Creamy Tarragon Chicken Salad

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Looking for the ultimate recipe for creamy tarragon chicken salad? Look no further. This delicious chicken salad recipe is the perfect blend of tender chicken, creamy dressing, and aromatic tarragon.

Delicious on its own, with greens or on a sandwich, this recipe delivers a symphony of flavors in every bite. Keep reading for a step-by-step guide to crafting the perfect tarragon chicken salad!

Overhead view of a bowl of Creamy Tarragon Chicken Salad next to tarragon leaves and a spoon.

Why This Recipe Works

A combination of mayonnaise and creme fraiche creates the perfect creamy backdrop to the tender roasted chicken in this salad.
Just the right amount of crunch from a bit of celery and red onion adds textural contrast.
This chicken salad can be made ahead of time making it an excellent choice for weekday lunches or easy entertaining.

Ingredients

Cooked chicken is the main ingredient here. Keep reading for my favorite way to cook chicken for chicken salad, but you can also use leftover chicken that you have on hand or rotisserie chicken from the store.
Creme fraiche and mayonnaise provide the creamy base of this salad. Sour cream or greek yogurt can easily stand in for the creme fraiche here.
A bit of Dijon mustard and a splash of lemon juice add brightness and flavor to the creamy base.
Chopped celery and red onion add a fresh, crisp texture.
Chopped fresh tarragon brings it's aromatic, fresh spring taste. You can always substitute dried tarragon for the fresh or even use fresh dill, parsley, chives or basil in place of the tarragon.

How to Make This Recipe

If you don't have cooked chicken on hand, begin by cooking the chicken: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place two bone-in, skin-on chicken breast halves skin side up in a 9 x 13 glass baking dish and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to the oven and bake until cooked through (the meat should no longer be pink and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast should read at least 165 degrees), about 40-50 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Roasted chicken breast in a glass baking dish.

Once the chicken is cool enough to handle, Remove the skin and shred the chicken meat away from the bones. Discard the skin and bones. Chop the chicken into small, bite-sized pieces. You should have 3 cups of cooked chicken.
Combine the mayonnaise, creme fraiche, lemon juice, mustard and red onion in medium bowl and stir until smooth. Fold in the celery, chicken and chopped tarragon. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes or up to 3 days.

Dressing for Creamy Tarragon Chicken Salad in a bowl with a rubber spatula.

Bowl of Creamy Tarragon Chicken Salad with a rubber spatula.

Expert Tips

If you would like the red onion to have a little less bite, let it soak in the lemon juice for 15-20 minutes before adding the rest of the ingredients.
If your salad isn't as creamy as you would like it to be, add another tablespoon or two of mayonnaise or creme fraiche.

Creamy Tarragon Chicken Salad on lettuce leaves.

FAQs

How do I store this chicken salad?

Store this chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I don't recommend freezing chicken salad.

How can I vary this recipe?

You can substitute sour cream, Greek yogurt or simply more mayonnaise for the creme fraiche. Feel free to leave out the red onion all together or substitute chopped green onions or shallots. The celery can also be omitted if desired. The tarragon can be replaced with any soft fresh herb such as parsley, chives, dill or basil. For added crunch, consider including a handful of sliced almonds in the recipe. If you'd like some sweetness, dried cranberries or halved red grapes are delicious additions!

Can I use dried tarragon in place of fresh?

Yes, simply substitute 2 teaspoons dried tarragon for the 2 tablespoons of fresh tarragon (the taste of dried herbs are more intense than fresh so you will need less).

Where can I find a vegetarian or vegan creamy salad recipe that is similar to chicken salad?

Check out my Chickpea Salad recipe! It's a delicious vegetarian version of a creamy salad with similar vibes.

What to serve with Tarragon Chicken Salad

Creamy chicken salad is incredibly versatile and can be served in many different ways. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Serve alongside crackers or crispbread and raw fresh vegetables such as carrots and celery sticks for dipping.
Use on a sandwich or in a wrap with the toppings of your choice (you can't go wrong with lettuce and tomato). Chicken salad is especially nice on soft rolls or a croissant!
Serve it Danish style piled high on rye bread as an open faced sandwich.
Wrap inside of lettuce leaves for a low-carb lunch or snack.

Croissant sandwich with lettuce, tarragon chicken salad and tomatoes on a white plate.

Looking for more delicious creamy salads? Give these recipes a try:

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