a simple {real food} recipe :: chicken salad {dairy free with egg free option}

I wrote this a few weeks ago when I took advantage of making up this recipe for quick, cool lunches and dinners. It had been a long, hot week. Why I chose the heat wave of 2012 to potty train my oldest is beyond me – but it was our least busy week in a while, and it needed to be done. I hadn’t had much time for anything, and this was my saving grace most of the week.

Chicken salad is perfect on top of thick slices of tomato, bread of your choosing, inside cucumber “boats”, or inside a green or red pepper cup! ….or by the spoonful 😉 …not that I’ve ever done that!

If you didn’t make it on here Monday for my super quick homemade mayo, check THIS out – it will take you 5 minutes to make the most delicious mayo for your chicken salad! If you prefer, sour cream works just as good – I do it both ways and love both!

And just in case you are wondering…yes she was completely potty trained that week 😉 She is a ROCKSTAR!

Here’s what you’ll need:

3 cups chopped bite sized pieces cooked chicken (I used leftovers from my crockpotted chicken that week)

1 ½ cups homemade mayo (one batch of my homemade mayo)

1 carrot diced

3 celery diced

1 cup chopped pickles (optional – we love them though!)

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

½ tsp sea salt

Pepper to taste

1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Refrigerate up to a week.

Kitchen Tips:

1. I throw the carrot and celery in the food processor to chop smaller for little mouths with growing teeth. You could do that with the pickle too! The veggies are obviously optional, and you could do less in amount if you wish – I just like to pack it with as much color and flavor as I can!
2. I used to puree this further for the girls when they were still doing the baby food thing – LOVE!
3. I have done this salad with soaked and cooked beans vs the chicken – it works great!
4. I will be posting my weekly crockpotted whole chicken this fall – doing whole chickens for the week will save you SO much money and time! (UPDATE! Crockpot chicken recipe is up!)

YOUR TURN!

What would you use this chicken salad for, or on? Let me know how you like it if you try it!

Come back tomorrow and I’ll show you how I make the most cost effective and delicious coconut milk!

This post was shared at Real Food Freaks Freaky Friday and The Prairie Homestead’s Barn Hop!