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Chicken Salad With Pineapple and Grapes

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This pineapple chicken salad is the perfect mix of sweet and savory, creamy and crunchy. The addition of fruit and the simple dressing bring it all together to make a versatile and delicious sandwich filling, cracker topper and more.

Pineapple chicken salad sandwich with lettuce ready to eat with bowl of more fruited chicken salad behind it.

Chicken salad is made even more delicious with the addition of grapes and pineapple. This fabulous recipe comes together easily and can be made ahead.

It’s perfect for picnics, wonderful for a weekend lunch or serve it as a fun entrée at parties. It has that fresh and light flavor that will have you coming back for more.

If you have ever attended and baby or bridal shower in the vicinity of my hometown, you are likely to have had this recipe. It is a fabulous make ahead option for a luncheon.

In fact an old family friend shared the recipe with my mom several years ago. My mom was planning a shower and this chicken salad instantly came to mind.

bowl of nuts, fruit, celery and dressing for chicken salad.

For showers it is great served on a Hawaiian roll. Make up a whole platter of little sandwiches so people can grab one or two and go.

But you don’t have to wait for a party to make some. In fact, I highly recommend this recipe becomes a part of your regular rotation all spring and summer long.

Serving Suggestions

As I mentioned above, we like serving it on rolls in the form of little sliders for parties. Hawaiian rolls are a fabulous way to accentuate the pineapple.

However standard cocktail rolls or slider buns from the bakery will be perfect.  Make a whole stack of sandwiches, some with lettuce and some without, and everyone can just grab what they want.

Sandwich with pineapple chicken salad with grapes and lettuce.

If you want a bigger sandwich, grab your favorite bread. A good hearty wheat or homestyle white is great.

A loaf of cottage bread makes for good sandwiches. Of course a croissant is a fabulous option as well!

For a fabulous wrap, grab your favorite flatbread or tortilla. Layer in some leaf lettuce, pile it with chicken salad and roll it up.

For an even fresher low cal style, serve it diner style on a plate of greens. Place a scoop of fruited chicken salad in the center and dig in.

bowl of chicken salad with grapes, celery and pineapple in background.

You can also serve it as an appetizer. Just put out a bowl of chicken salad and an assortment of crackers. People will keep going back for more of the sweet and salty combo.

You could even turn it into a pasta salad. It would be very similar to chicken poppy seed pasta salad.

Storing Homemade Chicken Salad

You can whip up a batch and make a sandwich right away, or you can make it ahead.  Just remember the fruit will give off some liquid as it sits, so make the dressing a little tighter than you normally would if you make it ahead.

Bowl of fruited chicken salad with sandwich and remaining ingredients in the background.

For the freshest look and taste, make the chicken salad a couple of hours ahead. Store it in the refrigerator and make the sandwiches just before serving.

More Tasty Sandwich Fillings

If you are looking for more fun sandwich style salads, I have recipes for you! Deviled ham and egg salad is perfect for using up Easter leftovers, but you could really have it any time.
 
Another great twist on egg salad uses avocado instead of mayonnaise.  That was one of Little Dude’s absolute favorite meals when he was little.

What are your favorite sandwich salad recipes? Tell me all about them in the comments or on social media.

Pineapple chicken salad sandwich with lettuce ready to eat with bowl of more fruited chicken salad behind it.

Pineapple Chicken Salad With Grapes

Carlee
This chicken salad is the perfect mix of sweet and savory, creamy and crunchy. The addition of fruit and the simple dressing bring it all together to make a versatile and delicious sandwich filling, cracker topper and more.
4.93 from 26 ratings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Dinners, Lunch
Cuisine American
Servings 12 Servings
Calories 158 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 6 chicken breasts cooked
  • 2 stalks celery
  • 8 ounce can crushed pineapple
  • 1 cup seedless grapes
  • ½ cup pecan pieces
  • ½ cup Miracle Whip
  • 1 teaspoon sugar

Instructions
 

  • Cut the cooked and cooled chicken breasts into small cubes. 
    6 chicken breasts
  • Drain the pineapple, but save the liquid.
    8 ounce can crushed pineapple
  • Thinly slice the celery and halve or quarter the grapes depending on the size of the grapes.
    2 stalks celery, 1 cup seedless grapes
  • Thin the Miracle Whip with a teaspoon or two of the pineapple juice and add the sugar.  Add the chicken, celery, pecans and drained pineapple.  
    ½ cup Miracle Whip, 1 teaspoon sugar, ½ cup pecan pieces
  • Add more pineapple juice if needed to thin it out. 
  • Adjust your salt and pepper (the amount you need will depend on how you seasoned your chicken breasts and your taste.)
  • Chill until ready to serve. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 158kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 19gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 52mgSodium: 134mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6g
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Recipe Rating




Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies

Thursday 12th of March 2020

What an amazing recipe! Looking forward to trying it!

Carlee

Thursday 19th of March 2020

I hope you love it! It will be perfect for the warmer days ahead.

Stacey English

Monday 9th of March 2020

I can't wait to try this recipe. It sounds delicious! I am always on the lookout for a good chicken salad recipe. I think I might add chopped pecans too. Thanks!

Stacey English

Monday 9th of March 2020

I can't wait to try this recipe. It sounds really delicious! I am always on the lookout for another good chicken salad! I think I might add chopped pecans to this also. Thanks!

Carlee

Thursday 19th of March 2020

That will be perfect! Thank you, Stacey!

Denise

Saturday 7th of March 2020

I am one of those mayo-haters. I wish I could eat it but absolutely cannot stand the taste or smell. I have made homemade mayo and still just cannot eat it. I want so badly to try this recipe and saw your recipe for the avocado egg salad. Would substituting avocado for the mayo in this recipe work??? And do you think the pineapple would keep it from browning? Would Greek yogurt change the flavor too much???

Carlee

Thursday 19th of March 2020

It would be interesting to give that a go. I would think the pineapple would help keep it from browning for a bit anyway, but likely it would have a short shelf life. Greek yogurt would we wonderful. Or half greek yogurt and half avocado?! Please let me know what you end up trying and how it goes.

Amy

Monday 24th of February 2020

Yes, please!!! This chicken salad looks so good and I tell you that in a couple of hours from now, I will be craving that sandwich just from looking at your picture!

Carlee

Monday 2nd of March 2020

Give in to the craving!