Easy Chicken Salad For Sandwiches With Old Bay Seasoning.

This easy chicken salad uses fresh ingredients and a healthy dose of Old Bay seasoning. The tasty combination goes excellent on all your summer sandwiches or packed for your school or work lunch. This is the best chicken salad recipe to use for meal prepping your week ahead, as it makes up enough for several tasty sandwiches. It’s a great way to use up leftover chicken, too! Your family will love this so much that it’s going to be your new favorite chicken salad recipe. 

​As a mom and wife, I know how hard it is to save on groceries. Lunch meat can get out of hand pretty fast when you have many mouths to feed, and it’s full of nasty chemicals. So, I like finding new ways to create tasty meat fillings for sandwiches. This variation on a classic recipe is an easy chicken salad recipe that takes a little time to prep. I used my Ninja Foodi air fryer to cook the boneless skinless chicken breasts, which takes away the hassle of watching chicken in a pan on the stove and makes clean-up easier. Wiping out the non-stick surface is easy!

If you love finding great ways to make chicken flavorful for sandwiches and wraps, be sure to see my crockpot BBQ chicken wraps. It’s a simple and tasty way to make lunchtime delicious. 

Why You Will Love These Chicken Salad Sandwiches

​It’s super easy. With a few ingredients, you can whip this together in no time, and it makes for a filling and delicious lunch recipe. 

​Unique Flavor. By using Old Bay seasoning on both the chicken and the salad, you can change the flavor of your average chicken salad recipe. 

Cost-Effective. Deli meat can be expensive and quickly cut into your grocery budget. Cooked chicken from home can save you valuable dollars on the grocery bill.

How To Make This Tasty Chicken Salad.

For my chicken salad recipe, I have used two boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I prefer this cut as it is relatively lower in fat than dark meat. However, you can easily use dark meat or even leftover chicken meat to make this salad.

I cooked the chicken in the Ninja Foodi air fryer (375F-25 minutes), but again, be free of that information. You can just as quickly bake or cook the chicken on the stovetop in a pan. The main point is to cook the chicken with a sprinkling of Old Bay seasoning and a pinch of black pepper until its internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. At this point, it’s cooked, and it’s time to cool the chicken down. In fact, you will want to chill the chicken before making it a chicken salad. 

Cooling the chicken prevents bacterial growth and also firms it up, making it easier to cut into bite-sized pieces. In fact, we want to cut the chicken into small pieces for the salad. This will ensure that it’s easily packed together to fill the sandwich. Bigger pieces make for harder distribution across the bread. 

Once you cut the chilled chicken into small pieces, add them to a bowl. You can now also cut the green onions using both the white and green stems, as well as the celery. Again, for the celery, go ahead and chop up any of the leafy green on the end of the stalk; it adds a lighter floral celery note, which is pleasant. 

Next, we carefully measure the mayonnaise. I can’t stress this enough: you want to avoid too much mayo in the sandwich filling as it can become goopy and end up tasting solely of miracle whip dressing. Instead, we use a measuring cup to measure the dressing and add it to the salad. Before mixing it all together, we want to measure and add the Old Bay seasoning and black pepper. Okay, no, go ahead and mix it together so that all the pieces of chicken and celery are coated.

That’s it, folks. It’s super simple and yields delicious results. Use any of your favorite bread to enjoy this as a tasty sandwich!

Ingredients:

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast: This lower-fat cut of meat serves as the main protein, providing a hearty base for the salad. Air frying ensures a crispy texture while keeping the chicken moist, and seasoning with Old Bay and black pepper adds a savory, slightly spicy flavor. 

Celery: This fresh vegetable provides a crunchy texture and a fresh, slightly peppery flavor, refreshingly contrasting the creamy dressing. Additionally, using the celery leaves adds a more intense celery flavor and a touch of floral notes, enhancing the overall taste and adding a bit of greenery to the salad.

​Green Onion: This vegetable offers a mild onion flavor and a bit of sharpness, adding another layer of flavor complexity to the salad.

​Miracle Whip: Acts as a creamy binder for the salad, adding tanginess and a slightly sweet flavor that complements the savory ingredients.

Black Pepper: This contributes a mild heat and earthy flavor that complements the Old Bay seasoning and adds depth to the salad.

​Old Bay Seasoning: This spice mix adds a distinctive, savory flavor to the chicken and the overall salad, enhancing the flavor with its unique combination of spices.

Substitutions And Add-In Suggestions:

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast: For a different texture and flavor, switch up the type of chicken used with rotisserie chicken, grilled chicken thighs, or turkey breast. You can also make this chicken salad using canned chicken for a cheaper lunch. 

Celery: Use diced cucumber, bell pepper, or jicama for a different crunch and flavor profile.

​Green Onion: Substitute with chives, shallots, or red onion for a similar onion flavor.

​Miracle Whip: Replace with mayonnaise if you prefer.

Black Pepper: White pepper will also work if you’re out of black pepper.

​Old Bay Seasoning: Replace with Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper seasoning, or a homemade blend of celery salt, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.

​Expert Tips, Serving And Storing Suggestions For The Chicken Salad.

Tip #1: Cook to Juicy Perfection: Using your meat thermometer to check that the chicken has reached 165°F (74°C) internally guarantees it is fully cooked and safe to eat while preventing overcooking, which can dry the meat. Juicy, perfectly cooked chicken enhances the texture and flavor of your salad.

​Tip #2: Balance the Textures: To achieve the perfect texture, finely chop the celery, celery leaves, and green onions. So that each bite has a balanced mix of crunchy and creamy elements, making the salad more enjoyable.

Tip #3: Let the Flavors Meld: After mixing all the ingredients, cover the salad and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving. This time allows the flavors to meld together, enhancing the overall taste of the salad.

Enjoy your classic chicken salad in a sandwich between toasted whole grain bread or a buttery croissant. For a lighter option, serve it wrapped in crisp lettuce for refreshing lettuce wraps. This classic chicken salad recipe variation is perfect for a quick and satisfying meal prep option.

Store it in an airtight container in your fridge for 3-4 days. Ensure it stays chilled to maintain freshness and food safety. Avoid freezing, as it can alter the salad’s texture upon thawing.

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