VMBURNS: I was reading a book and one of the characters had a chicken salad sandwich. Normally, I make chicken salad in the summer, but I couldn't get that sandwich out of my mind. So, here I am in the middle of winter making chicken salad. I like to make chicken salad in my crockpot, and it's crockpot season, so I guess it all works. Sometimes, I take the chicken I make in the crockpot and use it for other dishes, but today it's going for chicken salad. You'll notice lots of optional ingredients because you can add whatever you want. I don't like celery. My sister doesn't like eggs. I also like grapes and nuts. Maybe that's why I think of chicken salad as a summer dish. Anyway, I skipped the fruit and nuts this time. Anyway, this is a super easy recipe that I just dump into the crockpot and wait. I don't even bother defrosting the chicken. I like chicken thighs, but I only had chicken breast, so that's what I used. This recipe is super flexible.
CHICKEN SALAD
INGREDIENTS
- 1 lb Chicken breast or Chicken thighs
- 1 onion, rough chopped
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 Tablespoons poultry seasoning
- 2 Tablespoons paprika
- 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon pepper
- 1 Teaspoon Lawry's season salt
- 1/4 Cup mayo (I use Dukes)
- 2 eggs (optional)
- 2 Tablespoons sweet relish (optional)
- 1 Tablespoon diced onions (Optional)
- 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard (optional)
- 1 Tablespoon celery (Optional)
- INSTRUCTIONS
- Dump everything in the crockpot and fill with water.
- Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
- Shred chicken and mix in what you like. I used mayo, eggs, sweet relish.
- Chill and serve.
- READERS: What do you like in your chicken salad? Leave me a comment below. I'll enter your name in a drawing for an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of THE NEXT DEADLY CHAPTER, the 10th book in the Mystery Bookshop Mystery series. Please include your email address in the comments to be considered.
THE NEXT DEADLY CHAPTER
All Sam wanted was to make a good impression on her fiancé Frank’s mother, the very proper Dr. Camilia Patterson. But when Nano Jo and the lively ladies of Shady Acres Retirement Village throw a surprise bridal shower for Sam at the Four Feathers Casino—watch out! Things spin out of control faster than a roulette wheel. Fortunately, Sam knows when to fold ’em and slips back to her room to work on her latest historical mystery set between the wars, in which a houseguest meets a grim end at an English country manor.
The morning after brings another rude surprise. Sam gets a frantic call from Camilia, who’s discovered a dead body in her room. Now winning over her soon-to-be mother-in-law means keeping the good doctor out of a potential scandal and attempting to discreetly solve a murder without ruffling any feathers. For that she’ll need the help of Nano Jo—not exactly the soul of discretion—Detective “Stinky” Pitt, and the ladies—because the casino killer keeps upping the ante. . .
Chicken, of course, eggs, celery, slivered almonds, mayo, garlic and onion powder, I like your idea of grapes and poultry seasoning,salt and pepper.
ReplyDeleteMy email address is auntiecarol1972@yahoo.com
I like almonds in my chicken salad, too.
DeleteI was hesitant to comment because The Next Deadly Chapter is on its way to me from last time. I wanted to support the site, though, and your post question about the recipe sounded fun. I would like to mention that growing up in the northeast Hellman's mayonnaise was the only one but a few month's ago Korina Moss posted about Duke's mayonnaise for piment cheese spread, comparing Duke's and Hellman's and we did that too. Surprise, Duke's is on the shelves of supermarkets in Massachusetts. I agree with your comment that you can add pretty much anything you want to chicken salad. I like that you have a nice variety of spices. We like that, too. Sometimes I try to give chicken salad a bit of a curry flavor and when I do that I will include raisins or grapes.
ReplyDeleteI've never added raisins, but it sounds like a great addition.
