Chicken salad without celery can taste different from regular chicken salad. It can have many flavors and textures. When there’s no celery, other ingredients can stand out and give crunch and flavor.
Chicken Salad Without Celery Ingredients
Cooked Chicken: The main protein in the salad, giving it a filling base.
Red Onion: Adds a sharp and slightly sweet taste.
Red Bell Pepper: Adds crunch and a sweet, tangy flavor.
Parsley: Adds freshness and a subtle herb flavor; dill can be used for a different taste.
Mayonnaise: Makes the salad creamy and binds everything together.
Salt and Pepper: Needed for seasoning to enhance flavors and balance the dish.
Optional
Chopped Pecans: Adds crunch and a nutty taste.
Raisins: Adds sweetness and chewiness.
Dried Cranberries: Offers a sweet-tart flavor and chewy texture.
Chopped Walnuts: Adds more crunch and nuttiness.
Chopped Green Olives: Adds a salty, briny flavor.
Chopped Toasted Walnuts and Red Grapes: Adds nuttiness and sweetness for a unique twist.
Ingredients
- 500g (1 pound) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
- 1/2 medium red onion, finely diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 25g (1 ounce) parsley, chopped (optional; dill is also a good choice)
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional additions: 1/4 cup chopped pecans, 1/4 cup raisins, 1/4 cup dried cranberries, 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, 1/4 cup chopped green olives, or 1/4 cup chopped toasted walnuts and 1/2 cup red grapes
How I Made Chicken Salad Without Celery
First, I cooked up some boneless chicken breasts until fully cooked through. I let them cool slightly before shredding the meat using two forks.
While the chicken was cooking, I prepared the vegetables. I finely diced half a red onion and one red bell pepper. I made sure to cut them into small, uniform pieces.
Next, I washed and chopped about a quarter cup of fresh parsley. The fresh herb would add nice flavor.
After that, I combined the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. I added the shredded chicken, onion, pepper and parsley. Then, I mixed everything together well to distribute it evenly.
Following that, I poured in 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise to bind it all together. I decided to also toss in some toasted walnuts for extra texture and taste.
Then, I seasoned the mixture with salt and black pepper. I added a generous amount at first since I like things quite flavorful.
Once fully combined, I gave it a taste and added a bit more salt. Everything melded together nicely.
Finally, I served up my chicken salad. I enjoyed it on its own at first to really experience the herbs and spices. It was delicious! I may add different ingredients next time, but this simple version was a success.