Chicken Waldorf Salad
Chicken Waldorf Salad is a classic salad made with apples, grapes, pecans and celery in a light, creamy dressing. It’s the perfect combination of sweet, savory and nutty with complimentary creamy and crunchy textures.
Chicken Waldorf Salad
For a quick lunch, I like to serve over a bed of greens such as baby arugula and baby spinach, or a chicken salad lettuce wrap, or with a whole grain roll or wrap. Other salads I like to whip up are Creamy Shrimp and Cucumber Salad and Tuna Salad Wraps.
Originating from the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City in 1893, this salad is filled with lean protein, fruit and heart-healthy nuts, lightened up using a mayo and Greek yogurt creamy dressing. This is a Fall favorite, especially when apples and walnuts are in season. It’s also the perfect fruit salad any time you have leftover chicken or even turkey like the day after Thanksgiving.
Waldorf Salad Ingredients
- Apples
- Grapes (seedless)
- Celery
- Walnuts or pecans
- Chicken (poached) or
- Mayo
- Leafy greens like arugula and baby spinach or romaine lettuce
- Salt and pepper
How To Make Waldorf Chicken Salad
More Chicken Salad Recipes You Make Like:
- Cilantro Chicken Salad
- Chicken Salad with Lemon and Dill
- Lighter Classic Chicken Salad
- Houston’s Grilled Chicken Salad
- BBQ Chicken Salad
Chicken Waldorf Salad
Ingredients
- 7 oz 1 breast poached chicken breast (recipe follows)
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 medium apple, peeled and cut into small cubes (I used Granny Smith)
- 1 cup red seedless grapes, cut in half
- 1/2 cup celery, chopped
- 1/4 cup light Hellman's mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp 0% Greek yogurt, I like Stonyfield
- Kosher salt and pepper
- 2 tbsp pecans or walnuts
- 6 cups mixed baby greens like spinach and arugula
Instructions
- To poach chicken breast: Cover chicken breast in broth in a small pot, add water if it doesn't cover the chicken.
- Add salt and pepper, a piece of celery and it's leaves (you could add herbs like parsley, garlic, onion, or whatever you want) and bring to a boil.
- Reduce to a simmer and cook 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat, cover tight and let it sit for 15-20 minutes or until thickest part of the breast registers 160 degrees. Chicken will be cooked through.
- Drain, let it cool and cut into small cubes.
- Combine mayo, yogurt, salt, pepper and mix well.
- Add chicken, grapes, apples, celery, and let it chill in the refrigerator until you are ready to eat it.
- Mix in pecans right before serving.
- Serve over baby greens.
Video
Nutrition
Photo Credit: Jess Larson
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Used sunflower seeds instead of pecans and added half a peach – yummy!
Used non fat yogurt and about 2 tbs. Of mayo. Â Absolutely delicious!
I’ve made this multiple times and each time I come away completely in love with it.  Such a tasty, healthy , easy lunch option. Â
This was a delicious salad and surprisingly filling. I shredded my chicken and used a balsamic vinaigrette as I don’t like mayo or yogurt. Great healthy lunch option!
I LOVE a Waldorf salad! I didn’t have time to prepare chicken so I made it without. How many points is it without the chicken?
Delicious!
Loved it, and didn’t think I liked Waldorf salad, but we loved this one. Husband back for seconds. my raw chicken breast was 11 ounces, but did use it all in recipe, ( 8 ounces cooked) like easy poaching. Added dried tarragon to mayo/yogurt. Had variety of roasted nuts to try, let pick own. Husband fond of cashews. I did a few pistachios. So any nut is good. Such a nice salad on a hot day. I used a spinach arugula mix. Plan to make for company, nice lunch. Thank you
So this is simple and delicious! I used pre-shredded chicken from the grocery store. Added all the ingredients except for the Greek yogurt (because I am doing Whole30) and the chicken mixture tastes DIVINE! I am looking forward to lunch this week, that’s for sure!
could we substitute roast turkey for the chicken? Trying to find a way to use up the left over turkey from Thanksgiving. Thank you.
This salad is delicious 😋Â
The poached chicken is a game changer! The salad was very flavorful!
Thank you, Gina
You’re welcome! 🙂
This was delicious! Can I freeze leftovers?
Can leftover salad be stored in the freezer without changing the consistency/taste?
That was very good. I had a scoop on my plate. My hubby made a sandwich.
My boyfriend couldn’t believe I was going to make this, as I never ever like fruit in salad. But we had a bunch of extra grapes and celery and I love chicken salad so I gave it a whirl. It’s delicious and nutritious! My chicken turned out a bit chewy and dry, which was surprising to me using the poaching method. I’ve never poached chicken before but thought it was the alternative to boiling to retain moisture. I’ll have to work on it. Also, I added red onions, Italian parsley, dried dill, and sunflower seeds. I like a lot of crunch. I feel like I’ve expanded my horizons today enjoying not one but TWO kinds of fruit in a salad! Thanks 🙂
Nice light and refreshing meal that filled me up!
I needed to make this dairy free so used a dairy free yogurt. Was worried it would not taste as good, but it was great! My college aged daughter couldn’t get enough of it.
Love this recipe, which I have made often, but I really HATE having to fight my way through over DOZENS fo pop-up ads [I lost count after 20] embedded within the recipe text as well as along the right side and along the bottom of the screen. I know advertising is how you make a living wage, but there are hundreds of recipes websites that don’t bombard you with multiple animated ads that interrupt and distract from the flow of the content. I haven’t encountered this kind of interruption on your site before, so if this is something new, I may have to cancel my subscription to your site — a very sad loss since I cook your meals several times a week.
i agree the pop up ads stop me from searching
I’m not a big fan of mayonnaise but this turned out fantastic! Will make again and again.