Chicken Salad with Apples

Chicken Salad with Apples is an easy homemade chicken salad with fresh apples, walnuts, cheddar cheese, and a creamy maple Dijon dressing. This simple apple chicken salad is perfect for a quick lunch, chicken salad sandwich, wrap, or an easy way to use up leftover rotisserie chicken. Ready in just 10 minutes!

Chicken Salad with Apples is an easy homemade chicken salad loaded with fresh apples, crunchy walnuts, white cheddar cheese, and a creamy maple Dijon mustard dressing. This simple Apple Chicken Salad is ready in just 10 minutes and makes a delicious lunch, chicken salad sandwich, lettuce wrap, or a quick way to use leftover or rotisserie chicken.

I love fall salads with apples and fruit! I always loved the Panera Bread Fuji Apple Salad with Chicken and Wendy’s Apple Pecan Chicken Salad! This salad is a bit different, but some of the same great flavors together.

This Chicken Salad with Apples is one of my favorite quick lunches, especially when apple season rolls around. It’s creamy, crunchy, a little sweet, a little savory, and packed with fresh apple, chicken, walnuts, and white cheddar cheese.

And the dressing? SO good. Instead of a traditional chicken salad dressing that’s mostly mayonnaise, this one gets a little gourmet upgrade with maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and dill. Think of it as a creamy maple mustard dressing with a sweet and tangy flavor that goes really well with the fresh apples and cheddar.

I’ve been making this apple chicken salad for years, and it’s also one of those recipes where I tend to throw in whatever happens to be around the house. The basic recipe is delicious as-is, but there are SO many ways to change it up with celery, pecans, almonds, raisins, Craisins, onion, different cheeses, or even a little curry.

It’s also a great leftover chicken recipe. Use chopped baked or grilled chicken, shredded chicken, or grab a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store for an extra quick version.

The entire recipe takes about 10 minutes to put together. No cooking required as long as your chicken is already cooked!

Serve this salad with chicken and apples over lettuce, spinach, or kale, pile it onto bread for an easy chicken salad sandwich, or spoon it into lettuce leaves or a tortilla for a wrap. Simple lunch DONE.

What I Love About This Recipe

• It’s quick enough for a last-minute lunch. Once you have precooked chicken, the whole recipe takes only about 10 minutes. There’s no complicated prep, and nothing needs to cook. Just make the creamy dressing, stir everything together, and you’re ready to eat.
• It’s a great way to use leftover chicken. I don’t know about you, but we always seem to have leftover chicken around. Chopped chicken, shredded chicken, or rotisserie chicken can all work in this easy chicken salad. It’s an easy way to turn leftovers into a completely different meal.
• The textures are SO good together. Fresh, crisp apple brings sweetness and crunch, while walnuts add even more texture. The shredded white cheddar adds a savory, creamy element that balances the sweet apple and maple syrup. You get a little bit of everything in every bite.
• The maple Dijon dressing is simple but different. Mayonnaise makes the dressing creamy, maple syrup adds sweetness, Dijon mustard adds tang, and dried dill brings in a little herby flavor. It’s similar to a creamy honey mustard dressing but with maple instead of honey. Best of all, you only need a few ingredients.
• There are endless ways to customize it. Try pecans instead of walnuts, Granny Smith apple instead of Fuji, or plain yogurt instead of mayonnaise. Add celery, raisins, Craisins, bacon, onion, cashews, almonds, or even curry. It’s an easy recipe to adjust based on what you have around.

What Is in Chicken Salad?

There are generally three main parts to a basic homemade chicken salad: chicken, dressing, and mix-ins.

Chicken is obviously the star. You can use chopped or shredded precooked chicken, leftover grilled chicken, baked chicken, rotisserie chicken, or even canned chicken if that’s what you have.

Dressing gives chicken salad its creamy texture and much of its flavor. Mayonnaise is probably the most traditional choice, but plain yogurt or Greek yogurt can work too. Mustard, herbs, seasonings, and sweeteners such as honey or maple syrup are also popular additions.

Mix-Ins, the fun part! Fresh apple, grapes, dried cranberry or Craisin, raisins, celery, onion, walnuts, pecans, cashews, almonds, cheddar, blue cheese, and other ingredients can all change the flavor and texture.

For this Chicken Salad with Apples recipe, I kept things simple with fresh apple, walnut, and white cheddar, then brought everything together with a creamy maple Dijon dressing.

