The Best Chicken Salad with Grapes and Almonds
This chicken salad with grapes and almonds is creamy, crunchy, and a little bit fancy — perfect for a ladies’ luncheon or easy lunches all week long!
A few weeks ago, I had some dear friends over, and they just happened to be coming by around lunchtime. I thought it would be fun to put together something that felt like an old fashioned “ladies luncheon”.
As I brainstormed what would be fun to serve, I landed on the idea of a chicken salad with fresh sourdough bread + a fun charcuterie board with fresh veggies, fruit, dip, and crackers + cheese. It was so much fun!
This chicken salad recipe is special enough for a luncheon with friends, but easy enough that you’ll want to make a batch to keep in the fridge for quick lunches all week long. Either way, it’s a win!
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Salad Recipe
- Sweet grapes and crunchy toasted almonds make every bite interesting.
- A tangy dill dressing that’s lighter than your typical chicken salad.
- Fancy enough for a ladies’ luncheon, easy enough for weekday lunches.
- Makes ahead beautifully — even better the next day!
Ingredients for Yummy Chicken Salad
For exact measurements and instructions, check out the full printable recipe card below. Here’s the grocery list you’ll need for this recipe:
- Cooked chicken, diced
- Seedless red grapes, halved
- Celery, diced
- Red onion, finely diced
- Slivered almonds, toasted
- Mayo or Miracle Whip
- Plain Greek yogurt
- Lemon juice
- Fresh dill, chopped
- Salt and pepper
- Dill pickle juice
- Sugar (optional, to taste)
Chicken Salad Recipe
Sweet grapes, toasted almonds, and a tangy dill dressing make this chicken salad with grapes and almonds absolutely irresistible — perfect for entertaining or meal prep!
Ingredients
- 3 cups diced cooked chicken
- 1½ cups seedless red grapes, halved
- ¾ cup celery, diced (about 2 stalks)
- ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
- ¾ cup slivered almonds, toasted
- ⅓ cup mayo or Miracle Whip
- ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon dill pickle juice
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, to taste)
Instructions
- Toast the almonds in a dry skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until lightly golden and fragrant. Set aside to cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken, grapes, celery, red onion, and toasted almonds.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayo, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, dill, salt, pepper, and pickle juice. Taste before adding sugar, then stir in if desired.
- Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and stir until well combined.
- Cover and refrigerate, or serve immediately. Stir before serving if made ahead, and add a bit more mayo or Miracle Whip if it needs freshening up.
Notes
This can be served on your favorite bread, buns, or croissants or it can be served over a bed of greens like a salad. Either way, it's delicious!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 182Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 123mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 16g
Step by step instructions for making chicken salad – with pictures
1. Place all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. 
2.In a seperate bowl, mix together the dressing ingredients. 
3. Add dressing to salad ingredients and stir together well.
Helpful Tips When Making This Recipe
- Don’t skip toasting the almonds — it makes such a difference in flavor!
- Taste your dressing before deciding on the sugar. Dressing is such a personal thing!
- This salad makes ahead beautifully. Store covered in the fridge, and give it a quick stir before serving. If it seems a little dry, just stir in a bit more mayo or Miracle Whip.
Grandma Rita’s Kitchen Tips
I served this chicken salad alongside a charcuterie board with fresh veggies and dip, fresh fruit, crackers, cheese, and my honey oat sourdough bread. Guests could build their own sandwiches or pile it onto crackers — and a chilled bottle of fancy sparkling Perrier made the whole spread feel just a little special! Nanaimo bars were the dessert. So yummy!
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Grapes and almonds in chicken salad is such a great combination — adds just the right crunch and sweetness. This sounds perfect for a light lunch or a ladies’ luncheon like you mentioned. Definitely trying this one this week.
This chicken salad looks so fresh with the grapes and almonds combo. Do you think it would hold up well if made a day ahead for a lunch gathering?
Grapes and almonds in chicken salad is such a great combo for texture — creamy but still crunchy in every bite. This sounds perfect for a ladies’ luncheon like you mentioned, easy to make ahead too. Pairing it with fresh sourdough is exactly how I’d want to serve it as well.
This chicken salad with grapes and almonds is such a crowd-pleaser — the sweet-savory combination with a creamy base is perfect for a ladies’ luncheon or meal-prep lunches. I always find that a great hero photo can make or break a recipe post, and the styling here really sells how fresh and satisfying this dish looks.
The step by step approach is perfect. Very helpful and practical.