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Home » Recipes

Classic Waldorf Chicken Salad

Published: Apr 3, 2020 · Modified: Feb 7, 2022 by Sara Vaughn · Leave a Comment

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Classic Waldorf Chicken Salad is one of the easiest "fancy" salads with fresh chicken, crisp apples, juicy grapes, and crunchy celery!

It is becoming that time of year when we all have more gatherings again. I mean, we all have a lot around the holidays as well, but now that we are officially into spring and then summer, it's getting ready to be time for picnic season. Between after church Easter Sunday luncheons and Mother's Day is just around the corner, it's time to start planning the menus!

What is Waldorf Salad and why is it so iconic?

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

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The original recipe was diced red apple, grapes, and mayonnaise, not even chicken. It is often common to find this recipe with the addition of chopped walnuts, but that was added later and not in the original recipe. There is a LOT of various adaptions to this classic recipe, and people have deviated from the original. One of the biggest variations to this recipe over the years has been the switch from using the traditional mayonnaise or more of Greek yogurt. There have been several reasons for this switch, but the most common reasoning has been to reduce the overall calories because every recipe now seems to have some adaption for the various diets over the years.

I however am more personally drawn to the more simple version of the classic. That's not to say I don't occasionally toss in chopped walnuts from time to time.

How to Make Classic Waldorf Chicken Salad?

My recipe sticks to the original use of mayonnaise. You can find my recipe for mayonnaise here. I do like to make my own unless I am buying Pimal Kitchens mayo. The reason is simple. Most conventional mayonnaise contains grain vinegar as an ingredient. Because I follow a grain-free diet since my Celiac disease seems to tolerate the best, I avoid conventional products that use them as ingredients or ingredient derivatives. Theirs is the only exception. They use beet vinegar as opposed to grain vinegar. Anyways back to the Waldorf Chicken Salad recipe. Give this classic recipe a try for yourself, and let me know what you think!

More Salads to Enjoy

Greek Cucumber Salad

Classic Southern Pea Salad

Classic Waldorf chicken salad on top of a bed of lettuce on a white plate on top of a white table linen.

Classic Waldorf Chicken Salad

Sara Vaughn
Classic Waldorf Chicken Salad is one of the most popular and easiest "fancy" salads you could make. It has fresh chicken , crisp apples, juicy grapes and crunchy celery that make this classic into an instant favorite.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 475 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 C Cooked Chicken diced
  • 1 C Celery small diced
  • 1 C Grapes halved or quartered
  • 1 C Gala Apple small diced
  • ½ - 1 C Mayonnaise
  • ½ TBS Lemon Juice
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt
  • ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 C Toasted Walnuts chopped, optional

Instructions
 

  • Combine the chicken, celery, grapes, apples, and walnuts (if desired) into a bowl.
  • In a second bowl, combine the remaining ingredients if you like more of a sauce use closer to a cup for the mayo. I prefer to have it less, so I am closer to the ½ cup.
  • Mix the sauce with the chicken mixture. Serve immediately or cover and chill until ready to eat. This is good in lettuce boats, on gluten-free bread, or even just in a bowl with a fork. You really can't go wrong.

Notes

If you want to keep this nut-free, leave off the walnuts. You can even use another nut if you prefer.
Keyword chicken salad, waldorf chicken salad, waldorf salad

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag a photo #grainfreetable or @grainfreetable on Instagram. I'd love to see what you come up with!

Check these out next!

  • Gluten-free Refried Beans
  • Easy Gluten-free Pita Bread
  • Gluten-free Cheese-it Crackers
  • Gluten-free Garlic Bread

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Welcome to Grain Free Table! I’m Sara- a busy wife, mom of two girls, and lover of food. Here you’ll find lots of easy and delicious gluten & allergy-friendly recipes, info about my favorite food & products, as well as little snippets of my health journey as I navigate my gluten-free way of life!

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