finding time for cooking

for the time-starved or curious culinary adventurer

  • Recipes By Type
    • Appetizers, Dips, & Snacks
    • Bread Recipes
    • Breakfast Goodies
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes & Veggies
    • Sauces, Spices, & Other Basics
    • Snacks
  • Drinks: Cocktails & More
    • Best Cocktail Gifts: For the At-Home Bartender or Mixologist
  • Foods I’m Obsessed With
    • 30 Minutes or Less…for the Time-Challenged Cook
    • What Bread To Make (Based on Your Time)
    • Gluten-Free Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Super Healthy
    • Cooking for One
    • Soup
    • Unleavened Bread Recipes
  • About Me
    • Get In Touch!
    • How-Tos
    • Kitchen Tools I’m Obsessed With
    • Recipes Index
    • Food and Travel—Two of My Favorite Things
    • Bunion Surgery Recovery Tips

Aunt Tina’s Chicken Salad (The Best In The World)

June 6, 2012

I’m pretty sure I didn’t even know chicken salad existed when I was growing up (now, TUNA salad I was familiar with…).

But when I moved to Atlanta and began having catered rep lunches, I fell in love with it. The best part is how many variations there are. There’s regular, Southern-style, with mustard, with curry, Waldorf, just about anything really.

We were in Texas visiting family four or five years ago, and my Aunt Tina (who has other amazing talents, like cake baking/decorating) made this chicken salad. It’s in the (Blair) Waldorf family, and is the best chicken salad I have EVER had in my life. The combination of cider vinegar, honey, and white pepper in the dressing is the secret, I think.

It’s like crack. Sweet, tangy, mayo-covered crack.

The best chicken salad recipe ever! Aunt Tina's chicken salad recipe will beat every other one, hands down. A little sweet, a little tangy, and great texture. #chickensalad #best #recipe #familyrecipes

My mom and I both begged the recipe off of her, and have made it a few times—including about 8 gallons of it (no, seriously) for my sister’s wedding reception dinner. It’s really easy, though kind of time consuming and makes quite a bit. Great for big groups, like picnics and family get-togethers.  Handwritten—this is how you know it’s a good recipe.

Aunt Tina's Chicken Salad, the best chicken salad recipe ever | finding time for cooking blog

You want a BIG bowl. We’re going to make a mess.  Measure out the mayo. I love Duke’s (what good Southerner doesn’t?) but any mayo will do. We used light Miracle Whip for this one.

Add the poppy seeds.  Throw in the honey and apple cider vinegar.

Then stir all the dressing ingredients together well.

Now halve the grapes and add them.

Chop up the celery—it’s best to make them very small pieces, and even. Usually most people don’t want to taste and feel LOTS of celery.

For the chicken, you can use pre-cooked chicken (like rotisserie) or just boil chicken breasts (what I do because I’m lazy).  Cut or shred the chicken into small pieces and add to the big bowl.  I’m not usually super exact on the amount of chicken, the recipe is a little flexible.

Toast the pecans. We used just plain pecans (no butter or sugar) in the oven at 400 for like five minutes.  Chop or break them into pieces and toss into the bowl.  Or you could go the lazy route and use pecan pieces to begin with…

Now mix everything all together.  You might have to add a tiny more mayo if your salad is super dry, but don’t automatically assume that—if you let it sit a little while the celery and grapes tend to add a little moisture in themselves.

Aunt Tina's Chicken Salad, the best chicken salad recipe ever | finding time for cooking blog

It’s awesome right away, but best if you let it sit in the refrigerator overnight or for a few hours at least. It gets chilled, but also the flavors all sink into and enhance each other. Like lasagna, but with mayo.

Aunt Tina's Chicken Salad, the best chicken salad recipe ever | finding time for cooking blog

Aunt Tina's Chicken Salad, the best chicken salad recipe ever | finding time for cooking blog

All done!  It keeps for 3 days to a week in the fridge.

