This Waldorf Salad Recipe is one of my all-time favorites. It’s light, fresh, and full of flavor. It comes together in just 10 minutes, so it’s perfect for busy days when you want something quick but still delicious.
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About Waldorf Salad
I love recipes that never go out of style, and this Waldorf Salad with chicken is one of them. It’s crisp, creamy, and has just the right balance of sweet and savory. Whether I’m making lunch for myself or bringing a dish to share, this salad always fits the occasion.
The original Waldorf Salad was created at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City in the late 1800s. It started with just apples, celery, and mayonnaise. Over the years, people added grapes, nuts, and chicken — and that’s when it became the version we all know and love.
This Chicken Waldorf Salad recipe is simple, quick, and full of texture. Every bite has something to love — juicy grapes, crisp apples, crunchy celery, and tender chicken. The creamy dressing ties it all together perfectly.
You can serve this as a main dish or as a side. Perfect for quick lunches, potlucks, or holidays.
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Why we love this chicken Waldorf salad recipe?
There’s a reason this salad has been around for more than 100 years — it’s made with simple ingredients that just work. I like that it feels special but doesn’t take much effort to make. It’s quick, easy, and full of flavor.
I like to add chicken to make it more filling and turn it into a meal on its own. It’s also great for meal prep because it stays fresh for a couple of days in the fridge. It's one of my favorite go-to dishes.
What you will really love about this Waldorf Salad Recipe is the mix of textures and flavors — crunchy, juicy, creamy, and just a touch of sweet. The dressing is made with both mayonnaise and Greek yogurt, so it’s creamy but not heavy.
It’s also a crowd-pleaser and always a hit at our table. Sometimes I serve it over lettuce, and other times I spoon it into lettuce cups, or even in a phyllo or tart shells for a fun twist.
*Here are more delicious and easy recipes for you to try:
Ingredients You'll Need
You don’t need anything fancy for this Chicken Waldorf Salad. Most of the ingredients are things we usually already have at home.
I use crisp apples, juicy grapes, celery, walnuts, and cooked chicken. Everything is mixed with a creamy dressing made from mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and honey. A little salt and pepper bring all the flavors together.
It’s simple, fresh, and satisfying — the kind of salad you’ll make again and again.
How to Make Waldorf Salad With Chicken?
This Waldorf Salad Recipe couldn’t be easier — it comes together in about 10 minutes and always looks like you spent way more time on it. Here’s how I make it:
1. Make the dressing:
In a large bowl, I mix together ⅓ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon honey, ⅓ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
I like my dressing smooth and creamy, so I whisk until everything is perfectly blended.
2. Add the salad ingredients:
Next, I toss in the chopped apples, halved grapes, and sliced celery.
Then I add the cooked chicken, toasted walnuts, dried cranberries, and chopped parsley. It’s colorful, fresh, and smells amazing already.
3. Toss to combine:
Using a large spoon or spatula, I gently mix everything until the dressing coats all the ingredients evenly. I always taste a bite here — sometimes I’ll add a little more salt, if desired.
4. Serve and enjoy!
You can serve this right away, or chill it for 30 minutes if you like it extra cold. I love serving mine on a bed of crisp lettuce or spooned into lettuce cups for easy portions.
Expert tips
- Tart apples like Granny Smith or firm red apples hold their texture best.
- Using both red and green apples or grapes gives the salad a pretty mix of colors.
- Toast your walnuts. It brings out their flavor and adds crunch.
- For extra creaminess, stir in a bit of sour cream or whipped cream.
- Mix the salad (except apples) a few hours early and refrigerate. Add apples right before serving to keep them fresh and crisp.
- This salad tastes even better slightly cold.
Variations
- Fruits: Try pears, strawberries, or mandarin oranges for a twist.
- Nuts: Swap walnuts for pecans or almonds.
- Dried fruits: Add raisins, golden raisins, or chopped dates for extra sweetness.
I love trying little changes like this when I make it often — it keeps things fun and fresh.
FAQs
Firm, tart apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji work best. They stay crisp and add a nice balance to the creamy dressing.
Yes! You can use Greek yogurt, sour cream, or a mix of both. They’ll still give you that creamy texture.
You can opt for toasted pecans or almonds, which will still give you the crunch with a toasty flavor.
Yes, but wait to add the apples until just before serving. That keeps them from turning brown.
Serving ideas
I love that this Chicken Waldorf Salad can be served so many ways. Serve it on top of a bed of bib lettuce, spooned into small tart shells or phyllo cups, or serve it on fresh bread or croissants for a hearty sandwich.
You can also serve the salad as a light brunch alongside scrambled eggs or cream cheese sandwiches. I also love to enjoy Waldorf salad for dinner as a meal on its own or with some delicious warm soups.
Storage
The salad tastes best fresh, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. If you’re making it ahead, keep the dressing and apples separate and mix them in just before serving.
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If you make this Chicken Waldorf Salad, I’d love to know how you liked it! Leave a rating or comment below and tell me your favorite way to serve it.
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Waldorf Salad Recipe with Chicken
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon honey (maple syrup or sugar)
- ⅓ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 2 apples (1 red and 1 green - cored and chopped.)
- 1 cup red grapes (or green grapes - halved)
- 1 cup celery sticks (sliced or diced)
- 1 cup walnuts (toasted and very roughly chopped)
- 1½ cup cooked chicken breast (cubed)
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- lettuce for serving (optional)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add ⅓ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon honey, ⅓ teaspoon salt , and ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper. Whisk until well combined.
- Add chopped apples, halved red grapes, sliced celery sticks, roughly chopped walnuts, cooked chicken breast chunks, dried cranberries, and chopped parsley. Stir everything well until evenly coated. Check for seasoning, and adjust salt only if desired.
- Dish out on the bed of fresh lettuce or in lettuce cups and serve.
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