12 Chicken Salad Chick Chicken Salads, Ranked Worst To Best
If you live in the South or the Midwest, you know that there's one place you can always count on for a delicious light lunch: Chicken Salad Chick. It's a fast casual place where you can grab a relatively healthy lunch instead of something that's deep-fried and going to leave you feeling sluggish for the rest of the day. And while there are lots of different items on the menu, as you can probably guess, the selection of chicken salads steals the show. We're going to be honest: We love pretty much all of the different flavors available. However, some are better than others in our book.
That's why we've decided to rank the chicken salads at Chicken Salad Chick from worst to best. While you can use this ranking as a guide, you should also trust your own intuition when it comes to ordering. After all, you never know if you're going to like something until you try it for yourself. Now, what are you waiting for? Let's take a look at all the different chicken salad flavors you can find at this cute lunch spot, and see where your favorite falls in this ranking.
12. Fruity Fran
Now, we definitely don't mind some sweet mixed with our meat, but we think that the Fruity Fran takes things just a bit too far. In this chicken salad, you'll find Fuji apples and seedless grapes. We think that these are excellent additions to chicken salad because they offer that crunch that makes everything taste better, and the fruit isn't too sweet. And if they had just left this chicken salad at that, it would rank higher on our list. But unfortunately, they added pineapple to the mix as well.
The pineapple is super sweet, and it definitely detracts from the rest of the salad. Since pineapple has such a strong taste, it's basically the star of the show in this case. And even if you usually like pineapple, you may find that there's just too much of it in this recipe to truly enjoy.
If you like an especially sweet salad, then don't let us stop you from ordering the Fruity Fran. But if you're looking for something that's a bit less sweet and a bit more balanced, you'll want to check out the other options on the menu before you order.
11. Barbie-Q
It's the middle of the day, and you're on a break from work. You have to decide where you're going to eat your lunch. Do you want something nice, light, and refreshing, or do you want to gobble down a rack of ribs? No judgment either way, but if you're looking for something lighter, then Chicken Salad Chick is definitely the way to go. Therefore, you're probably not going to go for something like the Barbie-Q.
As the name suggests, this is a barbecue-flavored chicken salad. That may initially sound good, but we think that it just misses the mark. The hickory-smoked BBQ flavor is pretty strong for a chicken salad, and that's pretty much all you're going to taste here. That flavor might have been offset by the addition of onions or another flavorful, crunchy veggie, but unfortunately, those extra ingredients are missing.
If you're craving BBQ and got dragged to Chicken Salad Chick instead, then the Barbie-Q may just be your best bet — just don't order it if you're expecting a light, refreshing salad.
10. Classic Carol
Sometimes, you just have to keep it simple, which is why we appreciate menu items like the Classic Carol chicken salad. However, classic is easy enough to do at home. When you go out to eat, you'd probably prefer something that's a little different or out of the ordinary. That's why we're not huge fans of this Chicken Salad Chick flavor.
Along with the shredded chicken, you'll find finely minced celery and mayo in this salad. There's also the very important addition of the secret seasoning (and we wish we knew what the recipe was!). However, that's where the fun ends. There's nothing else in this chicken salad to give it any extra flavor. Some hard-boiled egg or chopped onion may have been a good addition, but anything particularly flavorful is absent from this chicken salad.
While we do think this option is kind of boring, it's definitely not the worst on the menu. The celery adds a nice crunch to the salad, and the secret seasoning makes it taste good even if it's lacking in a variety of textures.
9. Sassy Scotty
If you're looking for a chicken salad that's a little wild, a little out of the ordinary, you're going to want to check out the Sassy Scotty. But just a warning: This definitely isn't your typical chicken salad by any stretch of the imagination. Like all the Chicken Salad Chick flavors, it all starts with shredded chicken. But then comes the unlikely addition of ranch dressing. Ranch definitely isn't our favorite, but at least it has a flavorful kick to it. And If you like ranch, then this might be right up your alley.
