Honey Mustard Chicken Salad
This honey mustard chicken salad is creamy, crunchy, sweet, and savory, and comes together quickly in a bowl with cooked chicken, crisp apples, celery, red onion, pecans, and an easy homemade honey mustard dressing! It’s just perfect for light lunches, meal prep, and loading into wraps and sandwiches.
I dreamt up this salad when I had some leftover rotisserie chicken that needed using up and a handful of other random ingredients in my fridge, and it turned out even better than I hoped! I hope you’ll get a chance to make it, and that it goes down just as well in your home as it did in mine.
What You’ll Need
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the full printable recipe card with ingredients, measurements, and detailed instructions!
- Dijon mustard – Gives the dressing the classic tangy honey mustard flavor.
- Honey – Adds sweetness and balances the sharpness of the mustard.
- Mayonnaise – Creates the creamy base that holds everything together.
- Whole grain mustard – Adds texture and even more mustard flavor.
- Apple cider vinegar – Brightens up the dressing and keeps it from feeling too heavy.
- Garlic powder – Adds savory flavor without overpowering the salad.
- Black pepper – Adds a little bite and balances the sweetness.
- Cooked shredded chicken – Makes the salad filling and packed with protein. Rotisserie chicken works great if you’ve got it
- Celery – Adds crunch and freshness.
- Red onion – Gives the salad a little sharpness and extra flavor.
- Apple – Adds sweetness and crisp texture that works really well with the honey mustard dressing.
- Pecans – For crunch!
How To Make Honey Mustard Chicken Salad
- In a large bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard, honey, mayonnaise, whole grain mustard, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, and black pepper until smooth and creamy.
- Add the shredded chicken, celery, red onion, apple, and pecans, then stir until everything is evenly coated in the dressing.
- Refrigerate for about 15 minutes before serving if you have the time. It helps the flavors come together really nicely.
- Serve chilled and enjoy.
Storage & Meal Prep Tips
Store the chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2–3 days.
You can portion it into containers ahead of time for easy lunches throughout the week, if you like to meal prep.
If you’re planning to use it for sandwiches or wraps later, keeping the bread separate until serving helps everything stay fresh instead of soggy.
Recipe Notes
- Using rotisserie chicken makes this recipe extra easy and adds lots of flavor without needing any extra cooking!
- Try to keep the celery, apple, and onion chopped fairly small so you get a little bit of everything in each bite.
- Honey mustard flavors can vary depending on the brand of mustard you use, so give the dressing a quick taste before mixing everything together and adjust the honey or mustard if needed.
- Letting the chicken salad chill for a little while before serving helps the flavors blend together and taste even better.
- If you like extra crunch, add a few more pecans right before serving.
Serving Ideas
This honey mustard chicken salad is super versatile and works for everything from quick lunches to easy meal prep dinners!
Pile it onto croissants, sandwich bread, or toasted rolls for an easy sandwich situation, or spoon it into wraps and pita pockets for something a little lighter. It’s also really good spooned into lettuce cups or served over mixed greens for an easy salad-style lunch.
It’s also really great served with crackers for a quick lunch plate.
Honey Mustard Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp honey
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp whole grain mustard
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 lb shredded cooked chicken
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
- 1/2 cup diced apple
- 1/3 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard, honey, mayonnaise, whole grain mustard, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, and black pepper until smooth and creamy.
- Add the shredded chicken, celery, red onion, apple, and pecans, then stir until everything is evenly coated in the dressing.
- Refrigerate for about 15 minutes before serving if you have the time. It helps the flavors come together really nicely.
- Serve chilled and enjoy.
If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear your thoughts! It helps me to create more ideas that you’ll enjoy making at home. You can leave a comment and a star rating below!