Neiman Marcus Chicken Salad
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This copycat recipe of the famous Neiman Marcus Chicken Salad is absolutely amazing with savory chunks of chicken, crunchy celery, and chopped nuts that’s mixed into a mouthwatering creamy dressing. If you’re looking for a super easy and delicious classic chicken salad recipe, you’re going to love this one!
Copycat Neiman Marcus Salad
Delicious chicken salad is always hit, especially during warm summer months. It’s a simple and scrumptious lunch or easy dinner that can be ready in minutes with minimal prep work. And one of the best parts of this recipe is it’s a naturally low carb keto friendly recipe making it a great option for everyone in the family, even those on low-carb diets.
The original recipe for this chicken salad was created by a lady named Helen Corbitt, a famed Texas chef and popular cookbook author. In the 1950s, while working as the Director of Food Services for Neiman Marcus, Helen came up with this recipe and it soon became one the most popular recipes on their menu and stayed that way for decades.
Luckily, you don’t have to wait until your next shopping trip to Neiman Marcus to enjoy this delicious chicken salad because with just a few simple ingredients you can make it right in your own kitchen. If you love this recipe, you should also check out this recipe for this Chinese Chicken Salad!
Why We Love This Recipe:
- This salad has the most amazing texture with crunchy almonds, crispy celery, and the creamy dressing.
- Perfect make ahead dish, great way to meal prep for the week.
- This rich chicken salad uses just a handful of simple ingredients that when combined create a wonderful flavor combination.
What’s Needed for Classic Neiman Marcus Chicken Salad
- Chicken breasts, cubed
- Celery-diced
- Grapes (seedless) – we used red and purple grapes
- White vinegar
- Toasted almonds
- Fresh parsley flakes
- Mayonnaise
- Heavy whipping cream
- Kosher salt and Black pepper
How to Make this Homemade Chicken Salad
Step One: Prepare the ingredients
- Cut chicken into 2-inch cubes. Dice celery and slice grapes into halves.
- In large mixing bowl add the chunks of chicken breast, the cup celery, grapes, vinegar, almonds, parsley and the cup mayonnaise, and parsley. Stir to combine.
Step Two: Prepare the dressing
- In medium-sized mixing bowl pour in cold heaving whipping cream and whip using hand mixer until soft peaks form.
- Combine chicken with whipped cream gently folding in until combined.
Step Three: Chill and serve
- Place the chicken salad in an airtight container until ready to serve. Add additional sliced almonds to the top for garnish and added crunch
Tips to the Perfect Classic Neiman Marcus Chicken Salad Recipe
While there are variations of this copycat recipe, if you’re wanting the taste and texture of the salad that most closely resembles that from Neiman Marcus department stores, here are just a few tips to keep in mind:
- Use white meat chicken only. Dark meat has a different texture and doesn’t work in this recipe.
- Use real mayo and not salad dressing, light mayonnaise, sandwich spread or Miracle Whip. They are too sweet.
- You can use roasted or boiled chicken breast, but you’ll want chunks, not shredded chicken.
- Lightly toast the sliced almonds. This really brings out the natural oil and flavor in nuts.
- Be sure and whip the heavy cream before adding it to the chicken salad. This helps give the dressing a nice and creamy texture.
How Do I Serve Chicken Salad?
- To keep things on the lighter side, you can serve a scoop of chicken salad in a lettuce cup or in a lettuce wrap for a really quick lunch or dinner.
- Serve it with a simple side of fresh fruit or a serving of this Honey Lime Rainbow Fruit Salad.
- For a very tasty sandwich, you can serve it on toasted whole wheat or multigrain bread or a rich and flakey croissant roll.
- Make a hearty appetizer by serving mini-chicken salad sandwiches on these Texas Roadhouse Rolls.
- Chicken salad isn’t just for warmer months. Take soup and salad to a whole new level with a bowl of Chicken Tortilla Soup or Broccoli Cheese Soup.
Are There Variations to This Neiman Marcus Recipe?
Just like any other copycat recipe, it’s always fun to make a different version by adding your own twist. Here are some popular choices.
Fruit: Add in 1/2 cup raisins, or chopped apples.
Nuts: Change up the nuts and use toasted pecans or walnuts. You can even use pine nuts or sunflower seeds for a great change.
Chicken: Though chunked chicken is preferred; you can use shredded rotisserie chicken for a short cut.
Tuna: There is also a Neiman Marcus Tuna Salad recipe. All you have to do it use 2 cups of tuna in the place of the chicken.
Veggies: If wanted to substitute the celery, you could use bell pepper or water chestnuts instead.
Want More Easy Salad Recipes
Neiman Marcus Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups cooked chicken cubed
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 cup sliced or halved purple grapes seedless – use red and purple grapes
- 1 dash white vinegar
- 1/2 cup sliced toasted almonds
- 1 Tbsp. parsley flakes
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 1 tsp. pepper
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- In large mixing bowl combine chicken, celery, grapes, vinegar, almonds, mayonnaise, salt, pepper and parsley. Stir to combine.2 1/2 cups cooked chicken, 1 cup chopped celery, 1 cup sliced or halved purple grapes, 1 dash white vinegar, 1/2 cup sliced toasted almonds, 1 Tbsp. parsley flakes, 1 cup mayonnaise, 1 tsp. Salt, 1 tsp. pepper
- In medium-sized mixing bowl pour in cold heaving whipping cream and whip using hand mixer until soft peaks form.1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- Gently fold in whipped cream into chicken mixture until combined.
- Chill until ready to serve.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Telling people to not use certain things is not okay. We all have our preferences, I don’t like white meat chicken I always use dark, white is dry. As to miracle whip I like it and would probably use it because it has a bite to it. You use what you like and I will do the same. Each to their own.
I totally agree — everyone has different tastes, and it’s great to adapt recipes to what you enjoy. My version is based on the original Neiman Marcus chicken salad and tested using specific ingredients to get the best results. Swapping in things like dark meat or Miracle Whip will definitely change the flavor and texture, which is totally fine if that’s what you prefer. My goal is to always give a reliable starting point, and I always love when readers make a recipe their own while understanding those changes may lead to a different outcome.