Arguably one of the best unsung heroes of salad is the iconic Costco chicken salad. Once you try this recipe, you will agree that it is the best chicken salad recipe you’ll ever find, so try it out if you dare!
How to make a Costco Chicken Salad Copycat
Chicken salad feels forgotten until you eat it, and then you love it for a little while, but then you go right back to forgetting it. This is pretty sad because chicken salad should be a staple at this point, especially since most people on this planet love it. The good thing is that this particular recipe will never let you forget about chicken salad again!
This is something my son has requested for his birthday, and I thought it would be fun to make at home. I looked at the ingredients on the package for the salad, and I think I made a pretty spot on copycat recipe.
It is a super simple recipe and takes very little effort on your part to receive a great reward. So don’t wait any longer, get started on your new favorite chicken salad recipe right away!
Is chicken salad gluten and dairy free?
This chicken salad is gluten free, though it has sour cream, so it is not dairy free. However, you can use a dairy free sour cream to make it so your dairy-free friends and family can enjoy it as well.
Mayo is sometimes seen as part of the dairy family, but it does not contain any milk, so it is dairy free.
Is chicken salad good for you?
With anything else, chicken salad is good for you in moderation. This recipe has a good ratio of chicken to vegetables, so this particular recipe is pretty healthy. The most unhealthy thing in this recipe is the mayonnaise, so depending on what kind and how much mayo you use, the nutritious value of this recipe can differ a little.
Can chicken salad be frozen?
Chicken salad can be frozen, but there are some aspects that have to be considered. When you freeze chicken salad, often times the mayo will separate and will change the flavor and texture. Also, if you have left your chicken salad out at room temperature, then you should put it in the refrigerator and you shouldn’t freeze it.
Costco Chicken Salad Nutrition
Our recipe card below has included the nutrition for this recipe. However, the label on their salad doesn’t actually list the calories and what not. I would suspect it’s similar in nature to what we have listed below!
Ingredients
- Rotisserie chicken (1/2 bird)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 4 stalks celery, chopped finely
- 1/3 cup sweet onion, chopped finely
- Salt 1 teaspoon
- Sugar 1 teaspoon
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Parsley
- White vinegar – 1 tbsp
Instructions
- Remove chicken from the bones – remove the skin as well (not great in this salad)
- You will use about 1/2 of the chicken from a Costco rotisserie chicken. You want to chop it up finely – I used a food chopper, and it worked great.
- Chop celery and sweet onion very finely – again, I used a food chopper.
- In a separate bowl, mix together mayonnaise, sour cream, salt, sugar, lemon juice, parsley, and vinegar.
- Combine chicken, celery, and onion in a large bowl.
- Fold in the dressing and combine together.
- Refrigerate a few hours for best results!
Costco Chicken Salad Copycat
Ingredients
- Rotisserie chicken (1/2 bird)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 4 stalks celery, chopped finely
- 1/3 cup sweet onion, chopped finely
- Salt 1 teaspoon
- Sugar 1 teaspoon
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Parsley
- White vinegar - 1 tbsp
Instructions
1. Remove chicken from the bones - remove the skin as well (not great in this salad)
2. You will use about 1/2 of the chicken from a Costco rotisserie chicken. You want to chop it up finely - I used a food chopper, and it worked great.
3. Chop celery and sweet onion very finely - again, I used a food chopper.
4. In a separate bowl, mix together mayonnaise, sour cream, salt, sugar, lemon juice, parsley, and vinegar.
5. Combine chicken, celery, and onion in a large bowl.
6. Fold in the dressing and combine together.
7. Refrigerate a few hours for best results!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 182Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 407mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 9g
Please verify this information with your preferred nutrition calculator.
Rotisserie chicken Sour cream and mayo 
Celery and sweet onion Chop celery and sweet onion very finely In a separate bowl, mix together mayonnaise, sour cream, salt, sugar, lemon juice, parsley, and vinegar Use 1/2 of the Costco chicken and remove the skin, then chop it finely Combine chicken, celery, and onion in a large bowl and fold in the dressing and combine together Refrigerate a few hours for best results!
How did you chop the chicken so finely?
The secret to the Costco chicken salad is having the chicken being pretty finely chopped. You could certainly do this with a knife, but I’m going to share my secret weapon.
The food chopper. I also used this to finely chop the celery and onion, and I promise, it’s what makes the difference with this salad. The consistency was SPOT ON.
How long is chicken salad good for?
Chicken salad varies in freshness. If you have store bought chicken salad, then you are good for about a week. With this homemade recipe, the chicken salad will last for about three to five days when properly stored in the refrigerator. The good thing is that everyone will like this meal so much, that you probably won’t have to worry about how you should store it for too long!
What should be served with chicken salad?
Chicken salad is a great meal on its own, but there are other foods that compliment a good chicken salad. Chicken salad is a savory meal, so pairing something that is light and refreshing, like a fruit or vegetable platter, is a good way to go. You could serve with Costco mac and cheese to really round out the meal!
If you aren’t making a chicken salad sandwich, but you still want bread with your meal, you can have a baguette on the side to give you your daily dose of gluten. And if you want to pair something with your chicken salad that wasn’t mentioned, go ahead and do it!
Recipes similar to Costco Chicken Salad Copycat
- Easy Buffalo Dip with Chicken
- Easy Mexican Street Corn Salad Recipe
- 4-Ingredient Pesto Pasta Salad
- 5 Ingredient BLT Pasta Salad
- Easy Avocado, Corn, and Black Bean Salad
This Costco chicken salad has a wonderful flavor and will definitely become your families favorite lunchtime and dinner meal. With the benefits and ease of this rotisserie chicken salad recipe, you will be making it all the time!
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Katie Clark is a mom of three with a passion for creating home-cooked meals every night for her family. She has learned the skill of cooking from the time she was young and comes from a long-line of women who love to cook. Over the years, she has developed this skill to not only help her family but thousands around the world with her popular copycat recipes, jello salads, and twists on traditional favorites. She has a degree in journalism and loves to help others succeed in getting dinner on the table!
Diana Juarez says
This was a great recipe. I used lowfat greek yogurt instead of sour cream and added pecans. Tasted yummy. My son liked it also. He’s pretty picky.
Katie Clark says
Glad you all enjoyed it!
Lynn says
This is delicious, and very similar to the Costco chicken salad. If you have time to make it, it is much more economical, especially if you use a Costco rotisserie chicken! Thank you for this recipe.
Katie Clark says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Audrey says
Hi! I’m excited to try this; thank you for posting the recipe! Did you use fresh parsley or dried? If fresh, did you use Italian or curly?
Katie Clark says
I used dried!
Nana cooks says
This is my go to recipe except I use dill pickle juice instead of white vinegar . I also add some fresh dill from my garden. DELUCIOS!!!