Learn everything you need to know about how to make smoked chicken salad!
Whether you’ve got a gas or charcoal grill, a Traeger or Pit Boss pellet grill, or even a Masterbuilt electric smoker, we’ve got you covered!
Why Smoked Chicken Salad?
Just like we showed you with our delicious smoked egg salad, smoked chicken salad is a great way to take a very conventional recipe to the next level.
It’s also a great way to make something delicious from your leftover smoked chicken.
Whether you are preparing smoked chicken salad by itself as a low carb meal or making it into sandwiches, there is no doubt you’ll love the taste of smoked chicken salad.
First, check out any one of our complete recipes for Smoked Chicken below, and then come on back we’ll show you how we turn it into smoked chicken salad!
You can use meat from a whole chicken, chicken breasts, thighs, or even legs and quarters. It’s up to you and any option will be delicious.
Pit Boss
- Pit Boss Smoked Whole Chicken
- Pit Boss Smoked Chicken Thighs
- Pit Boss Smoked Chicken Breasts
- Pit Boss Smoked Chicken Legs
Traeger
- Traeger Smoked Whole Chicken
- Traeger Smoked Chicken Thighs
- Traeger Smoked Chicken Breasts
- Traeger Smoked Chicken Legs
Other
- Smoked Whole Chicken in Masterbuilt Electric Smoker
- Smoked Chicken Leg Quarters
- Spatchcocked Chicken on a Pellet Grill
- Beer Can Chicken on a Pellet Grill
How to Make Smoked Chicken Salad
Once you have your smoked chicken, either the leftovers or straight from the smoker, shred it up using two forks or a pair of bear claws like we use for our pulled pork.
You can then gather your other ingredients to make smoked chicken salad.
- Meat Shredder Claws - Durable meat shredder claws never melt or bent. Shredding claws are the answer to perfectly shredded meat without the mess and headache of knives and forks.
- Easy TO Use - Lift, handle, shred, pull, and carve to your heartês content. Excellent as turkey lifters! Our unique design gives you a perfect handhold for safely managing the shredding claws.
Here’s What You Will Need:
- 2 and 1/2 cups Shredded Smoked Chicken
- 1/4 cup Sour Cream
- 1/4 cup Mayonnaise
- 1 medium stalk Celery, chopped
- 1/4 tsp Dijon (up to 1 tsp)
- Red Seedless Grapes (halved)
- Fresh Dill
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Pepper
Then mix all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl!
The Best BBQ Rubs for Smoked Chicken Salad
Now, why not finish your smoked chicken salad with a great BBQ rub?
Two of our favorites are Blues Hog BBQ Rub and Three Little Pigs Kansas City Championship BBQ Seasoning.
Blues Hog is a little more sweet than salty and looks just like paprika but will give your smoked chicken salad an extra hit of color and smokey BBQ goodness.
Three Little Pigs is a little more golden in color and has more savory spices of salt, garlic, and onion, so a little goes a long way, especially if you already added a lot of salt to your smoked chicken salad..
You can it incorporate into the smoked chicken salad or just sprinkle on top at the end for a little color and extra flavor!
Best Ways to Serve Smoked Chicken Salad
Scoop individual portions of your smoked chicken salad onto a Bibb lettuce leaf with crackers and a pickle for a classic low carb meal presentation ala the Chicken Salad Chick.
Or put it onto sandwich bread for a delicious smoked chicken salad sandwich.
Try sourdough or a buttery croissant for an EXTRA special treat!
What Other Foods Can I Smoke?
Looking for some more smoky inspiration?
You’ve come to right place!
Check out these other great step by step recipes for your grill, smoker, or pellet grill.
