Enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner with this Chicken Salad with Grapes. Loaded with savory dill, crunchy nuts, and juicy fruit, this chicken salad recipe is a winner of a chicken dinner. Serve it on bread, wrap it up, or add it to a salad - you can't go wrong.
Jump to:
Chicken salad is a classic dish that our family has been enjoying for years. It is versatile, delicious, and can be served in a variety of ways. A few of our favorites are this spicy chicken salad recipe and this Hawaiian chicken salad.
Have you had the pecan chicken salad from Arby's? I love that they include fruit and nuts in their chicken salad recipe.
Unfortunately, it is only available for a limited time each year. So, I was inspired to make my own version of their chicken salad recipe, so we can enjoy it all year long.
Why Make this Chicken Salad Recipe
This chicken salad with grapes is the perfect meal to make on busy nights. Your whole family will enjoy this fresh and delicious salad for dinner.
- Comes together quickly. Using a store-bought rotisserie chicken saves time in the kitchen.
- Sweet and savory flavor. The sweetness and juiciness of the grapes complement the savory flavor of the chicken salad. It creates a perfect balance of flavors that is both refreshing and satisfying.
- Incredibly versatile. You can serve it on a bed of lettuce, as a sandwich, or as a dip with crackers or vegetables. It makes for a great meal prep option that can be stored in the fridge for several days and eaten on the go.
- Great for picnics or potlucks. It's easy to make ahead of time and travels well, so it is the perfect recipe for any occasion.
Whether you enjoy this chicken salad as a full meal or a light snack, the flavor, texture, and colors make it perfect for showers and special gatherings.
Ingredients Needed
Chicken salad is one of those recipes that you can change up to include your favorite ingredients. We feel that the combination of these ingredients makes this grape pecan chicken salad the best.
- Chicken - We like to use a shredded rotisserie chicken from Sam's Club to save time. You can also roast your own chicken, use grilled chicken breast, or canned chicken.
- Seedless Grapes - Gives the chicken salad a delicious sweet taste. Feel free to use red or green grapes, depending on your preference. Red grapes tend to be sweeter, while green grapes are a little more tart.
- Celery - Adds a delicious crunch and fresh flavor. Leave it out if you don't have any or don't like it. You can also use green onions or green peppers in place of it.
- Pecans - Dice the nuts into small bite sized pieces. Toast the nuts ahead of time to give the chicken salad a unique and delicious taste.
- Mayonnaise & Sour Cream - A combination of these creates a creamy base for the other ingredients. You can also use Greek yogurt if you want to lighten the recipe up.
- Fresh Dill - Gives a fresh flavor.
- Salt & Pepper - Use to season the pecan chicken salad to taste.
How to make Chicken Salad with Grapes
This chicken salad recipe is so easy to make in under 30 minutes when you use a rotisserie chicken. It's perfect for eating on bread or on greens all week long.
- Make the dill sauce. Mix together sour cream and mayonnaise in a small bowl. Chop the fresh dill into small pieces, removing the stems. Stir into the creamy mixture.
- Prep the ingredients. Debone and shred the cooked chicken. Dice the celery and pecans; cut the grapes in half.
- Assemble the chicken salad. Stir the chicken, celery, pecans, and grapes in a large bowl. Pour the dill sauce on top and stir everything together.
- Season and refrigerate. Add salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.
Variations
- Different fruits. Try using dried cranberries, chopped apples, fresh cherries, and pineapple in this chicken salad recipe.
- Change up the herbs. Parsley and cilantro are great choices.
- Make it mayo-free. Use a mixture of sour cream and Greek yogurt. You can also use ranch, avocado lime dressing, or a mixture of any of these.
- Use different nuts or seeds. Walnuts and almonds are delicious in this too.
Storage Recommendations
Store the chicken salad in an air tight bowl in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Give it a stir before serving.
I do not recommend freezing chicken salad because it will be a watery mess when it thaws out. If you like, freeze the chicken alone, then defrost and make the chicken salad when you need it.
Tips and Tricks
- Save time by using a store-bought rotisserie chicken. We usually keep bags of shredded chicken in our freezer for chicken salad, or easy meals like this chicken pasta bake or this chicken avocado quesadilla.
- Fresh dill gives this grape chicken salad its unique flavor. You may think that it seems like a lot of dill, but when you use fresh herbs you use more. Do not pack the chopped dill in your measuring cup.
- If you are using dried dill for this recipe, please use about ⅓ of the amount. Dried herbs have a much more concentrated flavor, so you need to use less.
- If you want yours to taste just like the Arby's pecan chicken salad, leave the dill out.
- Make sure to chop all your ingredients into bite sized pieces. Not only is it easier to eat, the salad can blend and meld together better when the ingredients are smaller.
