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This chicken salad with Miracle Whip is a creamy, flavorful, easy-to-make recipe with the classic deli-style chicken salad taste you love. This easy chicken salad combines tender chicken, crunchy celery, sweet add-ins, and a perfectly balanced dressing for a homemade chicken salad that works for sandwiches, wraps, or meal prep.
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- ❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- Variations
- Tips for Best Results
- FAQs
- How to Store Chicken Salad With Miracle Whip
- How to Make Chicken Salad With Miracle Whip
- If You Enjoyed Chicken Salad With Miracle Whip
- 📌 Save This Recipe
- Deli-Style Chicken Salad Recipe
- 🍽️ Other Recipes You May Enjoy
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy chicken salad recipe with simple pantry ingredients
- Perfect balance of creamy, crunchy, and slightly sweet
- Great for meal prep and make-ahead lunches
- Classic deli-style chicken salad flavor at home
- Works for sandwiches, croissants, wraps, or lettuce cups
Key Ingredients
NOTE: This section highlights ingredients used in the recipe. Find the full printable recipe in the recipe card below.
Chicken
Cooked chicken is the base of this homemade chicken salad. Use shredded or cubed chicken. Rotisserie chicken makes this easy chicken salad even quicker to prepare.
Miracle Whip
This recipe is built as a chicken salad with Miracle Whip, giving it a creamy texture with a slightly sweet, tangy flavor that sets it apart from traditional versions. This is what gives this chicken salad with Miracle Whip its signature deli-style flavor.
Mayonnaise
Balances the Miracle Whip so the dressing stays creamy without being overly sweet.
Dried fruit or grapes
Adds a pop of sweetness that balances the savory ingredients.
Celery and green onions
Bring fresh crunch and a mild bite that keeps this creamy chicken salad from feeling too heavy.
Toasted pecans
Add a rich, nutty crunch. If you enjoy bold, savory flavors, your Bacon Mushroom Carbonara is another great option.
Ingredients & Substitutions
NOTE: This section suggests substitutions. Find the full printable recipe in the recipe card below.
- mayonnaise – substitute with plain Greek yogurt
- Miracle Whip – no substitution recommended
- paprika – no substitution recommended
- seasoning salt – substitute with salt and garlic powder if needed
- cooked chicken – substitute with rotisserie chicken for convenience
- dried cranberries – substitute with dried cherries or halved grapes
- celery – no substitution recommended
- green onions – substitute with finely chopped red onion
- green pepper – substitute with apple for a sweeter crunch
- toasted pecans – substitute with walnuts or almonds
- ground black pepper – no substitution recommended
Variations
- Use just mayonnaise for a more traditional chicken salad recipe
- Swap pecans for walnuts or sliced almonds
- Add chopped apples for extra crunch and sweetness
- Use grapes instead of dried fruit for a juicier texture
- Add Dijon mustard for extra tang
Tips for Best Results
- Chill before serving for the best flavor
- Toast pecans for better texture and taste
- Cut ingredients evenly for a consistent texture
- Use rotisserie chicken for an easy chicken salad shortcut
- This creamy chicken salad tastes even better the next day
FAQs
Yes. This recipe is designed as a chicken salad with Miracle Whip, giving it a slightly sweeter and tangier flavor.
Yes. This homemade chicken salad is even better after chilling for several hours.
Pat ingredients dry and avoid overmixing.
Yes, but fresh or rotisserie chicken gives better texture and flavor.
No, freezing is not recommended because the dressing will separate.
Using Greek yogurt also works, and it is low-calorie to boot! BBQ sauce is also delicious in place of the mayo … of course, then it becomes a BBQ chicken salad instead of a deli-style chicken salad. But maybe that’s what you want!?
Chipotle seasoning, curry powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper taste great in this recipe, especially if you want a “kick” to the flavor.
The sky’s the limit! Raisins taste wonderful in particular and give you a much different salad than if you use grapes. If you prefer a tropical flavor, add coconut, mango, pineapple, etc. Get creative with this, y’all!
How to Store Chicken Salad With Miracle Whip
Store this chicken salad with Miracle Whip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Do not leave at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
You can find more easy lunch ideas and sandwich recipes in my recipe index.
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How to Make Chicken Salad With Miracle Whip
NOTE: This section includes a step-by-step guide. Find the full printable recipe in the recipe card below.
This chicken salad recipe comes together quickly, then chills to develop the best flavor.
Quick steps:
- Combine dressing ingredients
- Add chicken and mix-ins
- Stir until evenly coated
- Chill 4-6 hours before serving
Detailed Instructions:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Miracle Whip, paprika, and seasoning salt. Mix until smooth.
- Add the cooked chicken, dried fruit or grapes, celery, green onions, green pepper or apple, and pecans. Stir until evenly coated.
- Season with black pepper to taste.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably 4-6 hours, before serving.