Pork
- Traeger Baby Back Ribs
- Traeger Smoked Pulled Pork
- Traeger 3-2-1 Pork Ribs
- Traeger Smoked Pork Loin
- Traeger Smoked Pork Spare Ribs
- Pit Boss Pulled Pork
- Pit Boss Smoked Baby Back Ribs
- Pit Boss Smoked Pork Loin
- Pit Boss 3-2-1 Ribs
- Camp Chef Pulled Pork
- Masterbuilt Electric Smoker Boston Butt
- Masterbuilt Baby Back Ribs
- Pellet Grill Smoked Pork Chops
- Pellet Grilled Bratwurst
- Gas Grilled Bratwurst
- Smoked Fresh Holiday Ham
- Spiral Sliced Smoked Hot Dogs
- Smoked Bratwurst with Beer Braised Onions
- Roasted Pig in Your Backyard
Beef
- Traeger Smoked Prime Rib
- Traeger Beef Tenderloin with Horseradish Cream
- Traeger Smoked Beef Brisket
- Traeger Smoked Chuck Roast
- Traeger Smoked Pot Roast
- Traeger Smoked Beef Short Ribs
- Pit Boss Beef Brisket
- Pit Boss Smoked Beef Tenderloin
- Pit Boss Smoked Prime Rib
- Pit Boss Smoked Chuck Roast
- Pit Boss Smoked Beef Ribs
- Pit Boss Smoked Tri-Tip Roast
- Pit Boss Grilled Hamburgers
- Camp Chef Smoked Beef Brisket
- Masterbuilt Smoked Chuck Roast
- Masterbuilt Beef Brisket
- Perfect Smoked London Broil
- Smoked Ribeye Roast
- Smoked Corned Beef
- Smoked Ribeye Steaks
- Smoked Filet Mignon
- Hot and Fast Pellet Grill Beef Brisket
- Pellet Grilled Steak
- Perfect Grilled Hamburgers
- Smoked Eye of Round Roast Beef
- Easy Smoked Flank Steak
- Smoked Tomahawk Steaks
- Smoked Bottom Round Roast
- Smoked Sirloin Tip Roast
- Smoked Rump Roast
Seafood
- Pit Boss Smoked Salmon
- Traeger Smoked Salmon
- Honey Smoked Salmon
- Smoked Oysters in a Garlic White Wine Sauce
- Smoked Scallops with Lemon Butter Sauce
- Smoked Lobster Tails
- Easy Smoked Tilapia
- Perfect Smoked Halibut
- Smoked Mahi Mahi Fillets
- Smoked Swordfish Steaks
- Smoked Crab Legs with Cajun Clarified Butter
- Smoked Mackerel with Maple Balsamic Glaze
- Smoked Catfish with Cajun BBQ Rub
- Smoked Red Snapper with Blackening Rub
- Smoked Trout
- Smoked Tuna Steaks
Poultry
- Pit Boss Smoked Whole Chicken
- Pit Boss Smoked Chicken Thighs
- Pit Boss Smoked Chicken Breasts
- Pit Boss Smoked Chicken Legs
- Pit Boss Smoked Chicken Wings
- Traeger Smoked Whole Chicken
- Traeger Smoked Chicken Thighs
- Traeger Smoked Chicken Breasts
- Traeger Smoked Chicken Legs
- Traeger Smoked Chicken Wings
- Smoked Whole Chicken in Masterbuilt Electric Smoker
- Smoked Turkey in a Masterbuilt Electric Smoker
- Smoked Chicken Leg Quarters
- Beer Can Chicken on a Pellet Grill
- Spatchcocked Chicken on a Pellet Grill
- Pellet Grill Smoked Turkey Breast
- Pellet Grill Turkey
- Easy Smoked Turkey Legs
- Spatchcock Smoked Turkey on a Pellet Grill
- Trash Can Turkey – OK, technically not made on a grill or smoker but one of the most fun ways there is to cook a Turkey…at over 700 degrees in only 2 hours!
Lamb
- Smoked Leg of Lamb with Guinness Marinade
- Smoked Lamb Chops with a Balsamic Butter Sauce
- Smoked Rack of Lamb with Garlic and Rosemary or Smoker
- Smoked and Pulled Lamb Shoulder with a Turkish Spice Rub
- Smoked Lamb Shanks
Sides and Desserts
- Pit Boss Corn on the Cob
- Pit Boss Smoked Mac and Cheese
- Pit Boss Smoked Baked Beans
- Smoked Potato Salad
- Smoked Baked Potatoes
- Smoked Twice Baked Potatoes
- Smoked Asparagus
- Easy Smoked Broccoli
- Smoked Cauliflower
- Sticky Smoked Sweet Potatoes
- Smoked Pineapple in a Maple Bourbon Sauce
- Smoked Carrots with a Honey Balsamic Glaze
Smoked Chicken Salad
Equipment
- 2 Forks or Meat Shredding Claws to shred smoked chicken
- 1 Spoon
- 1 Large Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 2.5 cups Smoked Chicken shredded, see recipe links in Notes section below
- 1/4 cup Sour Cream
- 1/4 cup Mayonnaise
- 1 medium stalk Celery chopped
- 1/4 tsp Dijon Mustard up to 1 tsp
- Red Seedless Grapes halved
- Fresh Dill
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Pepper
- Sprinkle of Smoked Paprika or your favorite BBQ rub
- Bibb Lettuce optional for low carb presentation
- Sandwich Bread or Croissants optional for smoked chicken salad sandwiches
Instructions
- Smoke the chicken on any grill or smoker as described in the recipe links below. Let cool for at least 20 minutes before shredding to help retain juices.2.5 cups Smoked Chicken
- Shred the smoked chicken using two forces pulling in opposite directions, or use a pair of bear claws.
- Add all the other ingredients to a bowl and mix together well.1/4 cup Sour Cream, 1/4 cup Mayonnaise, 1 medium stalk Celery, 1/4 tsp Dijon Mustard, Red Seedless Grapes, Fresh Dill, 1/4 tsp Salt, 1/4 tsp Pepper
- Add the shredded chicken and mix to incorporate with the other ingredients.
- Add more salt and pepper to taste OR your favorite BBQ rub seasoning.Sprinkle of Smoked Paprika or your favorite BBQ rub
- Scoop individual portions of your smoked chicken salad onto a Bibb lettuce leaf for a classic low carb meal presentation. Or put it onto sandwich bread or a croissant for a delicious smoked chicken salad sandwich.Bibb Lettuce , Sandwich Bread or Croissants
- Top with extra BBQ rub and chopped parsley (optional) for a more colorful presentation.Sprinkle of Smoked Paprika or your favorite BBQ rub