But it doesn't stop there. Shredded cheddar cheese and bacon are also added to the mix for extra flavor and crunch. Now, as far as the bacon goes? Genius. We want to see more bacon in chicken salads from now on out. But when it comes to the cheddar cheese, we just can't get on board. Cheddar generally tastes better when it's been nice and melted, not thrown unceremoniously into a cold chicken salad.
While we think that this one is certainly lacking in the taste department, we have to give it to Chicken Salad Chick for their creativity here. Where else have you eaten a chicken salad like this one? It's definitely unique if nothing else.
8. Cranberry Kelli
We already mentioned what we thought about the Fruity Fran, which may seem like the obvious choice when it comes to a fruit-forward chicken salad at Chicken Salad Chick. But when you want a chicken salad that has just a touch of sweetness to it instead, you're better off going for the Cranberry Kelli. Like the Sassy Scotty, this one is definitely out of the ordinary, but it makes sense once you see all the ingredients listed.
It starts with the chicken, to which sweetened dried cranberries are added. We think they could have gone without sweetening the cranberries, as they are a bit too sweet, but they do provide an unusual texture you generally won't encounter in a basic chicken salad. But the best part of this recipe is the slivered almonds. You may be wondering why you would ever put almonds in a chicken salad, but trust us when we say that they're delicious. They add the perfect amount of crunch, and their creamy, nutty flavor actually plays really well with the chicken and the cranberries.
Is the sweetness still a bit too much with this recipe? Yes. But we can't judge too harshly when considering the creativity of this dish.
7. Buffalo Barclay
Listen, if Buffalo sauce weren't so polarizing, the Buffalo Barclay would be even closer to the top of the list. That's because this is a really smart combination. Instead of just sticking to your normal, bland chicken salad, the Chicken Salad Chick kitchen decided to add Buffalo sauce to this stuff. As you can imagine, that really takes the flavor up a notch. It's super tangy with just a hint of spice (but don't worry — it shouldn't bother your taste buds even if you are super sensitive to spice). In fact, you can think of this chicken salad like deconstructed wings ... and how can you go wrong with that?
That being said, not everyone is going to appreciate how tangy this salad is. It's definitely not for those who want something simple and understated. Rather, this is a great choice when you're looking for something that's ultra-flavorful but still on the healthy side. Do we wish there were some more veggie ingredients added to the mix here? Sure. But overall, this is a very solid choice if you're interested in the more flavorful items on the menu at this fast casual joint.
6. Fancy Nancy
Remember how we said that the Fruity Fran wasn't our favorite? Well, if that recipe sounded good to you except for the pineapple, you're in luck because the Fancy Nancy is similar but different. These recipes both start with shredded chicken, Fuji apples, and seedless grapes. And as we mentioned before, we love the idea of adding both apples and grapes to a chicken salad. The apples are nice and crisp, adding that crunch and texture you want in a top-notch chicken salad. The grapes are juicy and sweet, but their sugar content isn't overwhelming — it feels like a treat whenever you find one in your salad.
But instead of featuring pineapple like the Fruity Fran, the Fancy Nancy takes a whole different direction and incorporates pecans instead. We love this swap because first of all, it takes out all that unnecessary sweetness from the pineapple. That's already a great start. But when you then add in the crunch and the flavor from the pecans, it takes an otherwise nondescript salad and makes it into something special. In fact, the pecans here are even more delicious than the slivered almonds that you'll find in the Cranberry Kelli.
For those who love a fruit-filled chicken salad, the Fancy Nancy is the way to go. Give it a try the next time you want to branch out at Chicken Salad Chick.
5. Dixie Chick
When you think of a chicken salad, you probably think of a salad that's paired with all kinds of veggies. The most notable of those veggies is the onion. Though the onion may seem like a humble addition to a good salad, it's most certainly not. That's because this one ingredient plays double duty. First of all, it's responsible for a lot of that crunch you're looking for from a chicken salad. Without that crunchiness, you may be left with a salad that's boring and bland. And who wants that? But more importantly, onions impart a ton of flavor into the salad. Just think: Why are onions included in so many different recipes? Because they add flavor that tastes good in just about everything!