Aunt Tina's Chicken Salad, the best chicken salad recipe ever | finding time for cooking blog

It’s good on pretty much everything—by itself, on crackers, croissants, bread, salad, etc.  And with crunchy Cheetos.

Aunt Tina’s Best Chicken Salad In The World

  • 8-9 cooked chicken breasts, shredded or cut into small pieces
  • 1 cup of celery (chopped)
  • 1 cup of red seedless grapes (sliced in half)
  • 1 cup of toasted chopped pecans

Dressing:

  • 2 1/2 cups of mayonnaise (I love Duke’s)
  • 3 tablespoons of honey
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
  • 1/8 teaspoon of white pepper
  • 3 tablespoons of poppy seeds
  1. Mix the dressing together.
  2. Add chicken and other ingredients, mix well.
  3. Best if kept in refrigerator overnight, it helps the flavors be even better!

Pin this image!

The best chicken salad recipe ever - Pinterest overlay

4 Comments CATEGORIES // Appetizers, Dips, & Snacks, Family Secret Recipes, Go-To Recipes, Main Dishes

« Pasta with Heirloom Tomatoes & Ricotta
Fancy twist on pancakes (Cinnamon Polenta Pancakes) »

Comments

  1. jenn says

    December 16, 2013 at 3:19 pm

    Just made this for our lunch. Yummy!! Made a few changes based on what I had and thought you’d like to see. Left out honey. Used craisins instead of grapes. Sunflower seeds instead of nuts. Didn’t measure anything cause it was annoying to keep checking on my phone so I went for texture. And I used home canned chicken (2 jars)!!! It was my first time canning too so that is pretty darn exciting! :). Came out fantastic! Will make again. PS we ate ours on pita bread.

    Reply
    • starshy926 says

      December 16, 2013 at 4:30 pm

      So glad you liked it! For me the honey balances out the bite of the apple cider vinegar, but I have a fairly low threshold for vinegar-y things in general. Craisins would be good, and less work than cutting a bunch of grapes in half. Really happy to hear that about the canned chicken–I’ve been wanting to try chicken salad with canned chicken for a while but it also kind of freaks me out and so I’ve “chickened” out so far 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Most Popular Recipes in 2013 – finding time for cooking says:
    January 4, 2014 at 5:41 pm

    […] Aunt Tina’s Amazing Chicken Salad […]

    Reply
  2. Whole 30-Approved Avocado Sonoma Chicken Salad – finding time for cooking says:
    April 18, 2015 at 11:32 pm

    […] posted my absolute favorite chicken salad recipe, the best I’ve ever had. But it also isn’t necessarily the *healthiest* one. This one, […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Me

Welcome to my little corner of the internet! I created this blog for people who love cooking & baking but are challenged to find the time and energy to do it. Recipes run the gamut from super healthy to indulgent, but the focus is on using REAL food no matter what.

Follow Along!

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Recent IG Adventures!

This adult take on a cherry lemonade (with gin, my This adult take on a cherry lemonade (with gin, my true love) is so delicious and refreshing…and has a secret ingredient to get that intense cherry flavor! 

Get the recipe by tapping on the link in my IG bio and choosing this pic—> @findingtimeforcooking 
#cocktailrecipes #sanguemorlacco #cherrylemonade #gincocktails
I am OBSESSED with key lime pie, and never knew ho I am OBSESSED with key lime pie, and never knew how easy it is to make at home! This is the best key lime pie recipe around, a perfect balance of tart & sweet, the creamiest custardy filling, and a sweet, buttery graham cracker crust 😍 

Get the recipe yourself by tapping the link in my IG bio & choosing this photo —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#keylimepie #keylime #easydessert #classicdessert
Looking for a new healthy go-to dish?? This “loa Looking for a new healthy go-to dish?? This “loaded” Thai chicken salad only takes 15 minutes to whip up and is packed with veggies, texture, & flavor! What really makes the dish is the sweet-spicy-savory dressing… *chefs kiss* 

Tap the link in my IG bio & click on this photo to see the recipe!
#healthyrecipes #thaiflavors #healthydinner #cabbagerecipe
These super easy jam & goat cheese phyllo cups mad These super easy jam & goat cheese phyllo cups made the perfect fancy appetizer for Night To Be…and they’re ready in just 15-ish minutes! 

