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Chicken Salad

Chicken Salad Recipe With Classic Flavors

This elegant yet simple chicken salad combines creamy mayo, tangy Durkee's relish, and crisp celery for a perfectly balanced dish that tastes like it came from a fancy deli. Served on a bed of lettuce and garnished with tomato aspic and green olives, it comes together faster than takeout while delivering restaurant-quality flavor and sophistication.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 258
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken
  • 1 1/4 cups diced celery
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup Durkee’s relish sandwich spread
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Crisp lettuce for serving
  • Tomato Aspic ring for garnish
  • Green stuffed olives for garnish

Method
 

  1. Begin by combining your 2 1/2 cups of diced cooked chicken with 1 1/4 cups of diced celery in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, prepare your Special Dressing by combining 1 cup of mayonnaise with 1/4 cup of Durkee's relish sandwich spread, stirring until well blended.
  2. Add enough of this dressing mixture to the chicken and celery to moisten the ingredients thoroughly, ensuring everything is evenly coated. You may not need to use all of the dressing—add it gradually and stop when the salad reaches your desired consistency.
  3. Once the chicken and celery are properly mixed with the dressing, taste the salad and season with salt and pepper to your preference. Remember that the Durkee's relish already contains some salt, so start conservatively and adjust gradually.
  4. The seasoning is essential to bringing out the flavors of all the components, so take time to get it right before moving on to plating.
  5. To serve, arrange crisp lettuce on individual plates or a serving platter and spoon the chicken salad onto the lettuce base. Garnish each portion with a Tomato Aspic ring and green stuffed olives for an elegant presentation.
  6. This classic preparation method creates a balanced, satisfying dish where the creamy dressing binds all the ingredients together while the fresh celery provides a pleasant textural contrast.

Notes

What to Serve with chicken salad

Since chicken salad’s creamy, protein-packed richness can handle just about any sidekick, the real question isn’t what pairs well with it—it’s what mood you’re in. I’d serve it on crisp lettuce with tomato aspic rings and green stuffed olives for elegance. Want casual? Pile it between soft bread slices. Crackers work beautifully too, especially buttery ones. Fresh fruit like grapes or berries complement the mayo nicely without competing. Roasted vegetables add earthiness. Even a simple green salad underneath creates nice contrast. The beauty here is flexibility—this chicken salad adapts to whatever you’re craving.