Balsamic Chicken Salad

Balsamic Chicken Salad is creamy, crunchy, and full of flavor. This easy lunch recipe is perfect for sandwiches, wraps, or enjoying on its own, and it is a great way to use leftover chicken.

Balsamic Chicken Salad

If you are looking for an easy lunch that feels fresh, flavorful, and satisfying, this balsamic chicken salad is such a good one to keep on repeat.

It is creamy, crunchy, a little sweet, a little tangy, and incredibly easy to customize. You can serve it in a sandwich, tuck it into a wrap, spoon it into pita bread, or just eat it straight from the bowl like a responsible adult pretending not to snack while standing in the kitchen.

It is also one of my favorite ways to use leftover chicken. If you do not have cooked chicken ready to go, rotisserie chicken works beautifully here too.

Why You’ll Love This Balsamic Chicken Salad

• Easy to make with leftover or rotisserie chicken
• Perfect for lunch, picnics, and meal prep
• Creamy, crunchy, sweet, and savory all at once
• Great in sandwiches, wraps, or on its own
• Easy to customize with your favorite mix-ins

What Makes It So Good?

The flavor and texture combination is what makes this recipe stand out. The chicken is tender, the dressing is creamy, the balsamic adds tang, and the cranberries bring little bursts of sweetness. Then the almonds come in with crunch and suddenly lunch feels much more exciting.

I also love using bigger chunks of chicken instead of shredding it too finely. It gives the salad a heartier texture and makes it feel more homemade.

Ingredient Ideas And Swaps

This chicken salad is very flexible, which is one more reason to love it. The dried cranberries and sliced almonds can be swapped for other ingredients depending on what you have on hand.

Try chopped pecans, walnuts, raisins, apples, or celery if you want to change the texture and flavor a bit.

How To Serve Balsamic Chicken Salad

This recipe works in so many ways. Serve it on toasted bread, stuffed into pita, rolled into wraps, scooped over greens, or packed into lunchboxes. It is especially handy for busy weeks because it assembles quickly and stores well.

It is also great for summer picnics, beach days, and casual lunches when you want something cold and easy.

Lunchbox Friendly

This balsamic chicken salad is a great lunchbox option for kids and adults. You can tuck it inside a wrap and slice it into pinwheels, or pack it with crackers or bread for an easy build-your-own lunch.

Since it comes together in minutes, it is a nice recipe to have ready for those weeks when everything feels chaotic, and lunch still needs to happen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use rotisserie chicken for balsamic chicken salad?

Yes. Rotisserie chicken works very well in this recipe and makes it even faster to prepare.

Can I make balsamic chicken salad ahead of time?

Yes. It is a great make-ahead lunch and can be stored in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

What can I serve with chicken salad?

Serve it with bread, crackers, greens, pita, wraps, or fresh fruit for an easy meal.

Can I customize the mix-ins?

Absolutely. You can swap the cranberries and almonds for other nuts, dried fruit, or crunchy vegetables.

I hope you give this delicious Balsamic Chicken Salad a try. If you make it, tag me on Instagram @LivingSweetMoments.

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Balsamic Chicken Salad

Balsamic Chicken Salad - this easy summer recipe can be enjoyed in a sandwich or alone. Perfect for a quick lunch and a great way to use leftover chicken.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chicken salad, chicken salad recipes, cold sandwiches, easy recipes, picnic recipes, sandwiches

Servings: 4 -6 servings

Calories: 465kcal

Author: Tiffany Bendayan

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked chicken breast diced (appx. two small breasts)*
• 1 green onion sliced
• 1/4 cup red onion finely sliced
• 1/4 cup shredded carrots roughly chopped
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds pecans toasted*
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/3 cup Greek yogurt
• 2/3 cup mayonnaise I used light
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons Italian parsley leaves
• 3-4 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar
• Salt & pepper to taste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Set aside a few of the green onions and almonds for garnish
• Add the remaining green onions, almonds, red onions, carrots, cranberries, yogurt, lemon, mayonnaise and parsley to a large bowl and stir to combine
• Add three tablespoons of the balsamic vinegar and stir to combine
• Add the chicken and stir to combine
• Taste and adjust seasonings. You can add salt, pepper and/or more vinegar at this point. If you like more dressing, you can also add more yogurt or mayonnaise
• Chill for 30 minutes and serve with green leaf or Boston Bibb lettuce to make lettuce cups with the reserved almonds and green onions for garnish

Notes

To toast the almonds, add them to a small pan over medium heat. Once the pan gets hot, they can burn quick, so watch them close and remove them from the pan as soon as they look lightly toasted (or you start to smell them).

This also makes delicious sandwiches or wraps!

To cook your chicken, you can add it to a small pot, cover with water and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from the water and let it cool before dicing. When chicken breast goes on sale, I cook a whole package at once and divide it into freezer bags for quick meals.

Nutrition

Calories: 465kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 19g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 306mg | Potassium: 314mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1.578IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 1mg

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