Gluten-free Waldorf Chicken Salad

This classic gluten-free Waldorf Chicken Salad is one of the easiest salads made with fresh chicken, crisp apples, grapes, and crunchy celery!

Is chicken salad gluten-free? Chicken salad is usually gluten-free, but that's not always the case. If you're eating out or someone has made you chicken salad, you'll want to verify with them that the ingredients are actually gluten-free and the chicken salad is prepared in a manner keeping it so. Sometimes chicken salads can contain cubbed bread for texture, and a lot of recipes call for vinegar, which can be malt vinegar, making that chicken salad not gluten-free.

This gluten-free chicken salad recipe is seriously the easiest recipe to make and probably the best chicken salad recipe there is! This classic Waldorf chicken recipe pairs juicy chicken with crisp apples, grapes, and celery, all lightly coated for the perfect balance of textures and flavors. The best part is no one will know it's completely gluten and dairy-free.

Jump to:

• Where does the Waldorf chicken salad get its name from?
• Ingredients.
• Steps.
• Serving suggestions.
• Storing
• More Salads to Enjoy
• 📖 Recipe

Where does the Waldorf chicken salad get its name from?

The Waldorf Salad is named after the hotel which first served it. That hotel, of course, is the world-renowned Waldorf Astoria Hotel, which debuted in 1893. So this classic but ever-so-tasty salad has been around for a while.

Ingredients.

• Chicken - You can use any cooked chicken that you prefer. I tend to use leftover roasted chicken, but it's also delicious with rotisserie chicken. Just make sure your rotisserie chicken is gluten-free if you use it.
• Apple - I like to use a gala or fuji apple to dice up for this chicken salad.
• Grapes - I prefer red seedless grapes for this classic salad. If you like another kind better, feel free to use what you like.
• Celery - Celery adds a nice crunch to the chicken salad.
• Mayonnaise - I like making homemade mayo or using Primal Kitchen's brand.
• Lemon Juice - We aren't using a lot, but you can substitute apple cider vinegar if you don't have any. The lemon juice also helps keep your apples from turning brown in the salad.
• Garlic Powder - Adding just a bit of garlic powder helps to bring out the flavors in all the ingredients.
• Chopped Walnuts - This is optional, you can leave them out if you prefer, and then this will be a nut-free chicken salad.

Steps.

1. Chop the chicken, apple, grapes, celery, and walnuts into bite-size pieces.
2. Add everything to a bowl.
3. Lightly toss the chicken salad to bring it together, and lightly coat everything with the mayo and lemon juice.

Serving suggestions.

I can eat this gluten-free chicken salad straight from the bowl, no questions asked, haha. But here are some fun ways to serve it, to make it fun and delicious.

• Gluten-free Chicken Salad Sandwich. - Serve this chicken salad on gluten-free bread or on a bun with fresh lettuce. We really like the Canyon Bakehouse line of gluten-free bread. If I'm feeling extra, I'll make some gluten-free pita bread or even some gluten-free brioche bread to serve with this chicken salad.
• Chicken salad lettuce wrap. - This chicken salad makes the perfect filling when making lettuce wraps.
• Don't want to assemble something? Serve this chicken salad in a bowl with some gluten-free crackers for scooping it up. It's the perfect easy lunch and snack for kids and adults alike.

Storing

This Waldorf chicken salad is best enjoyed the day you make it. It will last in the fridge for 2-3 days before becoming less edible.

More Salads to Enjoy

📖 Recipe