of tanginess and depth of flavor. Seasonings. I seasoned the salad with garlic powder, lemon pepper, salt, and pepper. Vegetables. I made this salad with diced celery, red onions, and scallions.
How to make a rotisserie chicken salad
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Step 1 – Make the dressing. Stir the mayo, yogurt, lemon juice, mustard, and seasonings together in a large bowl. Step 2 – Toss everything together. Add the chicken, celery, onion, and scallions to the bowl and toss until they’re coated in the dressing. Step 3 – Chill (optional). Place the salad in the fridge and let it chill for at least 30 minutes. Step 4 – Serve. Garnish the salad with scallions and serve with crackers or in a sandwich. Enjoy!
Arman’s recipe tips
Chop or shred the chicken. Use two forks to shred the rotisserie chicken meat or use a knife to cut it into bite-sized chunks before tossing it with the dressing. Taste as you go. Store-bought rotisserie chicken is often pre-seasoned, so I highly recommend tasting the salad as you go and adjusting the flavors as needed. Add more salt, pepper, or lemon pepper until every bite is well-balanced. Chill before serving. Those 30 minutes in the fridge are key to an out-of-this-world chicken salad! During this time, all of the flavors can meld and mingle, enhancing the overall taste and texture.
Storage instructions
To store: Transfer the leftover chicken salad to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Chicken salad with rotisserie chicken is a satisfying main dish or a crowd-pleasing side dish. Pair it with a wide variety of dippers, like crisp vegetable crudites, crunchy crackers, or toasted baguette slices. When enjoying it as a side dish, make sure to pair it with all of your BBQ favorites. I recommend the classics, like Wagyu burgers, pasta salad, grilled vegetables, and 321 ribs. You can also stuff the salad in between toasted slices of bread for a classic chicken salad sandwich or use it as a creamy topping on a salad. I like to add a heaping scoop on top of this simple spinach salad for light yet filling lunches.
Add fresh herbs. For extra freshness, add chopped fresh dill, parsley, or cilantro to the salad. Mix up the seasonings. Ground spices, like curry powder, smoked paprika, or cumin, give the salad more complex flavors. Give it a spicy kick. A dash of your favorite hot sauce is always welcome! More add-in ideas. Add grapes, dried cranberries, or raisins for sweetness, chopped nuts or seeds for crunch, or diced avocado for creaminess. Or, make this a Waldorf-style chicken salad by adding chopped apples and walnuts to the mix. Pasta chicken salad version. You can make this rotisserie chicken salad even more filling by adding cooked and cooled pasta, like macaroni or penne.
Make ahead: If you want to make this salad ahead of time, I recommend prepping it a maximum of 24 hours before serving.
More easy chicken recipes
Peri Peri chicken Parmesan crusted chicken Chicken Milanese Crispy baked chicken thighs Stuffed chicken breast