Equipment You May Need

• Large Mixing Bowl – The entire chicken salad can be prepared in one bowl, which means less cleanup!
• Whisk – Use a small whisk to combine the mayonnaise, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, dill, salt, and pepper into a smooth, creamy dressing.
• Cutting Board – You’ll need a sturdy surface for chopping the precooked chicken, apple, and walnuts.
• Sharp Knife – A good chef’s knife makes quick work of chopping the chicken and fresh apple into bite-size pieces.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons – Helpful for keeping the dressing ingredients balanced, especially the maple syrup and Dijon mustard.
• Cheese Grater – If possible, shred the white cheddar from a block right before making the salad.

Chicken Salad with Apples Ingredients

• Mayonnaise – The creamy base for the homemade chicken salad dressing. You can use regular or light mayonnaise.
• Maple Syrup – Adds a touch of sweetness to the creamy dressing and pairs especially well with apple, walnut, and cheddar.
• Dijon Mustard – Adds tang and a little sharpness that balances the sweet maple syrup. This maple Dijon combination gives the dressing LOTS of flavor with very little work.
• Dried Dill – Adds a light herby flavor to the dressing. A little goes a long way.
• Salt & Pepper – Add to taste to bring all the sweet and savory flavors together.
• Precooked Chicken – Chopped leftover chicken, shredded chicken, or rotisserie chicken all work well. For best results, use chicken that doesn’t have a strong sauce or seasoning that will compete with the dressing.
• Fresh Apple – Peel, core, and chop the apple into bite-size pieces. I like a crisp Fuji apple, but a Granny Smith apple is a good option if you prefer a tart green apple.
• Walnuts – Add plenty of nutty crunch. Chopped pecans are an easy substitution, and almonds or cashews are other possibilities.
• White Cheddar Cheese – Shredded white cheddar adds savory cheese flavor that balances the sweet fresh apple and maple dressing.

How to Make Chicken Salad with Apples

Step One: Make the Maple Dijon Dressing
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, dried dill, and salt and pepper until well combined and creamy.

Step Two: Make the Chicken Salad
Add the chopped precooked chicken, apple, walnuts, and shredded white cheddar cheese to the bowl. Stir everything together until well combined and evenly coated with the maple Dijon dressing, then serve as desired.

(Full printable recipe card is at bottom of post.)

Chicken Salad Variations

There are SO many ways you can change up this easy homemade chicken salad.

• For more crunch, add finely chopped celery or a little chopped onion. Swap the walnuts for pecans, almond pieces, or cashews. You can even add crumbled bacon if you want something smoky and savory.
• For extra sweetness and texture, try raisins, dried cranberries, or Craisins.
• Want to change the cheese? Monterey Jack is an easy substitute for white cheddar. Blue cheese would give the salad a much stronger tangy flavor.
• For a different dressing, replace the maple syrup with honey. You can also substitute plain yogurt or Greek yogurt for the mayonnaise if you prefer a yogurt chicken salad.
• A little curry powder could turn it into an apple curry chicken salad. Start with a small amount and add more to taste.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve It as a Chicken Salad Sandwich: Spoon the chicken salad between slices of your favorite bread for a quick lunch. Toasted bread, a croissant, roll, or hearty whole-grain bread would all be delicious.
• Make a Grilled Sandwich: This chicken salad is especially good made into a warm grilled sandwich. That white cheddar gets nice and melty!
• Serve It Over Lettuce: Spoon the chicken salad over lettuce for an easy lunch or light dinner.
• Serve It Over Spinach or Kale: Fresh spinach and kale are easy alternatives when you want more greens.
• Make a Lettuce Wrap: Spoon the Apple Chicken Salad into sturdy lettuce leaves for a simple wrap without bread.
• Make a Tortilla Wrap: Roll the chicken salad into your favorite tortilla with lettuce or spinach for an easy portable lunch.
• Serve It as a Dip: Put the chicken salad in a serving bowl and surround it with crackers, crostini, celery sticks, or other crunchy vegetables.
• Serve It with Fruit: Fresh fruit or a simple fruit salad makes an easy side dish and works especially well for lunch, brunch, or a shower.