That's why we were surprised to find out that the Dixie Chick is literally the only chicken salad on the entire menu to feature onions. Fun fact: the founder of Chicken Salad Chick doesn't like onions, so that's why they're not featured prominently on the menu. That's a bummer because we think that onions would make a lot of these recipes taste even better than they already do. But don't worry: If you're an onion lover, there's still hope when you choose the Dixie Chick. This salad is brimming with onions, so expect a nice, strong onion flavor when you bite into your meal. This one is definitely a winner in our book.
4. Jalapeno Holly
Chicken salad may not be the first dish that comes to mind when you want spicy food, but you're not going to be let down if you love a lot of spice and you decide to eat at Chicken Salad Chick. That's because there are a few options on the menu that'll let you indulge your spicy side. One of those options? The Jalapeno Holly. We love this one because it packs quite a spicy kick, but it's definitely not overwhelming. While it may not be your first choice if you don't like spice at all, you don't have to worry about it setting your mouth on fire.
Out of all the spicy peppers the restaurant could have chosen, we're glad they went for this particular pepper. Jalapenos are just hot enough to add an interesting zing to the dish, but they also offer a lot of flavor as well. And when you add them to a base that's as simple as a good chicken salad is, it just makes sense. It's an ideal balance of simple and exciting, and we're here for it.
This may not be the only spicy chicken salad on the menu, but it's certainly one of our favorites.
3. Lauryn's Lemon Basil
When you want a chicken salad option that's flavorful, refreshing, and sophisticated all at once, what should you choose? Well, if you're like us, you won't be able to get enough of the Lauryn's Lemon Basil. We do we love this flavor so much? Well, it's just not what you would expect from a chicken salad. Lemon and basil and both relatively subtle flavors, which is why you may not see them mixed up with mayo all that often. But in this chicken salad, these flavors work extremely well. The lemon adds a nice touch of acidity that breaks down the plain flavor of the chicken, while the fresh basil adds a hint of floral flavor to the dish.
It doesn't stop there, though. If you were worried that this dish might be missing a bit of crunch, you're going to be happy to find out that it also features chopped pecans. Not only do pecans add a creaminess that you can't get from many other ingredients, but they add the texture this chicken salad needs as well. And since none of these individual flavors are too powerful, they all meld together exceptionally well.
It's not every day that you come across such a classy dish in a fast casual spot, so the Lauryn's Lemon Basil chicken salad definitely has a special place in our hearts.
2. Olivia's Old South
Do you really need to mess with tradition? Sometimes you don't, and that's very true with the Olivia's Old South chicken salad you'll find at Chicken Salad Chick. Just think back to how your mom or grandma made chicken salad, and you'll likely find that this stuff is pretty similar. First, you get some crunch and sweetness from the sweet pickles that grace the salad with their slightly savory presence. They go a long way in adding an acidic flavor to the dish, but that extra touch of sweetness balances them out perfectly. Then, the egg breaks up the texture of all that chicken and boosts the dish with some extra protein.
This might sound like a basic chicken salad, and in truth, it kind of is. But it's a basic done right. All the components come together perfectly, elevating something that you might have had many times in your life already. Give it a try if you're looking for something you know you're going to love — not many are going to dislike this flavor.
1. Kickin' Kay Lynne
If you've read through all of the chicken salad descriptions on the Chicken Salad Chick website and you're not a particularly decisive person, you may be wondering which flavor to choose. With so many different options that incorporate delicious ingredients, you might want to try them all. And if that's how you're feeling, you probably can't go wrong with the Kickin' Kay Lynne. This chicken salad features all the ingredients you ever could have wished for and more.
First, it starts out with the sauces: You'll get buffalo and ranch sauce in this salad. Sure, we didn't love the ranch before, but when it's combined with buffalo sauce, it really is something special. Then, bacon and shredded cheddar cheese are added to the mix. The cheese adds a nice sharp flavor here, and because it's paired with so many other ingredients, we don't mind it so much.
The best part, though, is the spice. Both jalapenos and sriracha contribute to the heat in this delightful dish, and we absolutely love the kick they offer. With so many different flavors coming together in this chicken salad, there's no wonder it's our favorite! Make sure you try it the next time you visit Chicken Salad Chick if you want something that's delicious and unique.