- This pairs perfectly with The Best Coleslaw Recipe for a classic deli-style meal, or Caesar Salad for a fresh and creamy side.
Serve this Chicken Salad With Miracle Whip with:
- flaky croissants or sandwich bread for an easy lunch
- homemade potato chips or air fryer tater tots for a crispy, satisfying side
- fresh fruit or a light pasta salad for a balanced, refreshing option
If You Enjoyed Chicken Salad With Miracle Whip
If you enjoyed this chicken salad with Miracle Whip, here are a few recipes from your site that pair perfectly or keep the same flavor vibe:
- BLT Avocado Chicken Salad Wraps – a fresh, creamy wrap with bacon, avocado, and bold flavor
- Toasted Pesto Chicken Sandwich – warm, melty, and packed with herby pesto goodness
- Cowboy Butter Crispy Chicken Sandwich – crispy, buttery, and loaded with flavor for a hearty option
- Cran-Apple Turkey Sandwich – a sweet and savory sandwich option that complements the fruit flavors in this recipe
- Rainbow Fruit Salad with Honey Citrus Dressing – a bright, refreshing side that pairs perfectly with the sweet add-ins in this chicken salad
📌 Save This Recipe
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Deli-Style Chicken Salad
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Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup Miracle Whip
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
- 4 cups cooked chicken, cubed or shredded
- 1 cup dried cranberries, dried cherries, or grape halves
- ½ cup chopped celery
- 2 green onions, chopped
- ¾ cup green pepper or apple, chopped
- 1 cup toasted pecans, chopped
- ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Miracle Whip, paprika, and seasoning salt. Mix until well combined.½ cup mayonnaise, ½ cup Miracle Whip, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
- Add the chicken, dried fruit or grapes, celery, green onions, green pepper or apple, and pecans. Mix well.4 cups cooked chicken, 1 cup dried cranberries, ½ cup chopped celery, 2 green onions, ¾ cup green pepper or apple, 1 cup toasted pecans
- Season with black pepper to taste. Mix well.ground black pepper
- Chill at least 1 hour, preferably 4-6 hours, before serving.
Notes
🥡 STORAGE
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator
- Keep for up to 3-4 days
- Do not leave at room temperature for more than 2 hours
♨️ REHEATING
- No reheating needed
- Serve chilled for the best flavor
❄️ FREEZING
- Not recommended due to dressing separation
💡 TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS
- Chill before serving for best flavor
- Toast pecans for better texture and taste
- Cut ingredients evenly for a consistent texture
- Adjust seasoning before serving
🍳 ALTERNATE COOKING METHODS
- Use rotisserie chicken for a faster prep option
- Poach chicken for a tender, neutral flavor base
- Bake chicken breasts at 375°F until cooked through
♻️ LEFTOVERS
- Use in sandwiches or wraps
- Serve over lettuce for a low-carb option
- Stuff into croissants or pita bread
📝 NOTES
- Do not skip the chill time; it helps the flavors blend together
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Quick and Easy
Why do you use mayonnaise and miracle whip when they both are the same thing. One is just a brand name.
You certainly can use all mayo or all Miracle Whip – or divide it up as I do. It’s all a matter of personal taste. Miracle Whip has a little bit of tang that plain mayo just doesn’t have, so I like to include it.
Mayo and Miracle whip are two different things. MIracle whip has corn syrup and Mayo does not. Two completely different tastes.
I would so love to make this for an outdoor potluck picnic next week, but I’m worried about the mayo going bad. Any suggestions for serving, please? Perhaps I could put it in a freezer bag with a couple of freezer packs, and just have people compose their sandwich on site. Would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks.
I think I would do this one of two ways, depending on the potluck.
1. Prepare the chicken salad and keep it in an airtight container or zip-top bag. You can keep it in a cooler or ice chest to keep it cool. Then let people assemble the sandwiches themselves at the potluck. You might consider using smaller containers, so you don’t have a big batch that might go bad. Keep one container on the table to use and any remaining containers in a cooler until needed.
2. Prepare the sandwiches ahead and place them in individual sandwich bags. Place the sandwich bags in a cooler or ice chest and let people grab a premade sandwich from the cooler, or you can set out a few on the table and replace them with new sandwiches from the cooler as people grab them.
Either way, I hope you have a great time! 😊
I love these types of salad sandwiches. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday.
Your co host from Nosh My Way.
I love this kind of chicken salad, delicious!
Mal @ The Chic Geek
I love chicken salad! I usually order it for lunch when I'm out, and love to make it at home! This sounds great!
Thanks so much for sharing at Heavenly Treats Sunday! Love chicken salad but never make it! Now I have a good recipe, thanks!
Jamie…what a great base chicken salad. I eat chicken salad from the deli near my office and it looks nothing like this! I love the versatility of it, too. And I just love fruit in my chicken salad! Great recipe! : )