The Best Chicken Salad Ever

I debated posting this recipe today. It doesn't seem timely for the season to me...more like a spring/summer recipe? But Erin texted me a few days ago asking for the recipe and made it for dinner so I thought, why not? It still tastes delicious every season and it's a great, easy dinner for this busy time of year with homework, sports, scouts, parties and the like filling up the calendar.

My mom got this recipe from a friend of hers and made it for my sister's wedding shower 15 years ago. When I asked her to send me the recipe, she took a pic of her 15 year-old recipe card and emailed it to me and it literally did say "The Best Chicken Salad EVER" on the top of the card so I stuck with the title. :)

It was a huge hit then and when I made it recently and Erin and her mom tried it, it was a huge hit again. If you use a rotisserie chicken, it really is silly easy to throw together.

~Leah

The Best Chicken Salad Ever

Recipe Type: Main

Author: Leah

Prep time: 1 hour 15 mins

Total time: 1 hour 15 mins

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 1 (20 oz) can pineapple tidbits in 100% juice


• 1 c mayonnaise


• 1 1/2 Tbsp Dijon mustard


• 1 tsp curry powder


• 1/2 c celery, thinly sliced


• 2 green onions, thinly sliced (use ALL of the onion...including the green)


• 1/8 tsp salt


• 1 whole rotisserie chicken OR 5-6 chicken breasts, cooked


• small (about 2.5 oz) bag slivered almonds


• small pat of butter


• 1/2-3/4 c raisins, optional


• green grapes, lettuce, pineapple for serving, optional

Instructions

1. Remove all the skin from your chicken and carve and cut into chunks. (great way to cut chicken breasts here...she starts on the breast at 4:36 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys7dyV97FXw). Set aside.


2. Put a small amount of butter (tsp?) in a small saute pan and brown the almonds over low to medium heat. Set aside.


3. Combine 3-4 Tbsp of the juice from the canned pineapple, mayonnaise, mustard, curry, and salt. Set aside.


4. Mix chicken, celery, onion, almonds and raisins (optional) in a medium to large bowl.


5. Add dressing and blend well.


6. Refrigerate at least 1 hour.


7. Serve with pineapple and/or grapes over lettuce or with lettuce on a bun (sinfully delicious on a croissant).

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