It’s time to jazz up that old chicken salad sandwich with this Curried Chicken Salad. It’s a mix of sweet and spicy flavors! So delicious and so easy to make with store-bought shredded rotisserie chicken.
Updated: This post was first published here in August 2015. I decided it was worthy of a re-share because it’s a delicious way to jazz up that ordinary old chicken salad sandwich and one of my favorites here at the BHK. I’ve added all new photos and notes to the post below.
Do you get tired of the same old thing for lunch? I do. Sometimes I like to spice it up. So today I made us an awesome lunch! Curried Chicken Salad.
The Tastiest Sweet & Spicy Curried Chicken Salad
I have two go-to chicken salad recipes. #1 is the classic chicken salad which is chicken, chopped celery, onion, mayo and a touch of fresh tarragon. It’s delicious, but it’s “the usual”. The chicken salad recipe I am using for our lunch today, #2, is different! It’s not “the usual”. It’s so loaded with flavor it will knock your socks off! It’s kind of sweet and kind of spicy. It’s the perfect blend of both.
If you follow the blog, you know I like the addition of preserves to recipes for extra flavor. Remember my Spicy Sweet Potato Salad? If you liked that potato salad you’re going to LOVE this chicken salad! Both use apricot preserves. That’s the sweet. The spicy for this recipe is the curry powder with a slight dash of cayenne.
Curried Chicken Salad Ingredients
- mayonnaise
- apricot preserves
- curry powder
- lime
- cayenne powder
- kosher salt
- shredded rotisserie chicken
- celery
- green onions
- mango
- cashews
For this recipe I use rotisserie shredded chicken that I get from the market. It’s already shredded, so I just give it a rough chop and it’s ready to be tossed with some fresh diced mango, chopped celery and scallion. Then I combine a little mayonnaise with the preserves, some lime juice, curry powder, a dash of cayenne and salt. I mix it well, pour it over the chicken mixture and toss it all together.
Right before I serve it I sprinkle some chopped cashews on top. Easy, right? All the different flavors and textures work really wonderful together.
This chicken salad is perfect served on a bed of lettuce or on multigrain bread or even a nice buttery croissant. No matter how you serve it, I think you are going to love all the flavors in this recipe and I’m hoping it will be your new go-to chicken salad recipe too!
Please let me know if you give the recipe a try. And if you have any questions about the recipe, just drop a comment below. Enjoy!
A Few Cook’s Notes for Curried Chicken Salad
If your local market doesn’t sell already shredded rotisserie chicken you can always buy a cooked chicken and take the meat off the bones yourself and shred it.
This recipe would also work with regular boneless, skinless chicken breasts either cooked through in a skillet or poached.
More Delicious Salad Recipes to Enjoy
Curried Chicken Salad
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp. apricot preserves
- 3/4 tsp. curry powder
- 1/2 lime, juiced
- dash of cayenne
- dash of kosher salt
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken, roughly chop
- 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
- 3 green onions, sliced
- 1 ripe mango, peeled and diced
- 1/2 cup cashews, chopped
Instructions
- Whisk first six ingredients in small bowl. Set aside.
- In large bowl combine chicken, celery, green onion and mango.
- Pour dressing over chicken mixture and toss to coat.
- Sprinkle with cashews before serving.
- Serve on a bed of lettuce or on multigrain bread or croissants.
Adapted from Cuisine at Home Magazine
Love this – especially the addition of apricot preserves. Must be perfect with the curry spice :)
Oh Jennifer, you have to try it! The flavors are so good together! Enjoy your weekend!
Yum! I looove adding preserves to dishes, it definately provides a little ommff to anything! I have never thought to add apricot preserves to curried chicken salad though! That’s sheer genius and I can imagine how wonderful this tastes! I’m totally making this for lunch today, because thankfully I have everything needed! Score! Can’t wait to try this because I KNOW it’s going to be delicious! *so good it’s being crossed off my bucket list before the ink dried!* Pinned! Cheers, my dear! Xo
I’m so glad you have all the ingredients Cheyanne! I know you’re going to love it!! Enjoy the day!
That sounds like a fantastic lunch! I love the addition of apricot preserves, would never have thought of that myself! :)
It’s really delicious Nicole. You should definitely try! All my old college girlfriends love chicken salad #1 but next time we get together for lunch I am making #2! I think they are going to love it!
This looks amazing!! How creative using the preserves and curry together. What a nice change from regular chicken salad and so perfect for summer. I love easy meals!!
I think you would really like this Jessica! It’s so flavorful and so easy!
Perfect! Adding the apricot preserves was just the right touch – bringing a curry and chutney vibe to the dish and elevating the ubiquitous curry chicken salad to new heights! Yum!
Thanks so much Kim. I really LOVE this chicken salad! It’s so flavorful! Hope you enjoy if you try!
This looks so great, Mary! I’m so used to the typical chicken salad, but I definitely need to change up my routine with your delicious curried version! Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe, Mary! :D
Thanks Kennedy! Hope you like it! Good luck at school!
I love the combination of the different flavors that are in this salad. Yummy!
The curry and apricot preserves together work really well. It’s so flavorful. Have a great day Gerlinde!
Hi Mary Ann! I commented on this salad the other day – before I made it. Now… updated… love, Love… LOVED this salad! Very refreshing and am now going to keep apricot preserves as a staple! Thank you for such delicious recipes… a must to try more!! :-)
I’m so happy you enjoyed it Tricia. I love classic chicken salad, but I like to spice things up a bit sometimes and the curry and apricot preserves and mango in this salad tickle my taste buds! So glad you found the blog!
We enjoy Curried Chicken Salad all summer long, Mary Ann. I’m so excited to try your version! Love the addition of mango.
It’s such a tasty version Marissa!
I LOVE Chicken Salad and this looks like a “must” make… different from others I have tried. I can’t wait to pick up a jar of apricot preserves next grocery run. Bookmarked to make!! Now back to check other salad recipes of yours.
Thank you Mary Ann!
You’re so welcome Tricia! Hope you enjoy it!