Tarragon Chicken Salad Recipe
Creamy, bright, and packed with fresh tarragon, this chicken salad is anything but ordinary. It’s the kind of recipe you make once and crave all week, perfectly balanced with Dijon, lemon, and toasted almonds for just the right crunch. Simple ingredients, big flavor, and ready in minutes… this is the lunch upgrade you didn’t know you needed. Mangia!
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 6 cups cooked chicken diced or shredded (rotisserie, poached breasts, or roasted thighs)
- ¾ cup good-quality mayonnaise
- ¾ cup full-fat Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 ½ teaspoons sea salt plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 ribs celery petite diced
- ½ cup slivered almonds lightly toasted for best flavor
- 6 tablespoons fresh tarragon leaves finely chopped
- For serving optional: Lettuce cups, croissants, whole wheat bread, crackers, or over mixed greens
Instructions
- Prep the chicken: Dice or shred the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. If using rotisserie chicken, remove skin and finely chop for even texture.
- Make the creamy dressing: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until smooth.
- Add texture and flavor: Stir in the diced celery, slivered almonds, and chopped fresh tarragon.
- Fold in the chicken: Add the chicken and gently fold until everything is evenly coated. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed.
- Chill for best flavor: Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. This allows the flavors to marry beautifully. You can also eat it right away!
- Serve: Spoon into lettuce cups, spread on croissants, make a sandwich, or enjoy straight from the bowl.
Notes
Elena's Tips:
- Use a mix of breast and thigh meat for the best flavor and moisture.
- Let the chicken cool completely before mixing so the dressing stays thick.
- Toast the almonds for a deeper, richer flavor.
- Chop the tarragon fresh right before adding for maximum aroma.
- Chill at least 1 hour, then taste and adjust salt or lemon before serving. This is even better the next day!
Nutrition
Serving: 8g | Calories: 388kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 89mg | Sodium: 700mg | Potassium: 493mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 286IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 117mg | Iron: 3mg
