Curry Chicken Salad
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Published Apr 05, 2024
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Made with celery, red onion and raisins this curry chicken salad is packed with tons of flavor and so easy to make! It’s the perfect make-ahead lunch recipe.
If you’re looking for a delicious, protein-packed and budget friendly lunch idea, this curry chicken salad is for you!
I love eating this salad on toasted bread, on top of a lettuce salad or in a wrap. It’s perfect to meal prep for the week ahead, to bring on an outdoor adventure or picnic or for a backyard dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Flavorful – The combo of the savory curry powder, sweet raisins and fresh veggies packs a flavor punch!
- Versatile – Great in sandwiches, wraps, salads, or eaten on its own.
- Quick & easy – Once your chicken is shredded, this recipe comes together quickly, making it ideal for speedy lunches or meal prep.
// ★★★★★ Review //
“This was so tasty! I love chicken salad, but my husband doesn’t like it very much. However, this recipe was a big hit with both of us! I’m off to make some more right now!” – Robin
Curry Chicken Salad Ingredients
I love recipes with minimal ingredients and this curry chicken salad recipe requires only 7 main ingredients, plus salt and pepper. Here’s what you need:
- shredded chicken – use rotisserie chicken for a shortcut here or use my foolproof method for slow cooker shredded chicken or instant pot shredded chicken.
- celery – adds a fresh crunch and balances the flavors.
- raisins – introduces a hint of sweetness to contrast the savory elements. If you want to swap the raisins with something else red grapes or dried cranberries would be a great substitute.
- red onion – provides a sharp, piquant taste that complements the curry. If you don’t have red onion on hand feel free to use yellow or green onions.
- mayonnaise – for creaminess and to bind the salad together. I love using the Primal Kitchen avocado oil mayo, but you can use whatever type you prefer.
- curry powder – the star spice, bringing warmth and depth to the dish. Most curry powders are a blend of turmeric, chili powder, ground coriander, ground cumin, ground ginger and pepper. Different brands each taste a little different so find one you like and stick with it. I’m a big fan of Simply Organic curry powder.
- apple cider vinegar – adds a slight tang to enhance the overall flavor. No ACV? Fresh lemon juice would make for the perfect substitute.
- ground pepper & sea salt – season to taste, enhancing all the salad’s flavors.
- cashews – this is optional, but adds a crunchy texture and nutty flavor. Almonds would also be a good addition.
How to Make Curry Chicken Salad
Once you have the shredded chicken, the hard part is done and all you have to do is stir together your seasonings.
Step 1: Add your mayo, apple cider vinegar, curry powder, pepper and salt to a mixing bowl and stir to combine. Then add your cooked chicken, celery, raisins and red onion.
Step 2: Toss everything together until combined and you’re done! You can enjoy the salad right away or if you prefer you can place it in the fridge to chill before serving.
Recipe Tips!
- For a shortcut, use leftover rotisserie chicken. Just shred it up and add it to the rest of your ingredients.
- For a lighter version, try substituting half of the mayo with Greek yogurt!
Ways to Serve Curry Chicken Salad
There are so many different ways to serve this curry chicken salad. Here are a few ideas:
- With crackers: Serve with crackers like these almond flour crackers for a light lunch.
- As a sandwich: Make sandwiches by serving it on sourdough bread or croissants.
- Lettuce wraps: If you prefer a low-carb and gluten-free option, use large lettuce leaves (such as iceberg or butter lettuce) as wraps and fill them with this chicken salad.
- Over greens: Top a bed of greens with this salad for a meal-sized salad.
How to Store Curry Chicken Salad
Store your homemade chicken salad in an airtight container for 3-5 days in the refrigerator. Unfortunately chicken salad doesn’t freeze well so if you meal prep chicken salad plan to eat it within 3-5 days of making!
More Protein Salads:
Be sure to check out the full collection of salad recipes on EBF!
Curry Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- ½ cup celery, chopped
- ¼ -⅓ cup raisins
- ¼ cup red onion, chopped
- ¼ cup mayonnaise, I like using avocado oil mayo
- ½ Tablespoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- ⅕- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 Tablespoons cashews, optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir together mayo, apple cider vinegar, curry powder, pepper and salt.
- Add shredded chicken, celery, raisins and red onion to the bowl. Stir until well combined.
- Taste and adjust seasonings, if needed. If mixture seems too dry, add more mayo. Serve on bread as a sandwich, in lettuce wraps or over a bed of greens.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
That was a great article thank you so much.
