Waldorf Chicken Salad is a lovely update to the original New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel’s recipe for Waldorf Salad combining Duke’s mayonnaise, Greek Plain yogurt, lemon juice, diced chicken breast, Honeycrisp apples, seedless sliced Globe grapes, celery, fresh sweet basil, toasted walnuts, and simply seasoned with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.
There’s nothing like an update to a wonderful vintage recipe, today I have chosen to slightly change the Historic Waldorf Salad by adding chicken and a few other delicious ingredients, such as chicken, yogurt, and fresh basil.
This lovely vintage Waldorf salad was created at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in 1896 by the maître d’hôtel, Oscar Tschirky, the Waldorf salad was an instant success. The original version of this salad contained only apples, celery, and mayonnaise. The chopped walnuts would later become another key ingredient added to the already delicious salad.
The Holidays are right around the corner and this makes a stunning side dish, it’s super simple to make and the ingredients are readily available even in the winter months at the local markets. I love making this for an appetizer for family and friends to munch on while waiting for Christmas dinner to finish. It’s perfect served with our favorite crackers or even crusty bread.
There’s nothing like a modernized update to a wonderful vintage recipe, today I have chosen to slightly change the Historic Waldorf Salad by adding chicken and a few other delicious ingredients, such as chicken, yogurt, and fresh basil to give it an amazing flavor.
Ingredients needed for Waldorf Chicken Salad
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1/4 cup Dukes mayonnaise
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2/3 cup Greek plain yogurt
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juice of 1 lemon
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3 cooked chicken breasts, diced
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1 large Honeycrisp apple, diced
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1 cup sliced seedless Globe grapes
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1 cup sliced celery
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3 tablespoons of chopped fresh sweet basil
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1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
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kosher salt, to taste
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freshly ground pepper, to taste
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chopped flat-leaf parsley for garnish, optional

Waldorf Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Dukes mayonnaise
- ⅔ cup Greek plain yogurt
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 3-6- ounce cooked chicken breasts diced
- 1 large Honeycrisp apple diced
- 1 cup Sliced seedless Globe grapes
- 1 cup Sliced celery
- 3 tablespoons Chopped fresh sweet basil
- ½ cup Chopped walnuts toasted
- Kosher salt to taste
- Freshly ground pepper to taste
- Flat-leaf parsley for garnish optional
Instructions
- In a large glass bowl combine 1/4 of a cup of Duke’s mayonnaise, 2/3 cup of Greek plain yogurt, and the juice of 1 lemon.
- Dice 3 chicken breasts and add to the glass bowl. Gently combine chicken with mayo, yogurt, and lemon juice.
- Add diced Honeycrisp apple, 1 cup of sliced seedless Globe grapes, 1 cup of sliced celery, 1/2 of a cup of toasted walnuts, kosher salt, and fresh ground pepper and gently combine all ingredients.
- Garnish with chopped flat-leafed parsley if desired.
- Serve on bagels, or bread of choice.
Notes
Nutrition
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15 Comments
CONNIE BROWN
August 24, 2018 at 11:04 amHands down delicious!
pattyanderson54
April 15, 2015 at 7:36 amWhat a beautiful job on a classic salad!
Heidy L. McCallum
April 15, 2015 at 11:54 amThanks so much Patty, one if my all-time favorites!
Joanne T Ferguson
April 15, 2015 at 6:22 amLooks delicious Heidy and from someone from New York who is familiar with this salad +++
Heidy L. McCallum
April 15, 2015 at 11:55 amThanks Joanne, that chicken really makes it filling too.
homemadefoodjunkie
April 15, 2015 at 2:50 amI’m a big fan of Waldorf salad. This is a beaut! Love the greek yogurt addition!
Heidy L. McCallum
April 15, 2015 at 11:55 amThanks Diane, I’m wishing I had more for my work lunch…lol
Culinary Flavors
April 15, 2015 at 12:16 amWhile studying in the States I had the chance to stay at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel but I didn’t try the salad. It was years after I did and I loved it! This is one fine salad Heidy!
Heidy L. McCallum
April 15, 2015 at 11:56 amThanks so much Katerina, it’s a beautiful hotel.
Erica (@Erica's Recipes)
April 14, 2015 at 1:28 pmBeautiful salad! Wish I had this for lunch!
Heidy L. McCallum
April 14, 2015 at 4:54 pmThanks, Erica, any time you’re in the Florida area you are always welcome for lunch!
peter @feedyoursoultoo
April 14, 2015 at 1:27 pmSeems to be salad week for you and you made another awesome salad.
Heidy L. McCallum
April 14, 2015 at 4:53 pmFlorida weather, always is the perfect salad weather. Of course, I’m going to rock salads hard lol! Thanks so much Peter.
KC Kahn the Kitchen Chopper
April 13, 2015 at 6:00 pmYour version of Waldorf Chicken sounds much healthier than the heavy original. YUM.
Heidy L. McCallum
April 13, 2015 at 7:26 pmI love my chicken salads a little too much for all that mayo KC, it’s one of my favorite lunch items when I am eating meats.