Nana’s Chicken Salad Recipe

Our Nana is known for her homemade Italian dinners, but something we don’t talk about enough are the lunches she serves when we come to visit. To her, they probably seem commonplace, however to us, they’re anything but. Whether she’s serving cold cut sandwiches or a homemade dish, lunch is always a full spread. Our favorite part is she typically serves lunch family-style where we find ourselves passing dishes and helping one another fill our plates. The physical interaction sparks the personal connection we always feel while we’re seated at Nana’s table, and this year we want to pass along one of her famous lunch recipes – her chicken salad recipe!

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The Secret to Making This Recipe

There are two secrets to serving Nana’s Chicken Salad. First, if you have time, prepare this recipe a day in advance to allow the flavors of each ingredient to blend together. You will be grateful for the extra time to enjoy a delicious recipe with loved ones.

Second, don’t skip out on the relish and squeeze of lemon juice! The acidity of both ingredients will cut through the fatty mayo, adding a bit of zest to what may otherwise be something quite simple.

How to Serve Nana’s Chicken Salad

There are also two ways we like to serve Nana’s Chicken Salad recipe. For a ready-to-serve meal, we like to prepare the sandwiches in advance and display them on a serving or domed tray to tie in the tablescape design. The prepared sandwiches can be stacked upon each other for a full and layered effect that adds height to your overall design.

For a self-service meal, you can plate the prepared chicken salad in a decorative bowl with a spoon and set a platter with different types of breads and croissants to allow your guests to prepare their own sandwiches. And if you’re serving a mixed greens, this allows guests to top their salad with the chicken salad if they want to skip the bread.

Domed Tray | Serving Bowl | Acacia Tongs

The Perfect Pairings

• Mimi’s Egg Salad
• Mimi’s Tuna Salad
• Classic white bread
• Plain or flavored croissants
• Toasted or untoasted bagel
• Baguette 
• Bun
• Pita Bread
• Lettuce Wrap
• Tortilla Chips
• Green salad
• Fruit platter
• Cheese platter
• Vegetable platter
• Chips
• Dill pickles
• Macaroni salad
• Soup
• Fruit salad

How to Make Nana’s Chicken Salad Recipe

What You’ll Need

The Tools

For this recipe, you don’t need to cook a single thing, unless you choose to cook a chicken. In which case, we whole heartedly recommend our very favorite cookware ever: Caraway Home.

We made the switch to Caraway Home a while ago in our own homes because of its ceramic, toxin-free material, but we fell in love with our cook and bakeware for its luxurious style and design. Plus, its non-stick surface allows for the easiest cleanup and stress-free time in your kitchen.

(Below you’ll see our Sage cookware which complements our Cream bakeware seamlessly!)

The Ingredients

How to Prepare:

Table (similar) | Basket | Domed Tray | Dress (similar)

Nana’s Chicken Salad is best prepared a day in advance to allow the flavors of each ingredient to blend together. To start, use a hand mixer on the slowest speed or two forks to pull apart and shred the rotisserie chicken. Shred the chicken to how thick or thin you like.

Then, in a mixing bowl, combine the chicken and sweet relish. Gradually mix in the mayonnaise to the taste and consistency of your liking.

Then, in a mixing bowl, combine the chicken and sweet relish. Gradually mix in the mayonnaise to the taste and consistency of your liking.