This quick and easy curry chicken salad is perfect for both lettuce wraps and sandwiches. Made with grapes and pecans, this delicious cold salad is perfect for lunch or a quick snack!
This post was originally published in February 2018 and has been updated for content.
Chicken salad is probably my favorite of all the retro cold creamy salads out there. Not only is it versatile, but you can come up with so many great flavor combinations. This version puts a unique spin on the old classic and is soon to be your new favorite!
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🍇 Ingredient notes
- Chicken - I recommend using rotisserie chicken for this recipe. Not only does it make it easier to prep, but it also adds great flavor. You can certainly cook your own chicken for this recipe or you can use canned chicken as well.
- Pecans - The pecans add a great flavor and crunch to this recipe. They can certainly be omitted to make this recipe nut free. Sliced almonds, chopped walnuts, cashews or sunflower seeds could be used as alternatives.
- Grapes - The fruity flavor of the grapes pairs so well with the creamy mayo and warm flavor of the curry. Chopped apples, dried cranberries and raisins could also be used.
📋 Substitutions and variations
- Vegetarian - For a delicious vegetarian version of this salad, try substituting the chicken for chickpeas.
- Veggies - If you want to make this chicken salad without celery, chopped bell pepper, cucumbers or green onions would be great alternatives.
🔪 Step by step instructions
First, combine all of your ingredients into a mixing bowl and then mix everything together until all of the ingredients are evenly distributed through the salad.
Chill the chicken salad in the refrigerator for 30 minutes and then serve on lettuce, bread, rolls or crackers!
If you ever don't recognize a tool or skill that I mention, be sure to look it up in the Glossary of Cooking Terms and Definitions for more information.
⭐ Expert tips
- Make sure to chill the chicken salad for at least 30 minutes before serving for the best flavor and texture.
- Chop your chicken in similar sized pieces as the grapes for easy eating and serving, especially on sandwiches.
💭 Frequently asked questions
I don't recommend freezing this chicken salad. The quality of the salad is greatly diminished after thawing and because of the fruit in it, the salad will be watery and will separate when thawed.
🍽 Serving sizes and suggestions
The serving size of chicken salad can vary from 2-8 ounces, depending on how it's being served and what it's being served with.
- Mini Croissants or Mini Lettuce Wraps - Allow for 2 ounces of salad per sandwich or piece of lettuce and between 1-3 sandwiches/wraps per person.
- Full Sandwiches - Allow for 4-6 ounces of salad per sandwich depending on the size of bread or roll used.
- Entree/Salad - If serving this salad as an entree on it's own or on top of lettuce, allow for 6-8 ounces of salad per person.
⏲️ Make ahead and storage suggestions
I don't recommend making this salad more than 1 day ahead of time for the maximum possible freshness. After the chicken salad is mixed together, store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
🥗 More salad recipes
If you loved this recipe for curry chicken salad, check out these other homemade salad recipes that I know you will love too!
📖 Recipe
Best Curry Chicken Salad with Grapes
Ingredients
- 2 cups rotisserie chicken chopped
- ½ cup celery diced
- ½ cup red grapes halved
- ⅓ cup pecans chopped
- ⅔ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a medium sized mixing bowl and stir together until all of the ingredients are well distributed and combined.
- Chill chicken salad in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Make sure to chill the chicken salad for at least 30 minutes before serving for the best flavor and texture.
- Chop the chicken into similar sized pieces as the grapes for easy eating and serving, especially on sandwiches.
Servings Sizes and Suggestions
The serving size of chicken salad can vary from 2-8 ounces depending on how it's being served. This recipe yields approximately 4 cups or 1 ½ pounds of chicken salad.- Mini Croissants or Mini Lettuce Wraps - Allow for 2 ounces of salad per sandwich or piece of lettuce and between 1-3 sandwiches/wraps per person.
- Full Sandwiches - Allow for 4-6 ounces of salad per sandwich depending on the size of bread or roll used.
- Entree/Salad - If serving this salad as an entree on it's own or on top of lettuce, allow for 6-8 ounces of salad per person.
Substitutions and variations
- Chicken - Rotisserie chicken adds great flavor to this recipe and makes this salad easy to put together. Roasted chicken or canned chicken can also be used.
- Nuts - The pecans can be omitted to make this chicken salad nut free. Sliced almonds, chopped walnuts or cashews can be used as alternatives.
- Fruit - Chopped apples, dried cranberries and raisins can be used as alternatives to the grapes if desired.
- Veggies - If you want to make this chicken salad without celery, chopped bell pepper, cucumbers or green onions would be other great alternatives.
- Vegetarian - For a delicious vegetarian version of this salad, try substituting the chicken for chickpeas.
Cynthia Lang
Perfect every time, and I have made it many times. I serve it on tostadas. Love all the crunch!
Amanda
That would be delicious! I'll have to try that. Thanks!
Liz
This is an absolute winner!
Amanda
awww, thanks so much!
Natalie
This is great. I have cooked chicken in my fridge. I'm making this for lunch tomorrow. Yum! Can't wait.
Amanda
Awesome, can wait to hear about it!
Agnieszka
This salad reminds me of Coronation Chicken. I really enjoyed it!
Amanda
Thank you for trying the recipe!
Jean
I appreciate the veggie option, never thought actually of a curry salad before! it taste so good, I use my homemade mayo too.
Amanda
Homemade mayo would be so good!
Oscar
This chicken salad was delicious. I served it on lettuce wraps and I might have had more than two but who's counting 🙂 Great recipe.
Amanda
Lol... I had my share of them too 🙂
Addie
Such a great easy lunch!
Amanda
I'm so glad you liked it!
Luca
This is so full of flavors! I love this salad, it was really delicious!
Amanda
Thank you!
Lillian
This is a great recipe. It has so much flavor and it's easy to put together!
Amanda
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Alexandra
I had some friends over for lunch, and we thoroughly enjoyed this chicken salad. The flavours were amazing - they all asked for the recipe!
Amanda
Excellent! I'm so glad you all enjoyed it. Thank you for trying the recipe!
Kayla DiMaggio
This curry chicken salad was so delicious! It was so easy to make and made the perfect lunch for the whole week!
Amanda
It's a great option for lunch! Thank you!
Megan Ellam
I love this salad. It is so easy but so tasty too. A true classic. Thanks.
Amanda
Thank you so much!
Kristina
One of my new favorite salads. The pecan and curry were awesome together.
Amanda
A great combination, thanks!
Freya
Yum, this was such a delicious recipe, and so easy to prepare!
Amanda
Thank you, I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Cindy
Just made this curry pecan chicken salad on croissants for dinner and they were a hit. Nice easy summer dinner that can be made earlier in the day to let it chill. Loved using my leftover rotisserie chicken that made this recipe a snap to put together.
Amanda
Oh good! I'm glad you enjoyed them!