Recipes for chicken salad only succeed when the chicken is juicy and flavorful. Dry or bland chicken cannot be rescued by dressing, mayo, or seasonings. To get silky, moist, and well-flavored chicken, Cooks Illustrated recommends a gentle sous-vide–style method: submerge chicken breasts in cold water, heat to 170°F (about 77°C), then remove from heat, cover, and let sit for roughly 15 minutes. This simple technique yields exceptionally tender chicken ideal for salads.
If you’re short on time, a rotisserie chicken is an excellent shortcut—already cooked, juicy, and packed with flavor. In my quick version below I used chopped rotisserie chicken and swapped tartar sauce for mayonnaise for a bright, tangy spin. The result is a fast, satisfying Tarragon Chicken Salad you can assemble in minutes.
Tarragon Chicken Salad
Tarragon Chicken Salad
Main or Side
Hip Foodie Mom
Ingredients
- Rotisserie chicken, chopped (or use about 3–4 cups chopped cooked chicken if preparing from scratch)
- Celery, chopped
- Red onion, chopped
- Orange bell pepper, chopped
- Cherry tomatoes, chopped
- Fresh tarragon leaves, finely chopped (or 2 teaspoons dried tarragon)
- 1/3 cup tartar sauce (add more to reach your preferred creaminess)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Bread, any kind (for sandwiches) — optional
- Lettuce and sliced tomatoes — optional for assembling sandwiches
Instructions
- Combine the chopped chicken with the celery, red onion, bell pepper, and cherry tomatoes in a large bowl.
- Add the chopped tarragon, tartar sauce, Dijon mustard, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Mix thoroughly until everything is evenly coated. Add more tartar sauce if you prefer a creamier salad.
- Taste and season with salt and black pepper. If you want to adjust the dressing, mix the tartar sauce, Dijon, tarragon, and lemon juice in a small bowl first, then combine with the chicken and vegetables.
- Serve chilled on bread with lettuce and tomato for sandwiches, or enjoy as a main or side on a bed of greens.
Enjoy this tangy, herb-forward chicken salad that comes together quickly and keeps well for lunches or picnics. It’s an easy way to turn rotisserie chicken into a flavorful meal in minutes.