I Tried 7 Celebrity Chicken Salad Recipes—This One’s the Real Star

When temperatures start to climb—and it suddenly feels like the whole world wants to do everything outside, including eating—there’s one dish I always come back to: chicken salad. Whether I’m enjoying it wedged between two pieces of brioche, dolloped onto crisp lettuce, or paired with crunchy, buttery crackers, this chilled, creamy, dressed delight is consistently refreshing, nostalgic, and comforting.

Did I mention it’s also incredibly easy to make? Most recipes come together in just a few minutes, especially if you’re using leftover or rotisserie chicken as your base. Just pop it into an airtight container and stash it in the fridge for a few days, and it’s reliably there whenever you need a protein-packed bite. That’s why it’s a favorite among humble home cooks and famous celebs alike—yes, we’re talking about folks who have access to whatever they could want and still settle on this dish.

But let’s be honest, not all chicken salads are created equal. And everyone, especially celebrities, seems convinced that their version is the best. So, with the weather heating up, I decided to put a few recipes created by famous names to the test to find out which ones are truly worth making this summer—and beyond (because this dish tastes good in any season).

How I Chose the Celebrity Chicken Salad Recipes

Throughout my years of writing food reviews, I’ve come to enjoy compiling celebrity hacks and kitchen tricks. I’m not ashamed to admit I’m a fan-girl—and if one of my favorites shares a genius meal idea, I’m immediately tuned in. For this test, I gathered popular chicken salad recipes from famous chefs, reality TV stars, and award-winning actors.

I steered clear of any chicken salad recipes that rely on a specific seasoning blend like curry powder or za’atar to keep the results consistent. (But honestly, I may need to do a curry chicken salad taste test in the future—there are so many delicious-looking options out there!)

How I Tested the Celebrity Chicken Salad Recipes

For this test, I followed each celebrity’s recipe, if one was available. For those without specific measurements or instructions, I scoured old interview articles or social media clips to understand how each superstar makes their version of chicken salad.

With all the recipes, I used rotisserie chicken, removing the skin and butchering it according to the instructions—some called for shredded meat, while others preferred it roughly chopped. I spread the mayo-based contenders on a toasted piece of brioche when tasting. I focused on whether the candidates had a balanced sweet-and-savory profile, along with a creamy consistency that wasn’t too rich or watery. I also paid attention to which ones offered unique compositions through different add-ins that brought textural excitement, like plump grapes or crunchy walnuts. 

I didn’t try more than two chicken salad recipes in one sitting—don’t get me wrong, I love this dish, but eating more than a few sandwiches (even if they’re small) at a time isn’t exactly the best way to appreciate each one. Below you’ll find my results of which celebrity exceeded my criteria (with flying colors!). 

The Best Celebrity Chicken Salad Recipes, Ranked

7th Place: Alex Guarnaschelli

Alex Guarnaschelli’s chicken salad recipe includes a long list of ingredients—carrots, celery, tarragon, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, mayo, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper—and the bold flavor combination had me excited to try it. Unfortunately, it ended up being too punchy and savory; the intensity made it hard to finish an entire sandwich.

6th Place: Ina Garten

When it comes to Ina Garten, I can always count on her cooking wisdom to teach me a new trick in the kitchen. In her chicken salad recipe, the standout hack is toasting the nuts, which adds a crunchy texture and enhances the consistency of this creamy dish.

Of the chicken salad recipes I tested, though, the Barefoot Contessa’s wasn’t my favorite. While I enjoyed the refreshing bursts of sweetness from the grapes and the peppery kick of the tarragon, overall, it didn’t pack as much flavor as the other contenders. I kept it in the fridge overnight, and by the next day, it had developed a slightly more pronounced flavor profile, so if you decide to try out this recipe, letting it marinate would be my main recommendation.

5th Place: Martha Stewart

Upon reading Martha Stewart’s recipe for the first time, I immediately noticed how simple its construction is. She doesn’t recommend making a punchy dressing or adding any flavor-packed add-ins; instead, her approach relies on letting the ingredients speak for themselves.

