This homemade chicken salad with dill pickles is so easy to make and tastes just like the shredded chicken salad recipe from your favorite deli.

shredded chicken salad with dill pickles on mini rolls

Whenever our family heads to New York City, we like to try a new deli. While my husband judges the deli by their pastrami and corned beef, I look straight to the chicken and tuna salad.

While the rest of my family are not crazy about these salads, I love them, and since I don't want to eat the whole bowl myself, I rarely make homemade chicken salad.

When I invited a few friends over for lunch today, I jumped at the chance to make this shredded chicken salad recipe. My family might not eat this but my friends gladly will.

Ingredients Needed for Shredded Chicken Salad

Most of the ingredients in this homemade chicken salad are pretty straightforward, but I do have a few secret ingredients–pickles and honey. That might sound weird to you, but chicken salad with dill pickles has a delicious crunch and the honey adds a touch of sweetness.

Chicken – Use rotisserie chicken, pre-cooked chicken breasts or leftover slow cooker chicken and this recipe can be made in under 15 minutes. Need an easy way to shred chicken? Toss cooked chicken into your stand mixer with the paddle attachment and give it a few go arounds stopping when the chicken is shredded to your liking.
Celery – I like to finely dice the celery but leaving slightly bigger chunks will add even more crunch to this salad.
Sweet Red Peppers – Diced sweet red peppers add a nice flavor to the salad that sets it apart from other homemade chicken salads. You could also chop up roasted red peppers.
Dried Dill – Dried dill is a wonderful addition that adds a brightness to the dish. If you have fresh dill, you will eant to use about 1 tablespoon.
Dill Pickle – Chop up one dill pickle and toss it into the salad. The tangy flavor and crunch makes this a chicken salad you won't soon forget.
Mayo – I used light mayo but you could use regular mayo if you prefer.
Vinegar – Using seasoned rice vinegar is an easy way to boost the sweet, salty and tangy elements of a dish all at once.
Honey – I've tried this recipe with and without the honey and both taste great but the honey just adds something that makes you want to come back for more.
Salt & Pepper – Can you make a savory recipe without salt and pepper? Probably, but why would you?

How to Serve this Homemade Chicken Salad

As a Slider – I like to serve this chicken salad on mini egg knot or potato rolls. Sweet Hawaiian rolls would be tasty as well. Food always tastes better when served in small bites.
With Crackers – Spoon a bit of salad onto some buttery crackers for a light lunch, snack or appetizer.
On a Sandwich – Pile homemade chicken salad onto fresh bread for a tasty sandwich. Add lettuce and tomato to round out the flavors.
As a Salad – There is something so refreshing about a big scoop of chicken salad served on a bed of chopped lettuce. I like to use an ice cream scoop so it has that deli/diner look to the dish.

More Chicken Salad Recipes

Rainbow Greek Chicken Salad
Chicken, Mango and Avocado Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Buffalo Chicken Salad from Everyday Maven

Homemade chicken salad has always been comfort food to me. There is something about the creamy and crunchy texture that makes me love it so much. It is also super simple to make. Try it! You'll like it.

shredded chicken salad with rolls on a serving plate

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