Next Day Chicken Salad
Don't you just love leftovers?
Some things are just plain better the next day:
Spaghetti.
Macaroni and Cheese.
Meatloaf (sandwiches of course!).
The list goes on.
So thankfully, with whole chickens, we get to cook once and eat twice!
Not every night has to be gourmet night, because sometimes life just gets crazy busy- a day off is always wonderful. But, you still want to know that you're eating well.
That's where leftover chicken comes in!
A whole chicken is so perfectly versatile, the options are endless for what you can have next, with minimal effort.
Whip up a quick and nutritious meal and take it with you on that fishing trip down state.
Checking out that hip, new shop this Saturday that just opened up?
You don't have to stop mid- shopping and grab a bite at a yucky fast food place
(and we all know the options are a bit limited up here, especially depending on the town and season).
Or my favorite, just take a night “off” mid-week to just “be” after a long day.
Roast it and shred it, pick it clean after another great recipe, it doesn't matter, chicken lends itself to all sorts of quick dishes:
chicken tacos, wraps, egg roll in a bowl, enchiladas, soups, or...
Chicken Salad Sandwiches!
One of my favorite “hot weather sandwiches”!
These quick, fresh, and easy to make sandwiches are filling and a great “grab and go” option for when you want a “meal off”.
Go ahead and serve this simple meal up and get back to relaxing or traveling.
The addition of nuts, grapes, and celery keep things interesting, and you can make it ahead of time so you're all set to get back to your new favorite hobby.
Here's your “night off” recipe…
Next Day Chicken Salad
I list the ingredient amounts in ranges (example: 2-4 cups), to accommodate whatever amount of chicken you have left over from a previous recipe. Roast a whole chicken and shred it, or pick-off whatever is left after you've eaten your fill the day before! Pastured chickens have the best flavor, so keep that in mind: no one wants bland, boring chicken salad!
Ingredients:
2-4 Cups cooked chicken, cut in chunks or shredded
½ – 1 Cup Mayonnaise
1- 2 Tablespoons good quality mustard
½ – 1 Cup Red Apple, diced
½ – 1 Cup Red Grapes, halved or quartered
½ – 1 Cup Pecans, roasted in the oven for a couple of minutes if desired
1-2 Stalks of Celery, chopped
½ – 1 Tablespoon Fresh Parsley, chopped (optional)
½ – 1 Teaspoon each Salt and Pepper, or to taste
Note: Feel free to substitute for whatever ingredients you have on hand! Instead of red apples, use green if that's what you've got. Green grapes for the red, walnuts or almonds for the pecans. This is supposed to be versatile and easy to throw together and just take along!
Steps:
1. Place the mayonnaise, mustard, parsley, and salt and pepper in a bowl and mix well, adding more salt and pepper or mustard until to your liking.
2. Stir in the rest of the ingredients (chicken, pecans, grapes, apples, and celery)
3. Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour and serve on a toasted sourdough bagel, buttery croissant, or on a bed of greens if desired.
4. Share and enjoy with your best friend while you're out and about on your next great adventure.