Stewart combines diced chicken with a small amount (only two teaspoons) of mayo, Dijon mustard, hot sauce, lemon juice, parsley, celery, red onion, salt, and pepper. I appreciated that I already had all of the staples sitting in my fridge or pantry. In the end, this recipe tasted like a classic chicken salad—it’s subtly sweet and savory. I can sometimes get icked out by too much mayo, and I could see this as a great approach for people who prefer a lighter take. 

4th Place: Ree Drummond

The Pioneer Woman’s chicken salad recipe is loaded with a creamy homemade dressing and a bunch of flavorful add-ins. It starts with a base of chopped chicken, and then Ree Drummond recommends making a sauce out of mayonnaise, yogurt, lemon juice, dill, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Afterwards, she instructs you to fold in celery, green onion, almonds, and grapes.

I was impressed with how light-tasting this chicken salad recipe is—it’s refreshing and strikes a creamy balance. But after trying the winning recipes that rely on a shredded chicken approach, I couldn’t help but wonder if the texture and flavor of this method would be enhanced by that simple step.

3rd Place: Matthew McConaughey

In 2024, Matthew McConaughey went viral on social media. And no, not for a new film—he caught everyone’s attention over a tuna salad recipe he shared, which involved combining tinned fish, mayo, wasabi, chopped red onions, dill pickles, crispy jalapeño potato chips, apples, agave syrup, corn, and frozen green peas. The internet was divided, with some obsessing over the combination and others giving it a side-eye. A few months later, in an interview with Food & Wine, the “Interstellar” actor shared his take on chicken salad.

After reading the interview, I discovered that McConaughey’s chicken salad follows a slightly different approach from his tuna salad. It leans on a base of mayo, olive oil, and Italian dressing, and then he loads it up with whatever he has in his fridge or cabinets to boost the flavor. He also notes that it’s important to shred the chicken so the vinaigrette can cling to the meat.

I happened to have some red onions, celery, and jalapeño potato chips on hand, so I added those along with the other must-haves. The all-star of McConaughey’s method is the Italian dressing—it adds a punchy, zesty flavor to the chicken salad and balances out the richness of the mayo, giving it a deliciously balanced profile.

2nd Place: Bethenny Frankel

I stand by the hot take that reality star Bethenny Frankel should get credit for making chicken salad relevant again. If you haven’t scrolled through TikTok and come across a clip of the actress sampling the best chicken salads across the Hamptons or making her own rendition, you definitely need to tune in—it’s very entertaining.

Frankel recently shared her chicken salad recipe on social media, which involves a meticulous method of shredding the meat off a rotisserie chicken with a fork. “I believe in shredding, I do not believe in chopping,” says the TV personality and entrepreneur. “You do not need to food-process this, do it by hand.” She also recommends mincing the celery so it releases a bit of juice (or you can add a splash of celery juice to really enhance the salinity), which helps moisten the shredded chicken. She finishes the dish by adding mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, dill, salt, pepper, (and sometimes grapes!), then combines all the ingredients.

I couldn’t get over how tender and creamy this chicken salad is—it almost dissolves in your mouth. As a huge follower of Frankel’s chicken salad sagas, I also know she tends to top hers with tobiko, so I followed suit with wasabi-flavored roe, which elevated the flavor of this iconic dish even more.

1st Place Winner: Kardea Brown

This recipe from celebrity chef Kardea Brown is quick and easy to prepare, taking just 10 minutes. After shredding and roughly chopping the meat from a rotisserie chicken, it’s combined with a creamy mayonnaise-based dressing that’s seasoned with tangy Dijon mustard, paprika, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. It’s then upgraded even further with chopped boiled eggs, crunchy celery, and snappy red bell peppers. After making, you can enjoy it right away or refrigerate it to let the flavors meld into a delicious union.

Here’s what sets Brown’s chicken salad apart from the rest: first, it’s layered with a range of flavors—from the smoky notes of paprika to the sharp Dijon mustard, which cuts through the richness of the custardy mayonnaise. The bell peppers add a subtle sweetness, tying everything together. Meanwhile, the crunchy celery and peppers, along with tender egg, add complexity to the dish, making sure each bite offers something new. I plan to prep a bowl of this every week this summer and keep it stocked in the fridge for easy access—it’s that good.