Chicken Salad Sandwiches
These homemade Chicken Salad Sandwiches are just awesome! I shred the chicken in my food processor. Then I add diced red bell pepper (never green), a little diced red onion, and celery. After that I mix it with sweet pickle relish and Miracle Whip. (Mayonnaise is more bland and isn’t nearly as tasty). Then I load the chicken salad into pita pockets and garnish them with mild salad pepper rings or pepperocinis. The outcome is spectacular.
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The idea for the pita pockets and salad pepper rings came from Monte’s Deli in Northborough, Massachuetts. We lived and worked nearby in the 1990s. Monte’s used to make their Chicken Salad Sandwiches this way. We adopted it in our own homemade chicken salad recipe. Chicken Salad is spectacular served this way. The mild salad pepper rings add the necessary zip and zest to this recipe to take it from good to sensational.
I started making this chicken salad recipe for catering events during the 1990s. It has been a hit wherever and to whomever I’ve served it. It just rocks! It has delicious crunch from the celery, bell pepper and salad pepper rings, and wonderful texture from the chicken.
Here are a few suggestions for success with this recipe. First of all, mayonnaise really doesn’t work as well as Miracle Whip. Miracle Whip has a lot more seasonings to bump up the flavor and the texture is smoother for this recipe. Don’t add so much Miracle Whip to the recipe that the chicken salad starts getting goopy. It needs to stick together well.
Really large boneless chicken breasts may need more Miracle Whip to get the recipe to mix well. In that case, go ahead and add more. You don’t have to be locked in to a 1/2 or 1 cup amount. I always eyeball this rather than measure exactly. Just try not to keep scooping Miracle Whip into the chicken mixture and add too much. Unless you want chicken salad oozing out of the sandwiches it needs to have body by NOT adding too much Miracle Whip!
Also, unless you just despise mild salad pepper rings, this chicken salad really tastes better with them rather than without. They not only add crunch but they also add a tasty zip that helps the chicken salad not be bland tasting. I’ve also used sliced pepperocinis to great effect.
While we have served this spread on sandwich bread, we’ve found it serves better in pita pockets, wraps, or on croissants. Another key is shredding the chicken in the food processor. You just can’t get the meat cut down small enough otherwise. This recipe doesn’t work well with the chicken in big chunks.
If you’re looking for a fantastic Chicken Salad Sandwich recipe, then I unreservedly recommend this recipe. It’s the BEST I’ve eaten and I’ve tried lots of chicken salad recipes. This is a great sandwich recipe for a tailgating party, baby showers or special occasion brunches. It’s also terrific to take on a picnic or for potlucks. It’s wonderful, sumptuous, A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!
Chicken Salad Sandwiches are awesome!
This close up shows the texture of Chicken Salad Sandwiches. I served these Chicken Salad “Sandwiches” in pita pockets garnished with sliced pepperocinis because I ran out of salad pepper rings.
These sandwiches are sensational. Everyone who’s ever sampled our recipe just loves this version of Chicken Salad Sandwiches.
Here’s what I did.
Cook off four boneless chicken breasts. Shred the meat in a food processor. You really need to shred the chicken very fine for this recipe to work well.
Add celery, bell pepper, red onion, sweet pickle relish, salt, pepper, and sugar.
Add Miracle Whip. Start with about a half cup then add more as necessary.
Stir to combine.
To serve: Spread Chicken Salad in wraps, pita pockets, croissants, or sandwich bread and garnish with mild pepper rings.
Except for the chunks of celery, onion and bell pepper the rest of the chicken salad is smooth because the chicken is finely shredded. We love Chicken Salad served this way. The salad pepper rings add so much zest to the recipe.
Chicken Salad Sandwiches are spectacular for tailgating parties especially with the Superbowl coming up. Guys have always liked this recipe.
Here’s the recipe.
CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICHES
(My own concoction)
Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Equipment
- 1 food processor
- 1 sharp knife to cut vegetables
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 wooden spoon
- measuring spoons
- measuring cups
Ingredients
- 4 cups chicken cooked and shredded
- 1/2 red bell pepper diced
- 1/4 cup red onion diced
- 2 ribs celery diced
- 1/3 cup sweet pickle relish
- 1 tsp. Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp. granulated sugar
- 1/2 to 1 cup miracle whip
- 1/2 cup mild salad pepper rings drained and patted dry
Instructions
- Put cooked meat in food processor and shred.
- Pour into mixing bowl.
- Mix with red pepper, onion, celery, relish, salt and pepper and sugar.
- Stir in Miracle Whip – start with about ½ cup and add until mixed well.
- Don’t put too much or it won’t stick together well.
- Spread on sandwich bread and top with salad pepper rings for a delicious sandwich.
- Also good stuffed in pita pockets, wraps or croissants with salad pepper rings.
Notes
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen
Nutrition
- 1 whole chicken, cooked and deboned or 4-6 boneless, skinless breasts, cooked
- ½ red pepper, diced
- ¼ cup diced red onion
- 2 ribs celery, diced
- 1/3 cup sweet pickle relish
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 to 1 cup Miracle Whip
- salad pepper rings
- Put cooked meat in food processor and shred.
- Pour into mixing bowl.
- Mix with red pepper, onion, celery, relish, salt and pepper and sugar.
- Stir in Miracle Whip – start with about ½ cup and add until mixed well.
- Don’t put too much or it won’t stick together well.
- Spread on sandwich bread and top with salad pepper rings for a delicious sandwich.
- Also good stuffed in pita pockets or croissants with salad pepper rings.
Don’t Chicken Salad Sandwiches in pita pockets look terrific? I have a hard time stopping at just one!
Chicken Salad Sandwiches are great for picnics and potlucks.
These sandwiches are so sumptuous and mouthwatering!
You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!
Healthy Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Guacamole and Swiss Cheese Sandwiches
Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Equipment
- 1 food processor
- 1 sharp knife to cut vegetables
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 wooden spoon
- measuring spoons
- measuring cups
Ingredients
- 4 cups chicken cooked and shredded
- 1/2 red bell pepper diced
- 1/4 cup red onion diced
- 2 ribs celery diced
- 1/3 cup sweet pickle relish
- 1 tsp. Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp. granulated sugar
- 1/2 to 1 cup miracle whip
- 1/2 cup mild salad pepper rings drained and patted dry
Instructions
- Put cooked meat in food processor and shred.
- Pour into mixing bowl.
- Mix with red pepper, onion, celery, relish, salt and pepper and sugar.
- Stir in Miracle Whip – start with about ½ cup and add until mixed well.
- Don’t put too much or it won’t stick together well.
- Spread on sandwich bread and top with salad pepper rings for a delicious sandwich.
- Also good stuffed in pita pockets, wraps or croissants with salad pepper rings.