Learn how to make NYC deli chicken salad like a pro! It's easy and has just 5 ingredients. Stack it high on rye bread, just like at your favorite deli. Add a pickle and some coleslaw, even from your home in Florida!
Today, we're heading out on the water with friends, and I'm bringing along some chicken salad sandwiches (in a cooler, of course). Check out this delicious recipe, and learn to make chicken salad just like they do in the New York City delis!
My Top Chicken Salad Advice
Chicken: You need soft chicken. The best chicken for chicken salad is poached chicken breast. To poach, cook the chicken breasts in a pot of water kept just below boiling. Poaching keeps the chicken tender and juicy. Check the recipe for the details.
Celery: Crunchy celery is a must-have in classic chicken salad. If your celery has leaves on it, chop a few tablespoons and add them in. The leaves have tons of flavor!
Mayonnaise: For that authentic NYC deli flavor, I use Hellmann's mayonnaise. Down here in Florida, they love Duke's-it's good too, but a little tangier and more yellow in color.
Ingredients
See recipe card for exact amounts.
- Chicken breast: Use cooked, chilled chicken breast for the best texture. I like kosher chicken because it's already salted during processing and has good flavor. Regular chicken breast works just as well.
- Mayonnaise: Use a good-quality mayonnaise, such as Hellmann's, for a creamy deli-style chicken salad.
- Celery: Finely chopped celery adds the classic crunch you expect from New York deli chicken salad.
- Fresh parsley: Optional, but it adds a little color and fresh flavor.
- Kosher salt: Season to taste. You may need less salt if you're using kosher chicken.
If your chicken salad tastes a little bland, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a pinch of salt to bring out the flavor.
Optional mix-ins: Add lemon juice, grated yellow onion, dill, chopped sour pickles, and yellow mustard for more flavor.
How to Make Chicken Salad
- Place the chicken breasts in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for about 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Let the chicken cool.
- Once cooled, shred the chicken using two forks or chop it into small pieces.
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken, mayonnaise, celery, and parsley.
- Season with salt to taste.
We have a full post about poaching chicken, a great way to cook chicken for chicken salad.
Serving Ideas
- Scoop chicken salad onto sourdough, rye bread, rolls, baguettes, croissants, bialys, or a big fat bagel.
- For a low-carb option, spoon the chicken salad into large lettuce leaves like romaine or butter lettuce and make lettuce wraps.
- Hollow out an avocado half and fill it with chicken salad for a creamy, nutrient-packed serving.
- Make a big salad with a generous scoop of chicken salad over mixed greens, sliced cucumber, and cherry tomatoes.
What to Serve With Chicken Salad
Serve deli chicken salad with one or two of these easy sides for a great lunch or light dinner:
Pickles, chips, a big mixed green salad, or even a bowl of tomato soup all pair well with chicken salad.
Try our sweet deli-style coleslaw, homemade macaroni salad, or deli potato salad.
Storage
Store the chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Do not freeze.
More Deli Recipes
If you love homemade chicken salad, try my Sonoma Chicken Salad or Chicken Salad with Grapes.
Both are delicious alternatives to this classic chicken salad, with a little sweetness and crunch in every bite.
Where to Get a Great Chicken Salad Sandwich
Zabar's on Manhattan's Upper West Side makes great creamy chicken salad. The ingredients are chicken, celery, and mayonnaise. That's it!
A chicken salad sandwich at the Second Avenue Deli on the Upper East Side will set you back over $20 dollars! Good thing we moved to Florida!
Bagel Boss, from Long Island, also makes great bagels with lox, chicken salad, whitefish salad, and more. They have locations all over Florida and New York.
Ben's Deli, originally from Baldwin, NY, has made it to Boca Raton. The Baldwin restaurant is long gone, but you can get all your kosher deli favorites in Boca. From corned beef and pastrami to chicken salad and hot knishes, it's all at Ben's!
Visit Deli-Style Salad Recipes for more deli recipes.
Deli Chicken Salad FAQ
NYC deli chicken salad is usually simple: tender white-meat chicken, mayonnaise, celery, and salt. Its mild seasoning lets the chicken remain the star while creating the creamy texture associated with classic deli chicken salad.
Yes, you can make chicken salad in advance! In fact, it often tastes even better after a few hours in the fridge, so the flavors have time to meld. Store it in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
Yes, if that's what you have. Just remove the skin and use only the white meat for a classic deli taste.
On rye bread, in a lettuce wrap, or scooped onto a salad plate with a pickle on the side, just like the corner deli.
How To Make NYC Deli Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, about 4 chicken breast halves
- ½ cup mayonnaise (add more or less to your liking)
- ½ cup finely chopped celery (2 stalks)
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley (optional)
- kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for about 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Let the chicken cool.
- Once cooled, shred the chicken using two forks or chop it into small pieces.
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken, mayonnaise, celery, and parsley.
- Season with additional salt if needed.
Notes
Nutrition
For more recipes, visit our full recipe index. We specialize in cooking fresh fish and seafood from the warm waters of the Florida Keys. Originally from New York, we like the best of the best, and while we can't get a hot bagel, the fresh fish swimming outside are delicious in every way.
Felice Kaufman says
❤️❤️❤️
Barry says
A++++ recipe! Just like the deli.