Name: Easy Waldorf Chicken Salad Sandwich Filling
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 chicken breasts, cooled and shredded; 1 cup greek yogurt 250 ml; 1 teaspoon dijon mustard 5 ml; 1 teaspoon lemon juice 5 ml; 1/4 cup diced celery; 1/2 cup dried cranberries; 1 chopped apple; 1/2 cup chopped walnuts; 1 1/2 cups grapes; 6 croissants or bread of choice

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By Rebecca St.Clair

This creamy Waldorf chicken salad sandwich filling is perfect for busy days and special lunches alike. Packed with tender chicken, crisp apples, walnuts, and celery, this homemade chicken salad is flavourful, refreshing, and perfect served on croissants, sandwich bread, or even to top your salad.

This homemade chicken salad recipe is creamy, crunchy, and full of fresh ingredients that make every bite delicious. This classic favorite is quick, delicious, and easy to make. It’s a fresh and satisfying lunch recipe that’s ideal for meal prep, brunches, and picnics, or even make-ahead meal prep.

Two croissants filled with Waldorf chicken salad filling.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick and easy – With just a few fresh ingredients tossed together in a simple dressing, this recipe is quick and easy to make.
Meal prep – This sandwich filling is perfect to prep ahead of time and store in the fridge to fill your sandwiches later.
Customizable – Mix and match with your favourite ingredients like nuts, seeds, apples, and dried fruits.
Flavour – Pack with sweet and savoury flavours, soft and crunchy textures make this filling the perfect balance of flavour and texture.

Two croissants filled with Waldorf chicken salad filling. There are purple grapes in front.

How to store Waldorf Chicken Salad Sandwich Filling

Fridge

The best way to store homemade Waldorf chicken salad sandwich filling is in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Since it contains cooked shredded chicken and a creamy dressing, it should stay chilled and be eaten within 4 days for the best freshness and texture.

Keep bread, croissants, lettuce, or wraps separate until serving so they don’t become soggy.

Keep it cold – Keep the chicken salad at room temperature for no more than 2 hours.

Stir before serving – The dressing can settle slightly in the fridge, so give it a quick stir before making sandwiches.

Freezer

Freezing isn’t recommended for Waldorf chicken salad since the dressing, apples, grapes, and celery can become watery and lose their texture after thawing.

A bowl filled with Waldorf chicken salad. There is a croissant sandwich in the background.

What ingredients to add to your Waldorf Chicken Salad Sandwich Filling

You can customize Waldorf chicken salad sandwich filling in lots of delicious ways depending on whether you want it sweeter, crunchier, lighter, or more savory! Here are some of my favourites!

Crunchy

Nuts like chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds.
Seeds like Sunflower and pumpkin.
Diced celery

Sweet & Fruity

Red or green grapes
Dried cranberries or other dried fruit
Raisins
Chopped pears or apples.

Savoury Flavour

Crispy bacon bits
Spring onions or chives
Fresh herbs like dill or parsley

Creamy Dressing

Greek yogurt
Mayonnaise
Sour cream

Fresh & Bright Flavour

Lemon juice and zest
Baby spinach, arugula, or other greens
Sliced cucumber

Classic Waldorf chicken salad usually includes chicken, apples, celery, walnuts, and a creamy dressing, but is easy to customized depending on what you like.

An overtop view of two croissant sandwiches filled with Waldorf chicken salad. There are purple grapes around the sandwiches.

Ingredients

Celery – Fresh and crisp texture.
Dried cranberries – Can be replaced with raisins.
Apple – Crisp sweetness.
Walnuts – Can be replaced with other nuts or seeds.
Chicken – Cooked and shredded.
Grapes – Colour and sweetness.
Dressing
Greek yogurt / mayonnaise – Use either Greek yogurt, mayonnaise or a mixture of the two.
Mustard – Flavour.
Lemon juice – Bright flavour.

How to make Waldorf Chicken Salad Sandwich Filling

In a bowl whisk together 1 cup of Greek yogurt or mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon lemon juice.
To the bowl, add in 1/4 cup chopped celery, 1/2 cup dried cranberries, 1 chopped apple, and 1/2 cup chopped walnuts. Toss this in the dressing.
Add in 2 cooked chicken breasts that have been cooled and shredded.
Add in 1 1/2 cups of grapes that have been sliced in half.
Gently stir everything together.
Cover and store in the fridge, until you are ready to fill your sandwiches or top your salad.