Rotisserie Chicken Salad
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My deli-style rotisserie chicken salad is creamy, hearty, and packed with flavor. It comes together in under 15 minutes and is a fabulous filling for sandwiches or a shareable salad for potlucks and picnics.
Rotisserie chicken is one of those shortcuts I reach for again and again when making chicken salad. Skipping the poaching step saves time, but more importantly, it guarantees meat that’s already well-seasoned, juicy, and tender- which makes a huge difference in the final salad. It’s easily my favorite way to use up leftover chicken (right alongside my avocado chicken salad and healthy chicken salad).
This version was inspired by a sandwich I used to order on repeat during my studies, and later learned relied on store-bought roast chicken too. The key to keeping it both healthy and satisfying isn’t cutting out mayonnaise altogether, but finding the right balance. Swapping half of the mayo for Greek yogurt keeps the salad creamy and rich, without feeling heavy or bland.
Table of Contents
Why make my rotisserie chicken salad
- Quick and easy: Toss the store-bought rotisserie chicken with the remaining ingredients and dig in. You can also use any leftover cooked chicken.
- Meal prep-friendly: This salad is great to stuff into salads or to top a salad for a quick weekday lunch.
- Healthy: Not only do I reduce the mayonnaise, but I also sneak in veggies to pack in extra nutrition.
- Easy to customize: I prefer to keep things classic with celery and red onions, but feel free to use other vegetables or seasonings. I’ll include my favorites in the Recipe variations section.
★★★★★ REVIEW
“This is such a delicious salad!!! Love the idea of using a store-bought rotisserie chicken. It also tastes better the next day. Odd, I know.” – Maya
Key Ingredients
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Rotisserie chicken. I typically grab a ready-made one from the store, but if you’d like to cook one at home, go for it. For a speedy home-cooked option, try my Instant Pot shredded chicken or air fryer whole chicken.
- Dressing. A combination of mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard. It’s lighter than a traditional creamy dressing without sacrificing any 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
Step 1 – Stir the mayo, yogurt, lemon juice, mustard, and seasonings together in a large bowl.
Step 2 – Add the celery, onion, and scallions. Mix well.
Step 3 – Fold through the chicken.
Step 4 – Mix everything until fully incorporated. Season to taste then serve.
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, then toss 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.
Recipe variations
- Add fresh herbs. For extra freshness, add chopped fresh dill, parsley, or cilantro to the salad.
- Mix up the seasonings. Ground spices, such as curry powder, smoked paprika, or cumin, add more complex flavors to the salad.
- Add heat. 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.
Storage and make-ahead
To store: Transfer the leftover chicken salad to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Make ahead: If you want to make this salad ahead of time, I recommend prepping it up to 24 hours before serving.
✅ Nutrition reviewed
“This rotisserie chicken salad is a favorite recommendation for clients who want a quick, satisfying meal. High in protein and made with simple, wholesome ingredients, it’s filling, flavorful, and easy to fit into a healthy lifestyle.” – Felicia Newell, MScAHN, RD, CPT.
Rotisserie Chicken Salad
Video
Ingredients
- 1 small rotisserie chicken skin removed and chopped * See notes
- 2/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup celery finely diced
- 1/3 cup red onion finely chopped
- 1 scallion diced
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, lemon pepper, and black pepper.
- Add the chopped rotisserie chicken, celery, onion, and scallion and mix until combined.
- If desired, chill the salad for 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Tips: See my recipe tips above for making the best chicken salad with rotisserie chicken.
- Rotisserie chicken amount: Approximately two cups.
- Leftovers: Keep in the fridge, covered, for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
More high-protein salads
If you love this chicken salad with rotisserie chicken, here are some other high-protein salads you may enjoy:
Does it need to be rotisserie or can I change for other pieces of chicken?
Hi Mario! Look, it doesn’t need to be. If you have leftover cooked chicken, it will work wonderfully with it. I’d suggest using minimally seasoned chicken, so the creamy dressing works well with it.
Love it 🥰
This is such a delicious salad!!! Love the idea of using a store bought rotisserie chicken!
One of my favs!
Love how EASY and fast this is- my favorite rotisserie chicken salad recipe.
It is so super tasty 🙂
Your rotisserie chicken salad is such a game changer! Thanks, Arman!
So welcome, Monica!
This is my favorite creamy salad EVER!!! I like to use Costco rotisserie chicken.
Love that chicken!
Very tasty and refreshing. It is great on a croissant with some lettuce.
Thanks, Paul!