Quick Tips for Best Results

• Start with plain precooked chicken. Chicken covered in barbecue sauce or another strongly flavored sauce may compete with the maple Dijon dressing.
• Rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut. Remove the skin and bones, then chop or shred the meat for an especially quick chicken salad.
• Use a crisp fresh apple. Fuji is my usual choice, but Granny Smith is great when you want a more tart apple chicken salad.
• Cut everything into bite-size pieces. Keeping the chicken, apple, and nuts reasonably uniform makes the chicken salad easier to eat in sandwiches and wraps.
• Don’t make it TOO far ahead. The salad is best right away or within a few hours because the fresh apple and walnuts can soften as they sit in the creamy dressing.
• Add the walnuts just before serving when making ahead. You can prepare other components ahead, then stir in the nuts at the last minute so they stay crunchy.
• Taste the dressing before adding everything else. Apples and maple syrup vary in sweetness, so taste and adjust the salt, pepper, or Dijon mustard if needed.
• Customize carefully. If you’re adding celery, raisins, Craisins, bacon, onion, or other mix-ins, don’t add so many extras that you lose the chicken, apple, and maple Dijon flavors.

Chicken Salad with Apples FAQ

How do you store chicken salad?
Store leftover chicken salad in an airtight container or well-covered bowl in the refrigerator. I personally think this salad is best served right away or within a few hours because the apples and walnuts soften the longer they sit in the dressing. If you’re preparing it ahead, consider waiting to add the walnuts and even the apple until closer to serving.

Can you freeze chicken salad?
I don’t recommend it. Technically, you can freeze many foods, but mayonnaise-based chicken salad with fresh apple and nuts probably won’t have the same creamy texture and fresh crunch once thawed. This is one recipe that’s much better made fresh.

How long does chicken salad last?
It can last a few days in an airtight container in the refrigerator, but the texture is best sooner rather than later. The apples and nuts will gradually become softer as they sit in the dressing. Always use properly stored cooked chicken and discard the salad if there are signs of spoilage.

What can I substitute for the mayo?
For a no-mayo chicken salad, you could substitute plain Greek yogurt or even Miracle Whip if that’s more your thing.

What can I substitute for the nuts?
You can substitute any type of nuts for the walnuts such as almonds, cashews, or pecans, but if you don’t want any nuts, you can omit them entirely, or chopped celery would be a nice crunchy alternative.

What can I substitute for the maple syrup?
You can use your favorite sweetener such as sugar, brown sugar, honey, sugar alternative, or whatever you like. You may need to change the amount of the sweetener, though, so start with just a little, taste the dressing, then add more as needed. For a low-carb chicken salad, you can omit the sweetener entirely.

What can I substitute for the apple?
If you don’t like apples, you could try substituting a firm pear or even chopped grapes or dried cranberries like craisins.

What should I serve with chicken salad?
This chicken salad is a meal in itself, in my opinion. I personally like to serve it over lettuce as a salad. A fruit salad on the side would also be great. You could serve it with some homemade rolls or breadsticks for a few more ideas. Check out my other serving suggestions above in the post.

How do you cook chicken for chicken salad?
Any kind of precooked chicken will work. You can use leftover grilled chicken, shredded rotisserie chicken, baked chicken, smoked chicken, canned chicken, Instant Pot Shredded Chicken, or whatever you have. Check out my How to Boil Chicken and How to Make Shredded Chicken for some popular options.

Can I make this vegan/vegetarian/low carb/gluten-free?
Here are some suggestions, but I can’t guarantee results. Be sure as always to check particular brands and ingredients if you’re following a specific diet or have diet restrictions or allergies.

Vegan – It’s not vegan.

Vegetarian – It’s not vegetarian.

Low-Carb – For a lower-carb version, skip the maple syrup or use a sweetener alternative.

Gluten-Free – This gourmet chicken salad is naturally gluten-free, but if gluten is a concern, be sure to use gluten-free bread if making a sandwich.

Other Recipes You May Enjoy

• Autumn Spinach Salad – An easy fall salad that’s perfect as a side dish or main dish and another great choice when you’re craving fresh autumn flavors.
• Easy Chicken Greek Salad Wrap Sandwich – A quick chicken salad wrap that’s great for an easy summer lunch, picnic, or party.
• Ranch Chicken Club Salad Sliders – A fun twist on chicken salad with ranch flavors served slider-style.
• Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad – A quick chicken pasta salad with bold Buffalo-inspired flavor.
• Yogurt Broccoli Salad – An easy broccoli salad made with yogurt and a great option for lunches, picnics, and potlucks.
• Asian Slaw – A quick and easy crunchy side dish with cabbage and Asian pear.

Chicken Salad Video

See how quick and easy this Chicken Salad with Apples comes together…

Hope you enjoy this Chicken Salad with Apples recipe!