My favorite way to make chicken salad with grapes using rotisserie chicken, mandarin oranges, crunchy almonds, and a perfectly seasoned creamy dressing.
Chicken salad with grapes is one of those recipes that sounds simple but delivers way more flavor than you expect. Tender shredded rotisserie chicken, sweet red grapes, juicy mandarin oranges, crunchy slivered almonds, and finely diced celery all come together in a creamy, lightly seasoned dressing that is genuinely hard to stop eating. I brought this to a potluck once and came home with an empty bowl and three recipe requests.
The secret to this chicken salad with grapes is a quick chill time before you add the fruit. Letting the chicken soak in lemon juice and seasoning for a couple of hours makes it so much more flavorful than just mixing everything together at once. It is the kind of dish that works on a buttery croissant, in a lettuce cup, or straight from the bowl with a fork. You are in for a treat!
Table of Contents
Ingredients for Chicken Salad with Grapes
I always use rotisserie chicken for this recipe because it is already perfectly cooked and seasoned, and it shreds beautifully in just a few minutes. I recommend buying a whole rotisserie chicken the day you plan to make this so the meat is fresh and easy to work with.
3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
1 cup celery, diced very small — I usually dice it finer than you think you need to, large chunks are a texture problem
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from about 1/2 lemon) — my preference is always fresh over bottled
1 teaspoon onion powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning — pro tip: this one ingredient adds so much depth, do not skip it
1 1/2 cups red grapes, halved
1 (15 oz) can mandarin oranges, drained well
1/2 cup slivered almonds — in my experience, toasting them lightly first adds even more crunch and flavor
1/2 cup mayonnaise
6 large croissants or 8 to 10 mini croissants, for serving
In my experience, the chill time is what separates a good chicken salad with grapes from a truly great one, so please do not rush this step.
Step 1: Shred the rotisserie chicken into bite-size pieces. Dice the celery very finely. Large celery chunks can overpower the texture of the finished salad.
Step 2: Add the shredded chicken, diced celery, lemon juice, onion powder, kosher salt, and Montreal steak seasoning to a large bowl. Stir well until everything is evenly coated. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Overnight works even better and makes the flavors pop.
Step 3: Once chilled, drain the mandarin oranges thoroughly and pat them lightly with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Too much liquid will make the salad watery.
Step 4: Add the halved red grapes, drained mandarin oranges, slivered almonds, and mayonnaise to the chilled chicken mixture. Stir gently until everything is evenly combined and coated with the dressing.
Step 5: Taste and adjust salt if needed. Serve immediately on split croissants, in lettuce cups, or in tortilla wraps. You can also refrigerate for another hour to let the flavors meld even further before serving.
Best Pairings for Chicken Salad with Grapes
The best sides for chicken salad with grapes are light, fresh, and texturally interesting to complement the creamy richness of the salad.
Avocado Chicken Salad: If your guests love chicken salad, offer this creamy avocado version alongside for a beautiful spread at baby showers, bridal showers, or casual lunches.
Tzatziki Chicken Salad: A Mediterranean-inspired chicken salad makes a great companion dish for a larger gathering where you want to offer variety and complementary flavors.
Healthy Avocado Chicken Salad: Serve this lighter option alongside the grape and mandarin version for a health-conscious crowd that wants something fresh and satisfying.
Chickpea Feta Avocado Salad: This protein-rich salad adds color and crunch to the table and pairs beautifully with chicken salad on croissants for a complete party spread.
Light Mediterranean Couscous Salad: A fresh herb couscous salad is one of the best sides for chicken salad with grapes at a summer lunch or baby shower because it adds substance without heaviness.
High Protein Italian Pasta Salad: For a heartier spread, this pasta salad rounds out the meal and keeps everyone satisfied without any extra cooking effort on your part.
Store leftover chicken salad with grapes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. Place it in the fridge within 2 hours of making it for food safety. Before serving leftovers, give it a good stir since the fruit can release a little juice as it sits.
If the salad seems watery after refrigerating, stir in a small spoonful of extra mayo to bring it back together. I recommend serving it cold straight from the fridge for the best texture and flavor. Do not freeze this salad since mayo-based dressings separate when thawed.
Pro tip: serve this chicken salad in butter lettuce cups for a beautiful low-carb option that still feels elegant and special. It works just as well as a dip with crackers or pita chips for a party appetizer spread.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make chicken salad with grapes the night before?
Yes, and it actually tastes better the next day. The chicken soaks up all the seasoning overnight and the flavors come together beautifully. Just hold off on adding the almonds until right before serving so they stay crunchy.
What can I use instead of rotisserie chicken?
Any cooked, shredded chicken breast works well. You can also use canned chicken in a pinch. Rotisserie chicken is the top choice because it adds flavor and saves prep time, but the recipe is flexible.
Can I swap the mandarin oranges for fresh fruit?
Yes. Fresh mandarin segments, clementines, or even diced fresh peaches work great in season. Just make sure to drain or pat them dry so they do not add extra liquid to the salad.
Conclusion
Chicken salad with grapes is one of the easiest crowd-pleasers you can make, and it gets better the longer it chills. With just a handful of simple ingredients and a little patience, you get a creamy, sweet, savory salad that works for lunches, parties, and everything in between. Make a batch this week and see how fast it disappears!
A creamy, flavorful chicken salad made with shredded rotisserie chicken, sweet red grapes, mandarin oranges, crunchy slivered almonds, and a lemon-seasoned mayo dressing. Perfect on croissants, in lettuce cups, or in tortilla wraps.
6large croissantsor 8 to 10 mini croissants, for serving
Equipment
Large mixing bowl
Cutting board and knife
Plastic wrap or airtight lid
Method
Shred the rotisserie chicken into bite-size pieces and dice the celery very finely.
Add chicken, celery, lemon juice, onion powder, kosher salt, and Montreal steak seasoning to a large bowl. Stir well, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Drain the mandarin oranges well and pat lightly with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
Add the halved red grapes, drained mandarin oranges, slivered almonds, and mayonnaise to the chilled chicken mixture. Stir gently until evenly combined.
Taste and adjust salt if needed. Serve on split croissants, in lettuce cups, or in tortilla wraps.
Notes
Chill the chicken mixture for at least 2 hours before adding the fruit for best flavor. Add almonds right before serving to keep them crunchy. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days. Do not freeze. If salad becomes watery after refrigerating, stir in a small spoonful of extra mayo.
a recipe developer, food enthusiast, and busy parent based in Denver, CO. I created Yumnights because I believe that delicious, healthy dinners shouldn’t require hours in the kitchen or a culinary degree to master.
