better homes and gardens chicken salad recipe

Smoked chicken salad combines all the delicious flavors of traditional chicken salad with rich, smoky goodness. This easy dish offers a rich flavor profile that's perfect for any occasion.

I'm a big fan of chicken salad. I make it for lunches and snacks all the time. After a while, it can get boring, though, so I decided to kick it up with some great smoky flavor.

close up image of smoked chicken salad in a white bowl

Smoked Chicken Breast Salad

I was never a fan of smoked chicken, but I decided to give it another try. The result? I am now obsessed with the taste and texture! And, let me tell you by turning this delicious traditional recipe into a smoker recipe was one of the best decisions that I have ever made.

Ingredients

It doesn't take much to make this recipe. All you need is a few simple ingredients and you'll be on your way to making this delicious dip.

Salt and pepper
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Mayonnaise
Lemon juice
Dijon mustard
Minced celery
shallot, minced
Minced fresh parsley
Minced fresh tarragon

See the recipe card at the end of the post for quantities and cooking times.

How to Make Smoked Chicken Salad

This recipe is fully from scratch, but don't let that deter you. It only takes a few simple steps to transform raw chicken breasts into something truly delectable.

Step 1: Prep

Mince your celery, shallot, parsley, and tarragon, and measure out all of your ingredients.

Step 2: Smoke the Chicken

Coat the chicken breasts in Dijon mustard and season with salt and pepper. Then, smoke the chicken until it registers 165 degrees.

Step 3: Chill the Chicken

Transfer the chicken to a paper towel-lined tray and refrigerate it for about 30 minutes until it's cool.

Step 4: Prepare the Wet Ingredients

While the chicken cools, whisk the mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard, and pepper together in a large bowl.

Step 5: Make the Chicken Salad

Pat the cooled chicken dry with paper towels, and cut it into ½-inch pieces. Transfer the chicken to a bowl with the mayonnaise mixture and add the celery, shallot, parsley, and tarragon. Toss to combine and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Hint: Only cool your chicken, don't chill it. This helps keep it just warm enough to let the mayonnaise mixture dissolve a bit and thoroughly coat everything.

one sandwich made with smoked chicken salad cut in half on a plate

Substitutions

Don't have the correct ingredients on hand or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this smoked chicken salad recipe.

O nions – If you don't have shallots, you can use onions instead.
Yellow Mustard – If you don't have Dijon mustard, yellow mustard will do in a pinch.

Variations

Want to personalize this smoked chicken salad recipe? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.

Spicy – Add some red pepper flakes when you make the dip to add a kick of heat and flavor.
Almonds – Add slivered almonds to the dip for a nice crunch and flavor boost.

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy these smoked meatballs.

smoked chicken breast salad spread on a piece of toast

Equipment

You don't need a lot of fancy equipment for this recipe. It only takes a few basic kitchen items.

Measuring cups and spoons
Knife
Cutting board
Mixing bowl
Spoon
Dutch oven
Smoker

Storage

This chicken salad will last for three to five days in the refrigerator in an air-tight container. For longer storage, you can freeze this chicken salad for up to three months.

Tips

This might be a simple recipe, but there are still some things to know to make sure you make the best chicken salad possible. These are easy tips, but they make a big difference.

Be sure your chicken breasts are no more than one inch thick so they can smoke properly and are easier to cut up for the salad.
When mincing your celery, slice the ribs lengthwise first so you have a better grip when making your final cuts.
You can use a food processor to quickly and easily mince your ingredients if you're not confident in your knife skills.

white bowl filled with smoked chicken salad with a sandwich next to it.

More Chicken Recipes

Do you like chicken? Here are some recipes you may also like to try

Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie
Easy Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken

FAQ

Do you have questions about smoked chicken salad? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about this smoked chicken salad recipe.

How long is chicken salad good?

This will last in the refrigerator for three to five days or in the freezer for up to three months.

How do I freeze chicken salad?

Let it chill completely in the refrigerator, then transfer it to an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bags.

How do I thaw chicken salad?

To thaw this chicken salad out, leave it in the refrigerator overnight.

How do I reheat chicken salad?

Simply microwave the chicken salad until it's warmed through. If serving a large portion, you can place it in a baking dish and bake it covered at 300 degrees until thoroughly warm.

Can I shred chicken for chicken salad?

Absolutely. Chicken salad can be prepared with cubed or shredded chicken.

Smoked Chicken Salad Recipe

Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.

close up image of smoked chicken salad in a white bowl

Smoked Chicken Salad

This smoked chicken salad recipe takes very little work for a lot of flavor. Smoked chicken salad is the perfect appetizer for any occasion.

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 2 hrs

Course lunch, Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 4 Servings

Calories 336 kcal

smoker
mixing bowl
whisk

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts no more than 1 inch thick, trimmed
½ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 celery ribs minced
1 shallot minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon
Salt and pepper to taste

Gather all the ingredients needed
Coat chicken breasts in dijon mustard and then season with salt and pepper.
Smoke the chicken at 250* for about 2 hours or until chicken reached 165*
Remove the chicken from the smoker once cool. And chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to one hour or until the chicken is cold.
While chicken is chilling mix together mayo and lemon juice
Once chicken is cooled pat dry with a paper towel, the cut or shred.
Add celery, shallot, parsley,chicken and tarragon to mayo and lemon juice mixture; toss to combine.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve and enjoy every bite.

Serving: 1 Serving Calories: 336 kcal Carbohydrates: 3 g Protein: 25 g Fat: 24 g Saturated Fat: 4 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 13 g Monounsaturated Fat: 6 g Trans Fat: 1 g Cholesterol: 84 mg Sodium: 398 mg Potassium: 526 mg Fiber: 1 g Sugar: 1 g Vitamin A: 225 IU Vitamin C: 7 mg Calcium: 37 mg Iron: 1 mg

Let us know how it was!