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My rotisserie chicken salad comes together in 15 minutes and is creamy, hearty, and SO tasty. It makes a crowd-pleasing side dish or sandwich filling.
What’s my shortcut to a really epic salad? Make my famous rotisserie chicken salad recipe. It’s quick, easy, and very versatile; enjoy it as an irresistible side dish or main dish, or bring it with you to the potluck!
No one will guess that it only took you 15 minutes to throw together. I love to meal prep this on weekends for quick and easy lunches for the week ahead.
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- Quick, easy, and convenient. Just toss the store-bought rotisserie chicken with the rest of the ingredients and dig in!
- Fresh flavor. I made this salad with a medley of flavor boosters, so there’s no shortage of vibrant flavors and textures.
- Easy to customize. Toss through your favorite veggies, change up the dressing, or add some fun mix-ins.
If you enjoy protein-packed salad recipes like we do, try my steak salad, avocado chicken salad, and kani salad next.
★★★★★ 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
Ingredients needed
- Rotisserie chicken. My favorite quick and convenient protein for chicken salad. I typically grab a ready-made one from the store, but if you’d like to cook one at home, go for it (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
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Step 1 – Stir the mayo, yogurt, lemon juice, mustard, and seasonings together in a large bowl.
Step 2 – Add the chicken, celery, onion, and scallions to the bowl and toss until they’re coated in the dressing.
How to serve rotisserie chicken salad
Chicken salad with rotisserie chicken is a satisfying main dish or a crowd-pleasing side dish. Pair it with:
- As a sandwich. You can also stuff the salad in between toasted slices of bread for a classic chicken salad sandwich
- With crackers. We love to serve this salad with crackers or tortilla chips as an appetizer.
- Over a bed of greens. Turn the creamy salad into a light meal by scooping it over some mixed greens or an undressed salad.
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 before tossing 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.
Storage and make ahead
To store: Transfer the leftover chicken salad to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Make ahead: If you want to make this salad ahead of time, I recommend prepping it a maximum of 24 hours before serving.
If you tried this Rotisserie Chicken Salad recipe or any other recipe on The Big Man’s World, please rate the recipe in the comments below. It really helps others thinking of making the recipe.
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
- Add fresh herbs. For extra freshness, add chopped fresh dill, parsley, or cilantro to the salad.
- Mix up the seasonings. Ground spices, like curry powder, smoked paprika, or cumin, give the salad more complex flavors.
- Give it a spicy kick. 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.
Does it need to be rotisserie or can I change for other pieces of chicken?
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!