A tender and creamy curried chicken salad is a quick and simple summer dish.
In summertime, my mom was always filling the fridge with special lunches and snacks. I would come in the house from playing outdoors or swimming and she would be poaching chicken on the stove. Oh, I loved that smell! It was hard to resist not stealing a bite right from that hot water! She would turn basic chicken into something special so anytime the family or guests had an appetite, there was something to munch on besides ordinary sandwiches.
My mom’s simple Curried Chicken Salad had to be my favorite thing she made with that chicken. I grew up eating this and loved it! When I would bring my young boyfriend-turned-fiancé-turned husband home, he too fell in love with my mom’s Curried Chicken Salad.
In fact, it was a usual request of Bill’s that my mom make it before a visit to her beach house.
The flavors are so exciting yet the ingredients are so simple. Easy to make, easy to enjoy. What is better than that?
I should probably poach my chicken just like my mom did, but a modern day grocery store makes it so easy and tempting for me just to buy a rotisserie chicken. So, that’s what I do. They are juicy, flavorful and the perfect serving size for a salad like this.
Tossing together the water chestnuts, the celery and the mandarin oranges gives this salad a variety of texture.
And the curry powder, soy sauce and lemon juice make the mayo extraordinary.
It’s such a breeze to make, but you’ll have to wait to enjoy it because it needs to chill for several hours. The flavors get better with time, trust me.
When Jude had this in the fridge, most of the time you would find Bill standing over the big bowl of it at the counter stealing bites with a fork. I swear if my brothers or I did this, my mom may have scolded us. But not Bill. She spoiled him and let him get away with almost anything. 
We really loved it on a croissant or potato roll with some lettuce, packed up and enjoyed poolside or on the beach.
Today, when I make it, Bill and I wrap it in Bibb lettuce cups for a light summertime treat.
It is a scrumptious and satisfying poolside snack…perfect for sharing with friends. 
The only problem with this dish is, it gets devoured pretty quickly and there are never any leftovers. 
Guess it’s time to whip up another batch…
If you are a chicken salad fanatic like me, try my Loaded Taco Chicken Salad and my Blueberry Basil Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches are simply amazing.
Do you have a favorite chicken salad recipe?
*Thank you to my friend, Kristen, for not only sharing my love of cooking and eating good food, but for being the best hand model ever.
- 1 Rotisseri chicken picked into bite size chunks
- 4 ounce can diced water chestnuts drained
- 15 ounce can mandarin oranges drained
- 1 cup celery chopped
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tsp curry powder
- 2 tsp low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- salt and pepper to taste
- Bibb lettuce for serving optional
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Combine chicken, water chestnuts, oranges and celery in a bowl.
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Mix all remaining ingredients in another bowl and stir to combine.
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Pour curry mix over the chicken and gently toss to combine.
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Chill for several hours.
Try substituting seedless grapes cut in half for the mandarin oranges.
Give it an extra sprinkle of curry powder, salt and pepper if you'd like just before serving.
Serve as a sandwich or in bibb lettuce cups. Or grab a fork and steal bites right from the bowl...
Check out this Mexican-style Egg Salad I whipped up a few weeks ago to curb summer lunchtime boredom.
This recipe looks and sounds amazing!! I agree with just buying a rotisserie chicken and how it makes things so much easier at times. I will have to make this salad soon!
Thank you! I’d love to take the time to poach a chicken, but when the idea strikes and I want the job done, those rotisseries save the day.
This sounds so delicious, perfect for summer! I will have to try this. I love chicken salad and this one sounds incredible.
I love ALL of your recipes! Thank you for sharing! This looks absolutely delicious! Can’t wait to try it!
That means the world to me! Thank you! Hope you enjoy this one!
Holy cow this looks good! What an amazing sandwich filling! Ooh, like in a pita pocket!
Oh, that would be tasty in a pita! Thanks for the idea!
Love the flavors in this! Pinned to try out soon.
Thanks so much, Jazz!
These look so yummy. I am all about making a lettuce wrap. Need to try this recipe.
I love that you serve it on bibb lettuce! It adds another level of crunch!
Yes! I agree! Makes it so fresh.
Yum! I love curry chicken Salad and this looks delish 🙂 Cant wait to try!
Wow……great food and a great story. I remember it well
I love a good Chicken Salad!! The ingredients in yours are so unique, and I love the addition of the curry with the water chestnuts! YUM
Thanks! This version is awesome! They curry flavor is light and the water chestnuts add the perfect crunch!
Looks like a fun and easy summer meal for days at the pool or backyard adventures!
Yes, it is the perfect warm weather meal!
Seriously good…how about poaching the chicken this weekend…can’t get enough!
Another batch coming soon…
This sounds great! I love the addition of water chestnuts for the crunch!
Thanks, Kristine! The water chestnuts might be my favorite part. I love adding them to other lettuce wrap dishes for the crunch too.
Chicken salad = summer food of champions…and yet somehow I haven’t made any in forever. Thanks for the reminder!
You’re so right…summer food of champs! Lol
I LOVE chicken salad! This looks delicious!
Thanks, Kelsey!
A perfect poolside salad! Yum! Love the low carb option with the lettuce wrap.
And even better with good company!!
I love chicken salad! This recipe looks legit. I also happen to be crazy about mandarins and curry so this sounds perfect and I’m pretty sure I have those ingredients already!
Yes, it is a great combo! I bet you’ll love it if you love mandarins and curry!
This looks yummy! I need to try it.
Thanks! Hope you get to enjoy it!
Yum! This is a chicken salad recipe I can support! Haha usually I’m not a fan of the classic style.
Sometimes chicken salads can be too weighed down in the mayo sauce. This is a great balance! Hope you’ll give it a try!
What a simple, yet yummy recipe!
I’m starting to get into having salads more often, so I’ll definitely be bookmarking this for later.
Kat
xx
katlast.com
Thanks, Kat! I could eat a tasty salad all the time and this one is so flavorful yet so simple! Enjoy!
This is so easy, I am shocked, I was expecting there to be so many more ingredients that I wouldn’t have on hand but this is great! I am definitely going to make this, and I love the lettuce wrap idea. We are addicted to lettuce wraps, yum! Pinned and printed to save your recipe, thank you.
Awesome! Thank you, Lisa! I hope you love it as much as we do!!!