California Chicken Salad Recipe (4 Ingredients, 10 Minutes)

Name: California Chicken Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion; 2 cups chopped rotisserie chicken (from 1 rotisserie chicken); 1/2 cup creamy Vidalia onion salad dressing (or creamy Italian dressing), divided; 1 large avocado

Every time I visit California I never want to leave. There’s something special about the landscape, the lifestyle, and the beautiful food that steals my heart. How can one place be so stunning, low-key, and delicious all at once?

There are a variety of cultures that create California cuisine, but a chicken salad I once had in a tiny coastal town felt “so California” to me. The restaurant served it with sprouts on the softest whole-grain bread. It was simple, fresh, and incredibly flavorful. It really made an impression—so much so that I’ve been making it at home ever since.

The chicken in the original recipe was tender because it was slow-roasted rotisserie chicken. The crisp red onion and perfectly ripe avocado were freshly chopped just before serving. Finally, the vinaigrette was homemade, a creamy blend of roasted Vidalia onions, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar.

Clever Shortcuts for Making This Chicken Salad

I don’t have all day to make a salad, so I’ve done a few things to simplify while still recreating the recipe I loved so much. First, I buy a rotisserie chicken and remove the meat for chopping.

I also buy prepared Vidalia onion dressing instead of making my own. There are plenty of delicious brands, but Virginia Brand Vidalia Onion Vinaigrette is my favorite.

california chicken salad in a bowl — Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

Tips for Making My California-Style Chicken Salad

Prep the Chicken: If you have time, chop the chicken in advance. This is the most time-consuming part of the recipe, so do it ahead of time if you can. Cut it up to up to a day in advance, cover, and refrigerate.
Add Some Lemon: While the onion is soaking, I sometimes dice the avocado and toss it with a splash of lemon juice, which keeps it from browning and adds a pop of acidity.
Serve It Your Way: I love this salad on soft whole-grain bread or sourdough with lettuce or sprouts, but it’s also delicious stuffed inside a pita. It can be served on a bed of greens or inside lettuce cups, too.
Make It Ahead: This salad can be made up a day in advance. Just leave out the avocado, adding it just before serving.

Chicken Salads Galore

California Chicken Salad

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Total Time 20 mins

Servings 4 to 6 servings

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
2 cups chopped rotisserie chicken (from 1 rotisserie chicken)
1/2 cup creamy Vidalia onion salad dressing (or creamy Italian dressing), divided
1 large avocado

Soak the onion:

Fill a small bowl with ice water and add the sliced red onion. Set aside for a few minutes to mellow its bite.
Prepare the chicken:

Meanwhile, add the chicken to a large mixing bowl and toss with half (1/4 cup) of the dressing.
Combine everything:

Slice or dice the avocado and add to the bowl with the chicken. Drain the onions and add them to the bowl along with the remaining dressing; toss gently to combine. Serve immediately.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
316	Calories
26g	Fat
8g	Carbs
16g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories	316
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 26g	33%
Saturated Fat 5g	23%
Cholesterol 75mg	25%
Sodium 406mg	18%
Total Carbohydrate 8g	3%
Dietary Fiber 5g	17%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 16g
Vitamin C 7mg	36%
Calcium 26mg	2%
Iron 1mg	5%
Potassium 514mg	11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.