- Refrigerate at least one hour before serving. This gives the ingredients time to chill and blend together.
Ways to Eat Grape Pecan Chicken Salad
There is no wrong way to eat this easy chicken salad. It all depends on what you are in the mood for.
- As a Sandwich - Use your favorite sliced bread, croissants, or Hawaiian rolls to make chicken salad sandwiches.
- On a Salad - For a low carb option, serve the chicken on a green salad or in lettuce cups.
- In Wraps - Fill tortilla shells or low carb wraps with the salad.
- As a Dip - Serve it with pretzels and crackers for a light snack on a charcuterie board.
FAQs
You sure can. If you are making this exact recipe, you will need 5-6 cups of chicken.
The grape pecan chicken salad will keep for 3-4 days in the refrigerator if kept in container.
I don't recommend freezing chicken salad because of the dairy in it. As it thaws, it will become watery and will not taste as great.
If you make it and feel like the flavor of dill is overwhelming, here are a few things you can do to salvage the salad.
1. Give it time. Dill is actually an herb that looses strength over time. Refrigerate the chicken salad overnight, and the flavor of the dill may be toned down enough for it to be palatable for you.
2. Add more of the other ingredients to tone down the flavor or use vinegar to neutralize the flavor of dill. Stir in 1 tablespoon of vinegar at a time to the chicken salad until you like the taste.
Other Chicken Salad Recipes
- Cherry Chicken Salad
- Chicken Fiesta Salad
- Spinach Caprese Salad
- BLT Chicken Salad
- Asian Chicken Salad
Do you love a recipe you tried from Inside BruCrew Life?
Please leave a 5-star ⭐️ rating and a review in the comments section below.
Recipe
Chicken Salad with Grapes
Enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner with this Chicken Salad with Grapes. Loaded with savory dill, crunchy nuts, and juicy fruit, this chicken salad recipe is a winner of a chicken dinner. Serve it on bread, wrap it up, or add it to a salad - you can't go wrong.
Ingredients
- 5-6 cups cooked chicken, shredded (large rotisserie chicken from Sam's)
- 1 ½ cups finely chopped pecans
- 2-3 ribs of celery, chopped fine
- 4 cups halved red seedless grapes
- 1 cup finely diced fresh dill (loosely packed)
- 1 cup sour cream* (see note below)
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Stir together the chicken, celery, grapes, and pecans in a large bowl.
- Whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, dill, salt, and pepper. Pour over the chicken mixture and stir until everything is completely covered.
- Refrigerate at least 2 hours for the flavors to develop. Serve on bread, salad, wraps, or with pretzel crackers.
Notes
Tips and Tricks
- This recipe makes a very large bowl of chicken salad. You can feed a crowd or you can eat on it for days. If you do not need that much, feel free to cut the recipe in half.
- Save time by using a store-bought rotisserie chicken. We usually keep bags of shredded chicken in our freezer for chicken salad or easy meals.
- Fresh dill gives this grape chicken salad its unique flavor. You may think that it seems like a lot of dill, but when you use fresh herbs you use more. Do not pack the chopped dill in your measuring cup.
- If you are using dried dill for this recipe, please use about ⅓ of the amount. Dried herbs have a much more concentrated flavor, so you need to use less.
- If you want yours to taste just like the Arby's pecan chicken salad, leave the dill out.
- Make sure to chop all your ingredients into bite sized pieces. Not only is it easier to eat, the salad can blend and meld together better when the ingredients are smaller.
- Refrigerate at least one hour before serving. This gives the ingredients time to chill and blend together.
Variations
- Different fruits. Try using dried cranberries, chopped apples, fresh cherries, and pineapple in this chicken salad recipe.
- Change up the herbs. Parsley and cilantro are great choices.
- Make it mayo-free. Use a mixture of sour cream and Greek yogurt. You can also use ranch dressing or a mixture of any of these.
- Use different nuts or seeds. Walnuts and almonds are delicious in this too.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 533Total Fat: 37gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 25gCholesterol: 173mgSodium: 275mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 5gProtein: 42g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post for Grape Pecan Chicken Salad was first published June 2010. The pictures were updated August 2021 and the post was republished April 2023.
Liz
Looks yummy! You've posted like a million times since I've been on vacation. Just got back, but I love the recipe hop and will def join in if you keep doing it 🙂 Got my Etsy order in too, so cute! The girls always steal my headbands. Thanks again!
Serene is my name, not my life!
As you know, I just started linking up. I'd love to keep doing it if you decide to continue!
Alicia
Looks so good, I will have to try this one!
