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Home » Recipes » Salads

Gluten-free Waldorf Chicken Salad

Published: Mar 26, 2024 · Modified: Jun 19, 2024 by Meeta Arora · Leave a Comment

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Waldorf Chicken Salad in a white plate

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

Looking down into a bowl filled with some gluten-free chicken salad that is mixed.

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.
Overhead view of the ingredients needed to make a gluten-free chicken salad with celery, grapes, apple and chopped walnuts.

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.
A glass bowl with the ingredients needed to make a gluten-free waldorf chicken salad tossed in it.
A bowl of mixed gluten-free Waldorf chicken salad.

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.
A white plate with two pieces of gluten-free bread filled with some waldorf chicken salad with lettuce is being served.

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

  • Gluten-free caesar salad with freshly grated parmesan cheese and marinated grilled chicken.
    Grilled Gluten-free Caesar Salad with Homemade Dressing
  • Up close, look at a gluten-free Asian steak salad in a bowl with some fresh lime, green onion, and cilantro.
    Gluten-free Asian Flank Steak Salad
  • Cold pasta salad in a bowl ready to be the best side dish at your next gathering.
    Quick and Easy Pasta Salad with Chicken - Gluten-free
  • Gluten free potato salad in a blue bowl
    Creamy Gluten-free Potato Salad

📖 Recipe

Up close look at a bowl of gluten-free waldorf chicken salad.

Gluten-free Waldorf Chicken Salad

Meeta Arora
This classic gluten-free Waldorf Chicken Salad is one of the easiest salads made with fresh chicken, crisp apples, grapes, and crunchy celery!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 663 kcal

Ingredients
  

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

Instructions
 

  • Combine the chicken, celery, grapes, apples, and walnuts (if desired) into a bowl.
    4 Cups Cooked Chicken, 1 Cup Celery, 1 Cup Grapes, 1 Cup Gala Apple, 1 Cup Toasted Walnuts
  • 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.
    ½ - 1 Cups Mayonnaise, 1 Tablespoons Lemon Juice, ¼ Teaspoon Salt, ¼ Teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 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.

Nutrition

Calories: 663kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 40gFat: 49gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 28gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 117mgSodium: 450mgPotassium: 633mgFiber: 3gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 237IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 64mgIron: 3mg
Keyword chicken salad, gluten free chicken salad, waldorf salad
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Meeta Arora, writer at Grain Free Table

Welcome to Grain Free Table! I’m Meeta- 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, for a gluten-free way of life!

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