I made the healthy chicken curry salad and it turned out delicious!! I can’t wait to have it over spinach salad for lunches or eat it with crackers. You won’t be disappointed!! 🙂
Yay!! I’m so excited that you liked the curried chicken salad. I’m hooked on it. 🙂 And thank you so much for taking the time to come back here and comment and leave a star rating. I so appreciate it!
Congrats on having this recipe featured on My Fitness Pal! I just made a big batch–it’s delicious!
Thanks Mindy! So happy to hear that you found and enjoyed this recipe. 🙂
Soooo yummy and super easy to bring together. I didn’t have any cashews so substituted pine nuts. Delish and perfect for a very hot Australian Summer’s day with salad greens.
Yay!! So glad you’re loving this chicken salad recipe, Sandee. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and star rating. I so appreciate it. <3
So yummy. I substituted craisins for raisons but gosh it all came together so lovely! Great flavors!
Yay!! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Leslie. Thanks for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. <3
Yum!!!!! Had to add quite a bit more curry powder, but that could be because my is old and cheap. Excellent recipe. Easy and delicious!!
So glad you enjoyed this salad, Deb!! Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I really appreciate it. 🙂
This is so delicious!!
This was so tasty! I love chicken salad, but my husband doesn’t like it very much. However, this recipe was a bit hit with both of us! I’m off to make some more right now!
Woot woot!! That’s always a win when that happens. 🙂 So glad this recipe was a hit. Thanks for trying it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it!
It’s a HOT summer evening, so I made this for dinner and served it open face on a croissant. Very tasty. I’ll be making this chicken curry salad again.
So glad this was a hit, Bev! Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. <3
My fiancée and I love this! We followed the recipe using rotisserie chicken. We eat it usually for snack with crackers and cheese. I’ve been making it each week for more than a month now. It’s now become a staple in our household! Thanks for this recipe!
Ahh yay!! So glad this recipe is a hit. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating, Grace. I so appreciate it. 🙂
This was great! I made as directed except used chopped pecans in place of the cashews and added a little bit of honey. So good! Been eating in lettuce wraps.
So pumped you’ve been loving this salad, Kris! Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I really appreciate it 🙂
Yummy!!!
Absolutely DELICIOUS!! I used dried cranberries instead of raisins…. made a big batch and have had it every day for lunch! So tasty!
Ahh yay!! That makes me so happy to hear, Lauren. So pumped you’re loving this recipe. Thanks for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. 🙂
So yum! I wasn’t sure about curry powder cold with the raisins but I LOVE it! My husband is also a fan. So quick to whip up. Great lunch option!
Woo, so glad this salad was a hit!! Thanks for giving it a try and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it, Amanda.
I loved this recipe, you never disappoint! I used black grapes and sliced almonds because that’s what I had on hand and it was still super yummy. Would Greek yogurt work well as a replacement for mayo to make it lighter?
So glad you loved it, Katlyn! And yes, I love using Greek yogurt as a sub for mayo in my tuna or chicken salads. 🙂 Let me know how it turns out if you try it!
Absolutely delicious! I love how the curry kicks the flavor up a notch while still tasting like chicken salad. My husband even requested it again!
Woo!! So glad you loved this salad, Kaitlin. Thanks for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it. 🙂
In an effort to eat a more wide variety of foods instead of the same lunch everyday, I decided to give this a try and it’s wonderful! I don’t like eating a heavy lunch because it makes me tired for the rest of the day, and this was light and energizing!
Yay! So glad this recipe was a hit, Kristen! Thanks for the review 🙂
Fantastic recipe. Great for lunch wraps!
Yay!! So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Jess! Thanks so much for the review 🙂
This was super easy and unbelievably delicious. I used a rotisserie chicken and avocado mayo. Served over a bed of spring salad. My husband is vegetarian so I’m going to try it using smashed chickpeas instead of the chicken. I coarsely chopped raw cashews which I think adds a great texture to the salad.
Yay!! So pumped this curry chicken salad was a hit, Paul! Thanks so much for trying it out and coming back to leave a review. It means so much to me!
So tasty! I swapped Greek yogurt for mayo and did sliced almonds instead of cashews. Served over romaine lettuce cups for a felicitous light lunch!
This is a great recipe and perfect for a low carb day! I added some shredded carrot and served it over lettuce, and it was delicious. Love your recipes!
YUM! Love the addition of carrots, Cammie. Glad you found this recipe and are loving it. Thanks for your review & star rating, I really appreciate it!
This curry chicken salad is delicious – I served it on salad greens and my family loved it! It will definitely be added to the rotation!
WOO! I am so glad you are loving this salad and it is a hit for you, Amy! Thanks so much for sharing your review & star rating, I truly appreciate it!