Best 18 Italian Chicken Salad Recipes

ITALIAN CHICKEN PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until al dente, according to the package directions. Drain in a colander, rinse with cold water and shake until very dry. Transfer the pasta to a large mixing bowl, drizzle 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over it and toss well to coat.
• Add the chicken, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, peppers, salami, onions and parsley. Season with salt and toss well to combine.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar and remaining 1/2 cup olive oil; pour it over the salad and toss well. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. For best flavor, let the salad stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving.

ITALIAN CHICKEN SALAD IN LETTUCE CUPS

Steps:

• Toss the chicken, bell peppers, onion, parsley, almonds, and capers in a large bowl with enough vinaigrette to moisten. Season the chicken salad with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Arrange 1 large lettuce cup and 1 small lettuce cup on each plate, overlapping slightly. Spoon the chicken salad into the lettuce cups. Drizzle more vinaigrette over the salads. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve.
• Do-Ahead Tip: The chicken salad can be prepared 4 hours ahead and refrigerated. Just before serving, spoon the salad into the lettuce cups.
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 2 teaspoons salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup olive oil
• Combine the vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a blender. With the machine running, gradually add the oil and blend until emulsified.
• Yield: 1 3/4 cups

ITALIAN CHOPPED SALAD WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook pancetta over medium heat until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels., In a small bowl, whisk dressing ingredients. In a large bowl, combine salad ingredients; sprinkle with pancetta. Drizzle with dressing; toss to coat.

ITALIAN BLT CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl whisk together mustard and vinegar. Whisk in the olive oil. Stir in the basil and season with salt and pepper. Stir in chopped chicken, tomatoes, bacon and arugula and mix to combine. Assemble chicken salad on thick slices of Tuscan or Italian bread.

ITALIAN CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Make croutons:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F.
• Toss bread cubes with oil and salt in a large shallow baking pan and spread in 1 layer. Bake, turning over once, until golden and crisp, about 8 minutes. Cool in pan on a rack.
• Make vinaigrette and begin preparing salad while croutons bake:
• Whisk together all vinaigrette ingredients except oil in a small bowl until combined. Add oil in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified.
• Toss chicken and bocconcini together with 1/4 cup vinaigrette in a bowl and let stand 10 minutes to allow flavors to develop.
• Make salad:
• Toss together romaine, red peppers, olives, chicken and bocconcini mixture, croutons, and remaining vinaigrette in a large bowl until combined.

ITALIAN CHICKEN-PESTO PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water until al dente (do not overcook the pasta; drain in a colander then rinse well under cold water.
• Drain the pasta well in the colander.
• Place the pasta in a large bowl then toss with 2-3 tablespoons oil.
• Add in chopped tomatoes and cooked cubed chicken; toss to coat.
• For the dressing; in a processor puree the prepared pesto with the spinach and lemon juice.
• Add in the mayonnaise and pulse until blended.
• Add the mayo mixture to the pasta mixture; toss to combine.
• Mix in the Parmesan cheese then season with salt and pepper.

ITALIAN CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• DRESSING: Combine all dressing ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk.
• SALAD: Combine chicken and remaining ingredients in a large bowl.
• Pour dressing over salad, and toss gently to combine.

ITALIAN CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICHES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Add mayonnaise and pepper; toss to coat., Spoon 1/2 cup salad onto two bread slices; top with lettuce and remaining bread.

ITALIAN GRILLED CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the first six ingredients; shake well. Remove 1 tablespoon vinegar mixture; brush over chicken. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Set aside remaining vinegar mixture., Coat grill rack with cooking spray before starting grill. Grill chicken, covered, over medium heat for 4-6 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 170°. , Brush bread slices with 1 tablespoon reserved vinegar mixture. Grill bread, uncovered, over medium heat for 2 minutes on each side or until toasted. Slice chicken and cut bread into cubes; set aside., In a large bowl, combine the romaine, tomatoes, beans, basil and bread cubes. Drizzle with remaining vinegar mixture; toss to coat. Arrange on salad plates. Top with chicken.

ITALIAN STYLE CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir garlic until softened and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Stir in lemon juice; set aside to cool.
• Toss chicken, fennel, celery, red onion, and parsley together in a large bowl.
• Stir in the cooled garlic and olive oil, mayonnaise, lemon zest, salt, and black pepper.
• Arrange arugula on a serving platter; serve chicken salad on arugula.

ITALIAN CHICKEN SALAD CUPS

Steps:

• Place the first five ingredients in a blender. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Set aside., In a large bowl, combine the chicken, sweet peppers, onion, almonds and capers; stir in vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Serve on lettuce; sprinkle with cheese.

ITALIAN CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine poultry, anchovies, scallions and bind with some olive oil, vinegar and olives; season with salt and pepper and basil. Broil or grill bread, brush with olive oil and rub with garlic; top with washed leaves, pile chicken on and top with cubed tomatoes.

ITALIAN CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• In large bowl, mix all ingredients except dressing.
• Toss salad with dressing until coated.

ITALIAN PARMESAN CHICKEN WITH TUSCAN SPINACH SALAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375ºF. Coat chicken with cheese mixture and bake as directed on package. Heat dressing in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add peppers; cook and stir 3 to 4 min. or until crisp-tender. Add spinach and beans; cook 3 min. or just until spinach is wilted, stirring constantly. Serve chicken over the spinach salad.

ITALIAN CHICKEN SALAD IN LETTUCE CUPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the almonds on a small baking sheet in a single layer. Bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer to a bowl to cool.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain.
• In a large bowl, combine the pasta with the chicken, bell peppers, onion, parsley, almonds, capers, salt, and pepper. Drizzle with 1 cup of the vinaigrette and toss gently.
• Arrange 1 large lettuce leaf and 1 small lettuce leaf on each plate, overlapping slightly. Spoon the chicken salad into the lettuce "cups." Drizzle the remaining 1/4 cup of vinaigrette over the salads. Garnish with shavings of the Parmesan cheese and serve.

LAYERED ITALIAN CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• In a 3-1/2-qt. bowl, layer the first 10 ingredients in order listed. Pour dressing over salad; toss to coat.

ITALIAN CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• In large bowl, mix all ingredients except dressing.
• Toss salad with dressing until coated.

ITALIAN CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• I use my mini-food processor to chop all of the ingredients except the chicken -- I just give them a few "pulses" per ingredient so they are not pureed in the food processor.
• Mix mayonnaise, and cream cheese together in bowl until creamy. Stir in chicken & remaining ingredients. Chill until ready to serve.
• *Can add more or less of the mayonnaise & cream cheese mixture according to taste/texture desired.
• Note: you can buy the chicken pre-cooked or make it ahead of time. I recommend using all white meat.
• Also, you can substitute the pinoli nuts with chopped almond slivers if budget-conscious.