This Crunchy Dill Pickle Chicken Salad is the perfect combination of creamy, savory, and tangy, with a delightful crunch in every bite. It comes together in minutes and is perfect for a quick lunch, a light dinner, or meal prepping for the week.

My mom, Eva, made the best chicken salad without ever measuring. This recipe is my nod to her simple, comforting lunches. It’s that same taste of home from our sunny kitchen, but with a tangy pickle twist I know she’d adore.

A Few Reasons You’ll Adore This Recipe

Flavor Profile: A delightful mix of creamy, tangy, and savory flavors.
Texture: Satisfyingly crunchy from the fresh celery and dill pickles.
Ease of Preparation: This is a straightforward recipe that can be prepared in under 15 minutes.
Versatility: Excellent for sandwiches, wraps, salads, or as a dip with crackers.
Make-Ahead Friendly: The flavors get even better after chilling, making it perfect for meal prep.

Gathering Your Ingredients

For the Chicken Salad:

3 cups cooked chicken breast, diced
3/4 cup diced dill pickles
2 ribs celery, finely chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped

For the Dressing:

1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons pickle juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Pinch salt, to taste

To Serve (optional):

Croissants, pita, toast, or lettuce cups
Extra dill and pickle slices

A Couple of Kitchen Helpers

My Trusty Mixing Bowl

A good-sized mixing bowl is a must for gently folding all the ingredients together without any spills.

A Simple Little Whisk

Using a small whisk is my secret for getting the dressing perfectly smooth and creamy before pouring it over the chicken.

Let’s Bring It All Together

Step 1: Building Our Flavor Base

In a large bowl, gently combine the diced chicken, pickles, celery, red onion, and fresh dill. I like to make sure everything is chopped to a similar size for the perfect texture in every bite.

Step 2: Whipping Up the Dreamy Dressing

In a separate, smaller bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, pickle juice, lemon juice, garlic powder, pepper, and salt. Whisking ensures your dressing is perfectly smooth and creamy before you add it in.

Step 3: Folding It All Together with Care

Pour your beautiful dressing over the chicken mixture. Use a spatula to gently fold everything together until all the ingredients are evenly coated. Don’t rush this part; you want every piece to be enveloped in that delicious dressing.

Step 4: Letting the Flavors Become Friends

Cover the bowl and chill the chicken salad for at least 20–30 minutes. This little rest in the fridge is so important, it allows all those wonderful dill and pickle flavors to meld together.

Step 5: The Final Taste and Serving

Give the chicken salad one last taste and adjust the seasoning if you think it needs it. Then, pile it high onto flaky croissants, stuff it into pitas, or serve it in crisp lettuce cups. A few extra dill sprigs and pickle slices on top make it extra special.

Close-up of a flaky croissant sandwich packed with crunchy chicken salad pickles, tender chicken, and fresh dill, illustrating a hearty Dill Pickle Chicken Salad with tangy dill pickle accents.

A Quick Note on Nutrition

Please note that the nutritional information provided is an estimate and can vary based on the specific ingredients and quantities used. The values are calculated for the chicken salad itself and do not include serving items like croissants or bread.

If You’d Like to Lighten It Up

Go All Yogurt: For a lighter dressing, you can replace the mayonnaise entirely with plain Greek yogurt. It will give the salad a tangier flavor and a boost of protein.
Add More Veggies: Feel free to bulk up the salad with more chopped vegetables. Diced cucumber or bell peppers would add extra crunch and nutrients.
Leaner Chicken: While the recipe calls for chicken breast, you can also use leftover rotisserie chicken; just be sure to remove the skin to reduce fat.

How We Love to Eat It

Avocado Toast Topper: For a trendy and delicious breakfast or lunch, serve a scoop of this pickle chicken salad on top of a thick slice of avocado toast.
Stuffed Bell Peppers: For a low-carb and colorful option, hollow out mini bell peppers and fill them with the chicken salad. They make a wonderful appetizer or light lunch.
With a Simple Green Salad: Sometimes, the simplest way is best. I love serving a generous scoop right on top of a bed of fresh spring greens with a light vinaigrette.

My Little Secrets for Success

Over-Mixing: When you combine the dressing with the chicken mixture, be sure to fold gently. Over-mixing can break down the chicken and make the salad texture less appealing.
Not Chilling: Don’t skip the chilling step! It’s crucial for allowing the flavors to fully develop. A rushed chicken salad won’t have that same delicious depth of flavor.
Using Warm Chicken: Make sure your cooked chicken is completely cooled before dicing and mixing. Adding warm chicken will melt the dressing and can affect the final consistency.

Keeping it Fresh for Later

This dill pickle chicken salad stores beautifully. Keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors will continue to meld, so it’s often even better the next day! I do not recommend freezing this salad, as the dressing will separate when thawed.

From My Kitchen to Yours

There’s something so special about taking a classic recipe and making it your own. I hope this Crunchy Dill Pickle Chicken Salad brings a little bit of sunshine to your table, just like my mom’s simple cooking always did for me. I encourage you to share it with people you love and create your own warm memories around the table.

A Few Questions You Might Have

Can I use sweet pickles in this recipe?

You certainly can, though it will change the flavor profile significantly. Using sweet pickles will result in a much sweeter chicken salad, so it will have a completely different, but still delicious, taste.

What’s the best way to prepare the chicken?

Poaching is a wonderful method as it keeps the chicken moist and tender. Simply simmer boneless, skinless chicken breasts in water or broth until cooked through. For convenience, though, nothing beats using a store-bought rotisserie chicken!

Can I make this without any mayonnaise?

Absolutely. You can substitute the mayonnaise with an equal amount of plain Greek yogurt for a tangier, lighter version, or even use mashed avocado for a different kind of creamy texture and flavor.

Crunchy Dill Pickle Chicken Salad

Author: sarah
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Ingredients

Scale

3 cups cooked chicken breast, diced
3/4 cup diced dill pickles
2 ribs celery, finely chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons pickle juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Pinch salt, to taste
Croissants, pita, toast, or lettuce cups (optional)
Extra dill and pickle slices (optional)

Instructions

In a large bowl, gently combine the diced chicken, pickles, celery, red onion, and fresh dill.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, pickle juice, lemon juice, garlic powder, pepper, and salt until smooth.
Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and fold gently until evenly coated.
Cover and chill the salad for at least 20–30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, then serve on croissants, pitas, toast, or lettuce cups with extra dill and pickle slices if desired.

Notes

For a lighter version, replace mayonnaise with Greek yogurt. Add extra vegetables like diced cucumber or bell peppers for crunch. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Do not freeze.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: Mixing
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 220
Sugar: 2g
Sodium: 480mg
Fat: 10g
Saturated Fat: 2g
Unsaturated Fat: 7g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 5g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 27g
Cholesterol: 70mg

Keywords: chicken salad, dill pickle chicken salad, crunchy chicken salad, easy chicken salad, meal prep