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Home » Recipes » Chicken

Jalapeno Chicken Salad

Published: May 6, 2024 · Modified: May 6, 2024 by Sarah Baumeister · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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Looking for a little spice in your life? This Jalapeno Chicken Salad will give that to you. A copycat version of the jalapeno holly chicken salad from Chicken Salad Chicken, this one has loads of chopped pickled jalapenos to give flavor and spice. Serve with crackers, on a sandwich, or in a lettuce wrap.

close up picture of a bowl of jalepeno chicken salad.

I am a big spicy food lover, and jalapenos are one of my favorite ways to add heat to dishes. They give a milder heat than most hot peppers, but still enough of a kick to make things interesting

The Jalapeno Holly chicken salad has pickled jalapenos, rather than fresh jalapenos. Pickled jalapenos are less spicy than fresh, are softer in texture, and often have a bit of sweetness to them as well. This chicken salad is made with the same base ingredients as the Classic Carol, just with added finally diced pickled jalapenos.

Ingredients

jalapeno chicken salad ingredients.
  • Duke's Mayo- Duke's mayonnaise is what the restaurant uses and its made with extra egg yolks, giving it a richer, thicker taste.
  • Chicken Tenderloins- Chicken tenderloins will give you a restaurant quality chicken salad. I like to poach the chicken tenderloins in chicken stock for a lovely texture and flavor. You can also use already cooked, shredded chicken.
  • Pickled Jalapenos- Store Bought pickled jalapenos work great, you can buy either mild or hot variety. You can also use homemade or even fermented jalapenos. 
  • Celery- As with all of the Chicken Salad Chick recipes, there is finely minced celery.
  • Spices- While I am not privy to the restaurant's secret spice mix, a simple blend of onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper does the job.

How to Make Chicken Salad with Jalapenos

Cooking the chicken tenderloins

In a pot, boil 4 cups of chicken stock (or water). Add in uncooked chicken tenderloins. Cover with a lid and remove from heat. Set timer for 25 minutes. As long as the stock is boiling when you add the chicken, the carryover residual heat will cook the chicken through while keeping it very moist. 

Preparing the chicken salad

chicken in food processor for chicken salad before mixing.

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

chicken in food processor for chicken salad after mixing.

Step 2. Turn on low for ten seconds. Make sure there are no large chunks left.

bowl of ingredients for jalapeno chicken salad

Step 3. Add chicken to a bowl, with mayo, minced celery, minced jalapeno, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

ingredients mixed together to make jalapeno chicken salad.

Step 4. Stir to combine. For best results, allow chicken salad to chill for an hour in the fridge. Serve cold. 

Recipe Tips

  • Make this a jalapeno popper chicken salad recipe by adding a bit of crumbled bacon and shredded cheddar cheese.
  • Allowing the chicken salad to sit in the fridge for an hour or two before serving will enhance the overall flavor. 
  • You can use shredded rotisserie chicken or canned chicken, but the texture won't be the exact same.
  • You can chop the chicken by hand or use a stand mixer to shred the chicken if you do not have a food processor. 
jalepeno chicken salad with a spoon.

How to serve

Serve chicken salad scooped on top of leaf lettuce like butter lettuce, on a sandwich, wrap, or with crackers.

It's great it's own or on croissant with lettuce and tomatoes.

Storage

Store any leftover chicken salad  covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. 

I don't recommend freezing chicken salad.

bowl of jalepeno chicken salad on a bed of lettuce.

More chicken salad recipes

  • Dixie Chick Chicken Salad Chick Copycat Recipe
  • Lemon Tarragon Chicken Salad
  • Avocado Chicken Salad

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

bowl of jalapeno chicken salad on lettuce.

Jalapeno Chicken Salad

Sarah Baumeister
Looking for a little spice in your life? This Jalapeno Chicken Salad will give that to you. A copycat version of the jalapeno holly chicken salad from Chicken Salad Chicken, this one has loads of chopped pickled jalapenos to give flavor and spice.
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Course chicken, Lunch
Cuisine American
Servings 2 servings
Calories 660 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb. chicken tenderloins around 2 cups of cooked chicken
  • ½ cup Duke's mayonnaise
  • 1 celery rib minced
  • ½ cup pickled jalapenos
  • ½ tsp. onion powder
  • ½ tsp. garlic powder
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. pepper

Instructions
 

Cooking the chicken tenderloins

  • In a pot, boil 4 cups of chicken stock (or water). Add in uncooked chicken tenderloins. Cover with a lid and remove from heat. Set timer for 25 minutes. As long as the stock is boiling when you add the chicken, the carryover residual heat will cook the chicken through while keeping it very moist. 

Preparing the chicken salad

  • Place cooked chicken tenderloins into the bowl of the food processor. Turn on low for ten seconds. Make sure there are no large chunks left.
  • Add chicken to a bowl, with mayo, minced celery, minced jalapeno, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
  • Stir to combine. For best results, allow chicken salad to chill for an hour in the fridge.
  • Serve cold.

Nutrition

Calories: 660kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 49gFat: 48gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 26gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 169mgSodium: 1668mgPotassium: 964mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 698IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Hi, I'm Sarah!

I am a wife, mother, and believer. I have been cooking since I can remember and love sharing recipes with all of you. You will find a variety of recipes here from healthy family dinners, to ways to prepare venison, to soups, to baked goods, anything and everything delicious.

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