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Delicious scratch made Smoked Chicken Salad is rich with flavor from slow smoked chicken. The mayo based dressing has deep flavor from seasonings that brings out all the slow cooked flavors from the chicken.
Why You Will Love Smoked Chicken Salad
This chicken salad is going to be a summer go-to. It’s the perfect elevated lunch and a great way to use up leftover smoked chicken from BBQ’s. If you need the details on smoking a chicken, I have you covered. Don’t worry it’s pretty easy.
- Easy. Once the chicken is smoked, the steps are simple.
- Meal Prep Friendly. It keeps great throughout the week.
- Low Carb Friendly. If you skip the bread and serve in over salad.
Ingredient Notes
All other ingredients and measurements can be found in the recipe card towards the bottom of this post.
- Smoked Chicken. I use a whole chicken, smoke it in the Treager and then shred it. I have instructions on this below if needed.
- Mayonnaise. This is the base of the sauce, you can also use plain greek yogurt.
- Worcestershire Sauce. This adds a great flavor to pair with the smoked chicken. You can also use liquid smoke if you’d like.
- Seasonings. I use garlic, celery seed, mustard powder and smoked paprika.
- Celery & Onion. Finely chopped for crunch.
- Barbecue Sauce. For drizzling, this is optional!
Steps To Make Smoked Chicken Salad
Ready to make this meal? Let me walk you through the recipe. For your convenience, there is a full ingredient list and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card below.
- Step One. Smoke the chicken!
- Step Two. Once the chicken is smoked, or using leftovers, shred the chicken well.
- Step Three. Mix up the dressing for smoked chicken salad.
- Step Four. Add the dressing, shredded chicken and diced veggies together and mix well!
- Step Four. Serve and enjoy! You can make sandwiches with this salad, dip chips or crackers in it or eat it with a fork or in a lettuce wrap for a low carb meal.
Recipe Pairings
If you want to serve this delicious smoked chicken salad with something good i have you covered! This is a great BBQ meal and pairs with salads, veggies and much more.
- Black Bean Corn Salad, Spicy Cucumber Salad, Italian Dressing Pasta and if you need more inspiration, check out my 30 Barbecue Side Dishes.
Smoked Chicken Salad Tips
- If you have smoked chicken seasoning spice you LOVE use that, but I have one listed for you as well.
- Smoking bone in chicken with skin is always going to offer more flavor.
- Make sure you rub seasoning under the skin of the chicken as well so the flavors get in.
- Taste the dressing/sauce as you go, you may want more savory flavor from Worcestershire sauce or add more salt and pepper. Always taste as you go!
Other Chicken Salad Recipes To Try
Smoked Chicken Salad
Delicious scratch made Smoked Chicken Salad is rich with flavor from slow smoked chicken. The mayo based dressing has deep flavor from seasonings that brings out all the slow cooked flavors from the chicken.
Ingredients
Smoked Chicken
- 1 whole chicken , bone in
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 Tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp onion powder
- 1 Tbsp garlic powder
- ½ Tbsp crushed dried rosemary
Smoked Chicken Salad
- 3 cups smoked chicken, shredded , use both dark and white meat or just white if preferred.
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 3 tsp Worcestershire sauce, use more if desired
- 2 Tbsp water, to thin the sauce and help it spread
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp celery seed
- ½ tsp mustard powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ cup celery, diced
- ¼ cup red onion, diced
- 2 Tbsp barbecue sauce, optional for drizzling
Instructions
- Smoke the chicken. Prep the chicken, spatchcock the whole chicken. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
- Mix the BBQ rub. While the pellet grill is heating, mix the bbq seasonings in a bowl. Rub the chicken with the seasonings well, be sure to get under the skin well with the seasonings. I suggest trying to get as much as you can under the skin. The skin will not be used in the salad so it's best to get that chicken nice and flavored.
- Insert the pellet grill meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken breast. Place the chicken directly on the grill grates, close the lid, and smoke until the internal reaches 160℉. This will take about 2½-3 hours depending on the chicken size.
Smoked Chicken Salad
- Once the chicken is cooked through, let it cool enough to to handle the chicken, shred it well, discard the skin and any bones. I use both the dark and white meat for this recipe.
- Make the dressing. Mix the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl, seasonings, Worcestershire, water, mayonnaise. Give it a taste adjust if needed.
- Make the smoked chicken salad. In a large bowl mix the dressing with the chicken, diced celery and red onion. Serve it on bread as a sandwich, wrap or over lettuce cups. Drizzle with barbecue sauce and enjoy.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 cup of smoked chicken salad | Calories: 597kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 707mg | Potassium: 571mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1345IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!
Matts favorite lunch right here! I hope you all love it.