This chicken salad is filled with grapes, apples, pecans, and shredded chicken! It's identical to the Fancy Nancy Chicken Salad from Chicken Salad Chick!
Fancy Nancy Chicken Salad is one of the most popular chicken salads from the national restaurant chain, Chicken Salad Chick. It is full of red grapes, crisp apples, pecans, and the perfect blend of seasonings! I've been making this copycat recipe for years, and everyone always begs me for the recipe! It is delicious and so easy to make at home! Serve it with the classic southern dish Pear Salad or easy Air Fryer Tater Tots!
The Fancy Nancy Chicken Salad is so good that it can be eaten plain, in a salad, in a lettuce wrap, or in a sandwich; the options are endless! I love eating it with a fresh croissant, but when I want to save some carbs and calories, I opt for a lettuce wrap - YUM! The chicken salad itself is SUPER easy to make!
How to make Fancy Nancy Chicken Salad:
**scroll down for full ingredients list and printable directions**
- Start by preparing all the ingredients. To make shredded chicken, you can follow my directions for making shredded chicken in bulk. You can also use a rotisserie chicken and shred that. Want to use turkey in place of chicken, then try this Air Fryer Turkey Breast recipe. Prepare the vegetables and fruit by washing and chopping everything.
- Using a medium/large bowl, add the chicken, apples, grapes, celery, pecans, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and ranch seasoning. Stir gently to combine everything and mix well.
- Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld together.
How to serve Fancy Nancy chicken salad:
- Spoon over a bed of lettuce and enjoy plain.
- Add Fancy Nancy Chicken Salad to a fresh croissant and top with lettuce and tomato!
- Use romaine or bib lettuce and spoon the chicken salad into lettuce wraps.
- Using your favorite sandwich bread, make a chicken salad sandwich and top with lettuce and tomato.
- Eat with Ritz crackers!
This chicken salad is a great meal to make for new mom's, to bring to a potluck, or to use for a meal-train. When I bring it to people, I always pack the chicken salad, some croissants, lettuce, and tomato slices. People LOVE it! The chicken salad will keep in the fridge for a week.
Can you freeze chicken salad?
I don't recommend freezing chicken salad, however you can freeze shredded chicken to have on hand to use in this chicken salad! Having frozen chicken on hand is great because it's versatile and can be used in so many recipes!
Need a side dish to go with this meal? These are great options to serve alongside the chicken salad:
- Air Fryer Roasted Asparagus has only 2 ingredients and takes a fraction of the typical time, this will be your favorite way to cook asparagus from now on!
- Air Fryer Tater Tots are a quick and convenient side to throw into the air fryer! They cook quickly and turn out perfectly crispy every time!
- Creamy BLT Pasta Salad is the perfect dish to bring to any potluck or BBQ. All the classic flavors of a BLT thrown into a delicious pasta salad.
- Creamy Pesto Pasta is full of tomatoes, artichokes, peas, and topped with a creamy pesto sauce! It’s sure to be a BBQ favorite!
- Pear Salad is a classic southern comfort food! These canned pears topped with mayonnaise, cheese, and a cherry will be a hit at the next potluck!
If you like salads as much as I do, checkout these other delicious options:
- Asian Salad
- Buffalo Chicken Salad
- Big Mac Salad (low carb)
- Crunchy Peanut Chicken Salad
- Asian Salad Dressing
This chicken salad is filled with grapes, apples, pecans, and shredded chicken! It’s identical to the Fancy Nancy Chicken Salad from Chicken Salad Chick!
- 4 cups shredded chicken
- ½ cup chopped fuji or honey crisp apples
- ½ cup red seedless grapes, cut into ¼ths
- ½ cup chopped celery
- 2 TBS chopped pecans
- 1 cup mayonnaise (reduced fat is fine)
- 1 ½ teaspoon ranch season (hidden valley powder)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
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Using a medium/large bowl, add the chicken, apples, grapes, celery, pecans, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and ranch seasoning. Stir gently to combine everything and mix well.