DeleteValerie - I have to tell you that I can so relate to that suggestive thing on reading about food in a book (or seeing it on a movie or tv show). I remember reading about someone eating popcorn and the next thing I know I'm in the kitchen making popcorn! :) Chicken salad is a great staple for getting a protein snack into my week. I'll pile it on celery or crackers. Mine usually consists of chicken, celery, and red onion, with a mayo-mustard dressing + salt & white pepper. And then I'll add a slice of bacon and some lettuce with it to a tortilla wrap or I'll add a pickled jalapeno slice on top of my chicken-salad cracker snack. Congrats again on the release of your milestone 10th title in your wonderful Mystery Bookshop series! ~ Cleo
ReplyDeleteCleo, thanks. I love bacon and love adding it to chicken salad. I haven't tried a tortilla wrap, but I can see it in my future. :-)
DeleteI like slivered almonds in my chicken salad. I also like a little cinnamon. Thanks for this recipe! It's very different from one I've used in the past, but I'll be trying it.
ReplyDeletezvanoizu@hotmail.com
Jenny, I have never added cinnamon, but I may give it try. Thanks for the tip.
DeleteBack in the days when I could eat chicken, chicken salad was a staple. I used roasted chicken, slivers of red onion, green grapes, toasted almond slivers, thinly sliced celery, mayo with a bit of mustard and some sour cream or yogurt and a touch of curry. Congrats on the new release!! makennedyinaz at hotmail dot com
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marcia. I love grapes and toasted almonds. So many options.
DeleteCongrats on book #10! I am adding it to the TBR list, Nana Jo is a hoot and her posse are a hoot! I am like you, I like the chicken salad with grapes and pecans. I usually grab a Costco chicken to make mine, but you are right that a crockpot makes short work of the job as well. Looking forward to both the new book and trying your recipe. Thanks for the giveaway! tracy.condie@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThank you. I have also taken a deli chicken to make chicken salad. But, I love my crockpot.
DeleteI like everything you put in your recipe, except the eggs! I like chicken, mayo, a bit of relish, celery, and lots of seasonings, and this recipe is perfect! Thank you for sharing it, and thank you for the giveaway! lgmiller831@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteLaurie, my sister doesn't like eggs either. Chicken salad is a flexible recipe. Thank you so much for the comments.
DeleteI make chicken salad with mayonnaise, apple, chicken, grapes, pecans, raisins and celery. Deborah deborahortega229@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteDeborah, I like apples, grapes, pecans, too. So yummy.
DeleteChicken salad is a staple in my house. (Thank you, Fresh Market.)
ReplyDeleteI have a question, well, comment. I've read that it isn't safe to put frozen meats in a slow cooker without defrosting them first. It takes long enough for the temperature to rise to a safe level where it kills bacteria that the food could be a problem.
libbydodd at comcast dot net
Libby, I have also heard that you shouldn't put frozen meat in a crockpot, too. It can cause your crock to break. I have an old crockpot and it's never been a problem for me. Considering I usually let my crockpot go 8+ hours, I haven't run into a problem where the temp doesn't get high enough to kill bacteria. But, a thermometer is a good idea.
DeleteI have never made chicken salad, 🐔 so I would follow your recipe. I would omit the eggs because like your Sister I'm not a fan of eggs. Looking forward to trying your recipe.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
In my chicken salad, I like garlic powder, onion, salt, pepper and mayo. Sometimes I will add cheddar cheese if I am in the mood. Simple but delicious. cherierj(at) yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on another book and thanks for the chance to win it. This may sound weird but I have never had a chicken salad sandwich. I may have to give some of these ideas a try. ckmbeg (at) gmail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteI like to add apple for a bit of crunch and pineapple for the sweet tartness. baileybounce2@att.net
ReplyDeleteIn chicken salad I like: chicken, Duke's mayo, sweet pickle relish, Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning salute no salt spice mixture, finely diced red onion, and chopped pecans or slivered almonds and sliced green grapes if you are getting fancy!
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
I like it with cranberries.
ReplyDeleteMarlene
marlros@msn.com
I like celery in it! Love the crunch! lindaherold999(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThank you for the recipe and chance to win. I like to add chopped pecans and green grape halves to my chicken salad. The dressing has cool whip added to the mayo. Another variation is hard cooked egg, almond and celery. Or craisins and chopped pecans.
ReplyDeletemadamhawk at gmail dot com
I like some onion and dill pickles added in! Congrats on the release! tWarner419@aol.com
ReplyDelete