Have you ever tried the Classic Carol Chicken Salad from Chicken Salad Chick? It’s one of their most popular menu items — simple, creamy, and packed with flavor. If you’re lucky enough to live near one of their restaurants, you know exactly what I mean.
But if you don’t, no worries — this copycat Classic Carol recipe brings the same cozy, comforting flavor straight to your kitchen. It’s easy to make, perfect for family meals or holiday gatherings, and tastes just as good as the original.
What makes this recipe stand out is the little details: poaching chicken tenders in broth for extra richness, using Duke’s mayonnaise for that signature tang, and adding a touch of dry ranch seasoning for depth. Chop the celery extra fine for the best texture, and if you want to boost the nutrition, stir in some chopped hard-boiled eggs.
As for serving, the possibilities are endless. Pile it high on a croissant or sandwich with fresh lettuce and tomato, scoop it over a crisp salad, or simply enjoy it with your favorite crackers. However you serve it, this chicken salad is classic Southern comfort in every bite.
Ingredients
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1 ½ lbs chicken tenders
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32 oz low-sodium chicken stock
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½ cup Duke’s mayonnaise
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2 Tbsp celery, finely minced
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2 tsp dry Ranch salad dressing mix
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½ tsp ground black pepper
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½ tsp salt
Instructions
1. Poach the chicken
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In a large pot, bring chicken stock to a boil.
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Add chicken tenders, cover, and immediately remove the pot from heat.
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Let the chicken sit in the hot stock for 20 minutes, until fully cooked and tender. Remove and let cool slightly.
2. Shred the chicken
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Use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment to shred quickly, or use two forks to shred by hand.
3. Mix the dressing
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In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, celery, ranch seasoning mix, salt, and black pepper. Stir until smooth.
4. Combine
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Fold in the shredded chicken until evenly coated. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
5. Chill & serve
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Transfer chicken salad to an airtight container. For the best flavor, refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
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Serve on a bed of lettuce, in sandwiches, or with crackers.
Tips for Success
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Duke’s mayonnaise gives the most authentic flavor, but any rich, tangy mayo will work.
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Make it ahead — the flavor improves after chilling.
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For crunch, add extra celery or chopped pecans.
Storage
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Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
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Freezer: Not recommended, as mayonnaise separates when frozen.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6
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What is Chicken Salad Chick
Based in Auburn, Alabama, Chicken Salad Chick is a fast-casual restaurant brand and chicken salad franchise.
The business has more than 200 franchisee restaurants and retail locations throughout around 20 different U.S. states as of July 2022.
In 2016, Chicken Salad Chick was listed as the 37th fastest-growing U.S. company on the Inc. 5000 list.
What Makes Chicken Salad Chick so Good
I believe this recipe is special due to a few different components.
Only chicken tenders are needed. After cooking, chicken tenders break apart beautifully to shred.
The celery is very finely diced, so there are no noticeable huge bits.
Dry Ranch salad dressing mix also imparts a distinct taste.
I decided to cook the chicken tenders using chicken stock for this recipe. I believe this gives the dish more taste levels. Onions, carrots, and celery are used to make high-quality chicken stock. Some of this taste is absorbed by the chicken tenders.
Salad Choices at Chicken Salad Chick Restaurant
Your best bet for a wide variety of delicious chicken salads is the Chicken Salad Chick restaurant. They provide a classic, sweet, nutty, savory, fruity, and hot chicken salad.
Are you seeking a fantastic chicken salad recipe? This salad is flavorful and just made. You’re going to start to love this recipe.
What Mayonnaise To Use For Chicken Salad Chick?
Chicken Salad Chick restaurant uses Duke’s mayo, so that’s the one we’re going to use with this recipe. If you want, you can also use Hellman’s mayo, but this is a copycat recipe after all, and to make it 100% authentic, we’re going to follow the recipe.
Is this Chicken Salad Chick Salad Recipe gluten-free?
Yes, if you follow the recipe, it is gluten-free. Hidden Valley Ranch Original Dressing Mix and Duke’s Mayonnaise are gluten-free products. The ingredients you use to make the salad will determine this.
To be certain, you must examine the label on each one. chicken stock from the grocery store has gluten in it.
