Name: Chicken Salad Chick Classic Carol Chicken Salad
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 lb. chicken tenderloins (around 2 cups of cooked chicken); 1/2 cup Duke's mayonnaise; 1 celery rib (minced); 1/2 tsp. onion powder; 1/2 tsp. garlic powder; 1/2 tsp. salt; 1/2 tsp. pepper

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Looking for the recipe for Chicken Salad Chick Classic Carol Chicken Salad? I have you covered! This copycat "Classic Carol" recipe only uses a couple of ingredients and the taste is nearly identical. Serve with crackers, croissants, or lettuce for a tasty light lunch.

scoop of chicken salad in a bowl filled with lettuce.

Classic Carol is the simplest chicken salad the restaurant offers. It uses only a few ingredients, chicken, mayo, celery, and a top secret spice blend.

The Classic Carol is actually made in big batches and serves as the base for all of the other chicken salad recipes, with those having additional ingredients added in.

If you are in the mood for a chicken salad that is full of fresh herbs, check out my recipe Lemon Tarragon Chicken Salad. It is highly requested!

scoop of chicken salad on lettuce with tomatoes and croissant next to it.

What Makes Chicken Salad Chick So Good

Those of us who are lucky enough to be close to a Chicken Salad Chick restaurant know just how good their salads are. There are a few things that set their chicken salad apart from the rest.

Duke's Mayo- Chicken Salad Chicken uses exclusively Duke's mayonnaise in all of their recipes. This gives a very distinct taste, as Duke's has a much higher egg yolk ratio than most traditional mayos.
Chicken Tenderloins- Chicken Salad Chick uses shredded chicken tenderloins, they do not use chicken breast meat. Chicken tenderloins are tender (hence the name) and they have shorter muscle strands. This gives the chicken salad its distinct texture.
Finely shredded- According to restaurant workers, the steamed chicken tenderloins are run through an industrial sized food processor, which is what gives the salad it's classic fine texture.

Ingredients

Duke's Mayo- As mentioned above, this is the brand Chicken Salad Chicken uses. I wouldn't suggest making this recipe without it, it will not taste the same.
Chicken Tenderloins- The restaurant steams the chicken, but I will share an easy way to poach the chicken for a similar texture. You can always cook Chicken Tenderloins in the air fryer.
Celery- Mince the celery very finely to achieve a seamless texture.
Spices- The restaurant uses a top secret spice blend. It is reminiscent of dry ranch seasoning. You can use that if you want, but I chose to keep it simple with a blend of onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

See recipe card below for full ingredient amounts.

How to Make Chicken Salad Chick Classic Carol

To cook chicken

In a large pot, add chicken stock or water. Bring to a boil. Add chicken tenders. The chicken can be packed in, but keep it in a single layer to ensure it all cooks through. Cover with lid and remove from heat. Set timer for 25 minutes and the residual heat will perfectly cook the chicken.

To prepare chicken salad

Step 1. Place cooked chicken tenderloins into the bowl of the food processor.

chopped chicken tenderloins in food processor.

Step 2. Allow to process for ten seconds. Check to make sure there are no large chunks remaining.

prepared ingredients for chicken salad in clear bowl unmixed.

Step 3. Pour prepared chicken into a mixing bowl, along with mayo, minced celery, and spices.

finished classic carol chicken salad in clear mixing bowl.

Step 4. Stir to combine. If you have time, allow to chill for an hour in the fridge. Serve cold.

Recipe Tips

Letting your chicken salad sit in the fridge for a few hours or even overnight will enhance the flavor.
Rotisserie chicken or canned chicken can be used to cut down on time if you prefer.
Chop the chicken by hand with a sharp knife if you do not have a food processor.

How to serve

Chicken Salad Chick serves their salads as a scoop on top of lettuce, on a sandwich, wrap, or with crackers.

I love it on it's own or on a croissant with butter lettuce and sliced tomatoes.

Storage

Storage any leftover chicken salad in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

While you can freeze the cooked chicken tenderloins for later use, I do not suggest freezing chicken salad.

scoop of chicken salad in a bowl filled with lettuce with croissants to the side.

More Copycat Recipes

Did you enjoy this Copycat Chicken Salad Recipe? I would love for you to let me know by leaving a comment and star rating. I can't wait to hear from you!