Chicken Salad - favorite "secret" ingredient?

J-dubya · February 2016

I enjoy cooking whole chickens on my egg. Recently, I've been turning the leftovers into chicken salad. However, I've been unhappy about the results. I've searched a number of recipes and tried a few different versions, but it remains bland, certainly not as good as the stuff at the grocery store or the restaurant :(

Chicken, mayo/miracle whip, salt, pepper, lemon juice, also tried dill, pickle juice, rosemary.

Does anyone one want to share their secret ingredient that takes their chicken salad to the next level? Any tips appreciated!

ryantt · February 2016

My wife adds pesto capers lemon zest and a squeeze of grilled lemon juice. Its the only way I like chicken salad any more, it's like a throat punch of flavor

Richard Fl · February 2016

We have eggjoyed this version for many years.

Salad, Chicken, Spatchcock, Richard Fl.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 Spatchcocked Chicken, Cooked, Diced

4 Stalks Scallions, Sliced Thin

2-3 Ribs Celery, Diced finely

1/2 Granny Smith Apple, Peeled, Chopped Fine

1/2 Cup Chopped Walnuts, or nut of choice

Seasoning of choice, I used Indian River Rainbow Pepper and Pixie Dust.

Translation

Fresh ground Course Black Pepper and/or some of your favorite pork rub

Celery Seeds (optional)

Mayonnaise, To Blend

PROCEDURE:

1. Mix all up and make salad or sammies.

Recipe Type: Poultry, Side Dish

Source

Source: BGE Forum, Richard Fl, 2009/07/13

Sweet100s · February 2016

Pick a theme and stick with the theme
balance acid and sweet
ex: Sonoma chick salad w grapes
Asian chick salad w sesame oil and orange wedges

slovelad · February 2016

Grapes and crushes walnuts

epcotisbest · February 2016

Thousand Island dressing and Wickles Pickles relish. And white grapes.

onionlips · February 2016

Sweet100s said:

Pick a theme and stick with the theme
balance acid and sweet

This. Our current favorite here is with black olives and pineapple

buzd504 · February 2016

Mix and match:

Chopped wickles (or wickle relish), chopped pickled jalepenos (and/or cherry peppers), boiled egg, celery, a touch of horseradish, creole mustard, green onions, yellow onion, purple onion, mayo, bell peppers (any/all colors), salt, pepper, creole seasoning, touch of hot sauce, roasted garlic, oregano, touch of bacon grease (and/or chopped bacon/pancetta), chopped or cherry tomatoes

Not really a fan of nuts or grapes in my chix salad, but that's just me.

epcotisbest · February 2016

buzd504 said:

Mix and match:

Chopped wickles (or wickle relish), chopped pickled jalepenos (and/or cherry peppers), boiled egg, celery, a touch of horseradish, creole mustard, green onions, yellow onion, purple onion, mayo, bell peppers (any/all colors), salt, pepper, creole seasoning, touch of hot sauce, roasted garlic, oregano, touch of bacon grease (and/or chopped bacon/pancetta), chopped or cherry tomatoes

Not really a fan of nuts or grapes in my chix salad, but that's just me.

That sounds like a pretty dang good recipe.

shtgunal3 · February 2016

Green seedless grapes and pecans. Sea salt and freshly cracked peppercorns.

rockymountaineggster · February 2016

I go light on the mayo and add honey and celery seed. it makes it a little sweet but I love it. I'll add grapes celery apple mustard or whatever else I feel like too.

The Cen-Tex Smoker · February 2016

fresh tarragon and a little dijon

caliking · February 2016

Cumin and Thai green chiles are great in chicken salad.

bpric · February 2016

My favorite 'secret ingredient' in many recipes is Chipotle Tabasco sauce.

tarheelmatt · February 2016

I did this with great results! People at work request it often.

I do Duke's mayo only and apple cider vinegar. Apples, onion, grapes, celery, red bell pepper, and my not-so-secret is taking the skin off, placing back on the egg to crisp up, then chopping that into the mix. Think @Mattman3969 did this not long ago and enjoyed it. Inspiration was from @henapple .

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1190531/smoked-chicken-salad#latest

blasting · February 2016

Apparently my chicken salad game is sadly lacking. Taking notes.

Renegaderam · February 2016

Salt, Pepper, Celery, onions and only mayo no miracle whip.

Thatgrimguy · February 2016

Shredded Cheese.

Dredger · February 2016

Hint: most restaurants use turkey breast instead of chicken in their chicken salad. That is the missing ingredient. All comments have great suggestions, but you're chasing a unicorn with using chicken instead of turkey. Why the heck can't the restaurants just call it turkey salad? Oh yeah, no one has ever heard of turkey salad.

gamason · February 2016

Secret ingredient of good cooks..."Dukes Mayonaise". . Tell him @SGH

gdenby · February 2016

No Duke's around me, but I can get Kewpie Japanese mayo. Lighter and more flavor than standard. No miracle whip.

Salt, pepper, if not already cooked into the chix.

Definitely celery seed or celery salt. A little extra cider or malt vinegar if using regular mayo. A drop of Tabasco. A pinch of mustard powder. Maybe a pinch of ginger powder.

Chopped scallions and/or gherkins.

Dredger · February 2016

If you can't get Duke's, this is a close copy.

Mayonnaise

Servings: 8

Ingredients
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon mustard, dried
1/8 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1/2 cup oil, safflower

Procedure
1. Put all ingredients except the oil in a blender. Blend on high speed for 5 seconds. Continue blending and add the oil in a steady stream, this will take about 6 seconds.

2. Put in a container with a tight fitting lid and store in the refrigerator for 1 week.

Tips
You can also put all of the ingredients into a pint Mason jar and mix with an immersion blender for approximately 10 seconds.

Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 131 calories, 126 calories from fat, 14.3g total fat, 23.3mg cholesterol, 45.3mg sodium, 15.2mg potassium, <1g carbohydrates, <1g fiber, <1g sugar, <1g protein, 18 points.

henapple · February 2016

Smoke.

JethroVA · February 2016

I second what CenTex said about tarragon.

gmac · February 2016

I'm in the apple and pecans camp.

Cookbook_Chip · February 2016

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

fresh tarragon and a little dijon

+1 tarragon - and some golden raisins

blasting · February 2016

Definitely will be making some chicken salad this weekend. Great suggestions but mine will not be sporting nuts, apples, or raisins - that's just wrong.

@dredger Just to confirm, it can be stored for up to a week, or it should be stored for a week before being used? Is the safflower oil specific, or can another type of oil be substituted. Thanks.

THEBuckeye · February 2016

Dill

Dredger · February 2016

@blasting, any light oil you like should be good. We have discovered California Ranch Olive oil and it also produces a great mayo since it's very mild. Stored for a week is the shelf life. I'm with you on the apples and raisins. We're savory all the way, but that's just how we roll. Everyone to their own taste. Seriously though, the flavor difference that restaurant chicken salad offers is because they mostly use turkey, not chicken because it's usually cheaper. Try it and report back.

nolaegghead · February 2016

Trust me on this - add madras curry powder.

gmac · February 2016

blasting said:

Great suggestions but mine will not be sporting nuts, apples, or raisins - that's just wrong.

I put beans in my chile too

Chicken Salad - favorite "secret" ingredient?

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