Spicy Chicken Salad Recipe (2024)

This Spicy Chicken Salad Recipe has such a delicious flavor profile with lots of textural components. It's quite similar in flavor to many Italian chicken salad recipes. That's because unlike the more classic chicken salad recipes in the U.S that are strictly mayo-based, this one calls for lots of acidic ingredients in addition to the mayonnaise. It also calls for one of my favorite spicy ingredients: Calabrian chili peppers. These peppers pack a flavorful, spicy punch and are so versatile.

Spicy chicken salad is such a great food to have on hand. You can use it to make a quick meal like sandwiches, wraps, and salads. And you can also eat it as a healthy, filling snack with crackers, tortilla chips, or fresh vegetables. And it takes just a few minutes to make.

How to make Spicy Chicken Salad

Like with any chicken salad recipe, this recipe is incredibly simply to make, but has Calabrian Chili Peppers as the spicy element that gives it an extra kick.

Ingredients:

Each ingredient in this spicy chicken salad recipe plays a crucial role in the overall flavor and texture of the salad. See the recipe card for exact amounts.

• 2 cups of diced or shredded chicken. You can use leftover chicken, grilled chicken breast or thigh meat, or diced up store-bought rotisserie chicken
• Mayonnaise
• Red wine vinegar OR lemon juice
• Crushed Calabrian chili peppers, such as these
• Sweet relish
• Dill relish (you can also choose 1 relish OR replace the relish with a diced pickle)
• Diced celery
• Diced red onion
• Olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• Optional: a handful of fresh herbs such as parsley

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Don't use onion or garlic powder in dishes you want to taste bright and fresh. They can overpower the rest of the ingredients with an overly artificial taste.

Instructions

Step 1: If you've just made the chicken, allow it to come to room temperature first. Then dice it up and place chicken, celery, and onion in a large bowl.

Step 2: Whisk together the olive oil, red vinegar, mayo, both relishes, Calabrian chili peppers, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Then pour the this spicy salad dressing over the chicken.

Step 3: Toss with tongs until the chicken mixture is well-coated with the dressing.

How to serve Spicy Chicken Salad

• Make a classic cafe sandwich by toasting up to pieces of multigrain bread, and layering on ½ cup of the spicy chicken salad, a handful of baby arugula, and a couple slices of tomato.
• Make a spicy chicken salad BLT with the chicken salad, crispy bacon, sliced tomato, and lettuce.
• Make a California Chicken Salad wrap with chicken salad, cheddar cheese, avocado, and turkey bacon. Add a few banana pepper rings for an extra spicy kick.
• Make an "Asian-inspired" crunchy salad bowl. Place the chicken salad on a bed of arugula and top with cucumbers, sliced napa cabbage, cherry tomatoes, crumbled up crunchy ramen noodles, and diced peanuts. Make a dressing out of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and sriracha.
• My Favorite way: Open faced on a piece of toast with fresh tomato and sliced cheese. (below)

Substitutions

• In place of mayonnaise in this spicy chicken salad recipe you can use sour cream or greek yogurt. However, I recommend using full fat options to mimic the consistency of mayo.
• Instead of relish you can dice up a large pickle or 2 tablespoons of capers for a similar briny flavor.
• In place of Calabrian chili peppers you can use any other crushed chili pepper paste such as harissa or sambal oelek.

Variations

• Extra Spicy Chicken Salad: If you love spicy food like I do, add a pinch of cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, or a tablespoon of your favorite spicy hot sauce to the dressing mixture.

Spicy Chicken Salad Recipe

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