Tap the link in my bio & click this photo to see the recipe! —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#appetizers #phyllodough #goatcheese #easyrecipes
This crazy easy orange curd is the perfect balance This crazy easy orange curd is the perfect balance of sweet, tart, & just a hint of floral…and only takes 5-10 minutes to make! Perfect heaped on crepes, cakes, and more 💕

Tap the link in my bio & click on this photo to see the recipe —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#citrusfruit #orangecurd #glutenfree #cookingtips
Two kitchen hacks for the price of one!!! 🎉🐓 Two kitchen hacks for the price of one!!! 🎉🐓 How to make the easiest, juiciest (hands-off) poached chicken breasts, & then how to shred chicken in 10 seconds. YES, you read that right!! These two techniques combined have been a mainstay for me lately, critical in helping me have something healthy and fast around at all times. 

Check out my Reel in the feed as well, & click on the link in my bio then tap this pic to get the recipe! —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#kitchenhacks #cookinghealthy #cookinghacks #shreddedchicken
I’m ready for the amaretto sour to make a comeba I’m ready for the amaretto sour to make a comeback! And this recipe (including bourbon) is just the ticket…a little sweet, a little bitter, and a little boozy. 

Tap the link in my IG bio then tap this photo to see the (super easy) recipe —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#amaretto #easycocktails #amarettosour #homebartender
These delicious spicy unleavened cheese straws are These delicious spicy unleavened cheese straws are my favorite new recipe for the Days of Unleavened Bread! They’re super easy, can be frozen before or after baking (make ahead!) and honestly would make an awesome appetizer any time of year. 

Tap the link in my IG bio (@findingtimeforcooking) then click on this photo to see the recipe post!
#unleavenedbread #cheeselover #appetizerideas #bakingfromscratch
The ultimate “don’t judge a book by its cover” recipe…these dark chocolate sables are maybe the best chocolate cookie ever! Complex, rich without being too sweet, melt in your mouth…and perfect for a late afternoon snack 😍 Shoutout #smittenkitchen for the recipe and reco!

Tap the link in my bio & choose this photo to see the recipe! —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#bakingfromscratch #chocolatelovers #sablé #chocoholic
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Popular Posts

Brunch Staple: Easy Buttermilk Belgian Waffles

Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie with Drop Biscuit Topping

Lemon Shallot Chicken

Traditional Tuscan Pasta with Walnut Sauce – Version 2

Simple, Traditional Cacio e Pepe Pasta

Recent Posts

  • Cherry & Lemon Gin Cocktail…a.k.a. Cher…
  • The (IMO) Best Homemade Key Lime Pie
  • Super Easy & Healthy “Loaded” Tha…

Categories

  • Appetizers, Dips, & Snacks
  • Bread Recipes
  • Breakfast Goodies
  • Cooking for One
  • Desserts
  • Drinks: Cocktails & More
  • Eating Out
  • Family Secret Recipes
  • Food-Related Miscellany
  • Foods I'm Obsessed With
  • Gluten-Free Recipes
  • Go-To Recipes
  • How-Tos
  • Kitchen Gear
  • Main Dishes
  • Pasta Recipes
  • Recipe Experimentation
  • Sauces, Spices, & Other Basics
  • Side Dishes & Veggies
  • Snacks
  • Soup
  • Super Healthy
  • Travel and Food

Privacy Policy & Disclosures

Copyright & Terms of Use

Copyright 2022 Finding Time For Cooking

332 shares