I enjoy your posts on recipes, I may forget to look on the side for the link up, I'm forgetful. 🙂
visitoardc
This sounds soooooo delicious! I love the chicken salad from the Honeybaked Ham Cafe with the grapes in it and will definitely have to try this, too! Yum! Following from TTA. 🙂
theultimate
I'm vegetarian, but I think that my husband would love this recipe!
Angie S
i love chicken salad and will be trying this for sure! anything with dill has got to me yummy!
Katie
I love chicken salad, so naturally I love trying new chicken salad recipes. Such a great sandwich on a hot summer day!
Natalie Catherine
delicious!! thanks for passing this along.. i've been wanting a good chicken salad recipe! mine is so boring. this sounds perfect!
DORCAS
I am so gonna do this! I will just have to omit the pecans! Allergies! But I think it will taste just as good. Thanks for sharing!
~blessings
Dorcas
Jocelyn
I make this chicken salad for my family and friends all of the time and they adore it....I even added a bit of curry to it several times and it gives it a whole new flavor..
I love the links and I love what you share with us!!! Keep them coming!!!
Wishing you a great day!!!
Nancy
I love chicken salad, so I'll have to try this. Thanks!
I like sharing recipes or just reading what others post.
Have a great Wednesday!
Nancy
Kelli
Yumm!! I am definitely going to try that one =) Thanks for sharing! I wish I was home with all my stuff and then I would totally be linking up with recipes every week, but my cooking is pretty limited right now. I love reading your recipes though!!
Kristie
Thank you for the recipe!! I usually use almonds in my chicken salad but pecans would be great, too! Can't wait to try this!
Kathy Gray
Very similar to mine, need maybe 1/2 cup FINELY chopped sweet onion and be sure celery is chopped FINELY. Season w salt n pepper. Also use white grapes, tasting to be sure they are sweet! ,salad needs fridge overnite+ to get best flavor. Not for putting on bread, lettuce leaf only. Lightly seasoned buttery garlic toast,served along side. And a piece of room temp baby swiss like Lorainne cheese or Munster cheese.
Kristin
Hey girl! I love chicken salad w/ grapes. I usually use almonds in mine, but it's the same idea! Oh, and flipsides too...delish! Every time I eat them, I wonder: how do they make these?? Hope you're enjoying your week so far! Always lovely to stop by and visit here 🙂
Julianne Hendrickson
i would love to link up! i love chicken salad --this one looks incredible!! i have to say, i am partial to your desserts 🙂
anythingbutperfect
I totally agree with how good this is. I love this recipe on croissants in the summer. Delicious! Only if my husband liked it too! He thinks chicken and grapes just simply do not mix 😉
Jennychick
I love chicken salad, so I will have to try this. It looks soo good! I like the idea of a link up. I haven't been able to be online a lot lately, but I'd like to participate if you keep doing it. I love the idea of sharing recipes, so I'll have to be on the lookout for your other posts.
Mr Monkey
Cute blog - I'm a new follower of Tuesday Tag along. please follow me back.
Thanks, Mr. Monkey
http://laughingmonkeystick.blogspot.com/
Chef Dennis
I just love good chicken salad...and not everyone can make it....yours looks absolutely delicious!!
Flory
hmmm looks yummy! i'd like to try this one...thanks for visiting my blog btw...following you back! happy Tuesday!
flory
Kathryn Bentley
What's the calorie count per serving?
Jocelyn
I don't calculate the calories on my recipes. You can copy and paste the recipe into an online tracker if you like.
Lillian Carpenter
I took a look at the calorie intake. I searched for calories in each ingredient and figured it 2 ways using 12 servings. The first way was using chicken breasts and all other ingredients as listed and I got about 367 calories. The 2nd way was with chicken breasts again but using only 1 cup of pecans, lite mayo, lite sour cream (not fat free) and I got 295 calories for 1/12 of recipe. I do this on a lot of recipes and it only takes a few minutes.
Roberta
I had my first onoe from a fast food place years ago and I've made it many times since. The only thing different I do is: I TOAST* my pecans, add 1/4 - 1/2 C. chopped onions and I use Miracle Whip, instead of mayo. I also chop my celery into smaller pieces. Makes a GREAT and filling sandwich!
*I toast pecans for every recipe I have. Incredible flavor!
Jocelyn
I agree that toasting the pecans adds more flavor. But for salads like this I tend to not toast them. It's just a personal preference.
Kathy Carlson
Yum, Costco sells pkges of rotisserie chicken already off the bone. I'm not fond of dill. I think I'll try curry powder. Thanks for sharing, (it's 8 AM & I want some now! LOL!)
Jocelyn
No way?!?!?! I had no idea Costco sold it that way. I'm totally checking that out when I go there the next time. And I think curry powder sounds great in this too. Just add a little bit at a time until you get the taste you like!