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Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld together.
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Serve and refrigerate when not serving. Will keep in fridge for up to 1 week.
Recipe Video
*Nutritional information per serving (4 servings): 462 calories, 12g carbohydrates, 1g fiber, 6g sugar, 39g protein
Nutritional information is based off the ingredients I specifically used. Calculate your own nutrition using your specific ingredients and a calculator such as myfitnesspal.
Sandra Alfano
So happy I found this recipe, it is delicious. I put the chicken salad over some baby spinach it was perfect! Thank you!
Allyson
That does sound like the perfect combo!
Kim
I haven't made Chicken Salad in ages! I've never put grapes in mine! Thanks for the inspiration to try something different.
Allyson
The grapes add such an irreplaceable flavor!
Marimat
This salad is yummyyyy
Thank you!
Allyson
So happy you like it!
Carol
This recipe is really good…yum. I also use the same recipe except I use pineapple chunks instead of apples and no ranch powder. Very good.
Allyson
Wow I have never heard to use pineapple chunks! I will try that out! Thanks!
Natalie
Oh, how I could eat this daily! Never added ranch before, but I am glad I tried..I've been missing out! So tasty & crunchy!
Allyson
YES! Ranch changes everything!
Lynnette
Yum! My first time using Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning. Yum! Loved it. So easy and delicious! Thanks for sharing.
Allyson
Isn't it great! It's subtle but adds a punch!
MaryKay Wood
Oh my lanta!!! My fav chicken salad of all time!!!
Allyson
Now you can make it ALL THE TIME at home 😉
Alicia
I absolutely LOOOOVE this chicken salad from chicken salad chick! I cannot believe how spot on this recipe is for the restaurant version! THANK YOU!
Vikki
Super tasty salad! Love it
katerina
Such a fantastic chicken salad!! I can't wait to try this!
Beti | easyweeknightrecipes
I love this chicken salad! Its incredibly delicious!! YUM!
Toni
Oh wow! This salad is so amazing! Packed full of amazing flavors!
Beth
Wow! This looks so tasty and so yummy! My hubby and I are going to love this recipe! So excited!
Catalina
Oh my goodness! Who doesn't love chicken salad?! It's my favorite!
Linda
I absolutely can't wait to make this delicious copycat chicken salad recipe. I know it's going to be absolute perfection.
If I'm watching my carbs I can just replace the bread with butter lettuce.
My mouth is watering right now and my tummy is growling.😋
Cheyanne Cooley
I have the actual recipe for fancy Nancy from chicken salad chick if you would like it!
Allyson
I would love to compare! You can email it to me: Allyson@domesticsuperhero.com - thanks!
Jill
Could you email this to me too?
StacY
I would like like the original recipe
Ashley
I would love the recipe as well. Awg1006@yahoo.com
Lindsay
I would love the original recipe too! Lindsaybrye@gmail.com
Erin Croke
I am a little late to the party, but would love a copy too!! erinkcroke@yahoo.com
Donna Brunet
Me too, please!!!! I'm a couple thousand miles from home! Thank you!
Donna Brunet
I'd love the original recipe as well! donnabrunet75@gmail.com
Hanna Denton
I would love it too, please! Hdenton08@gmail.com
Corinne
Could you please share the original with me too?! 🙂 Cjkworks@gmail.com
Marie Clark
I would LOVE the actual Fancy Nancy Recipe! Please share to: Mariec6482@gmail.com.
Thanks!
Sherryl
Hello, I would love the original recipe too. My friend loves this chicken salad. Her birthday is the 25th and she will be 60. I would love to make this for her. The chicken salad chick restaurant is about an hour away from where we live.
Thank you
Dawn
Hi Cheyanne
May I have the Chicken Salad Chick recipe too? Thanks so much.
Maree
I would love the recipe!
Becky
Hi, Thanks for this. I love this from Chicken Salad Chick and now I can make this anytime. We love cold fresh pineapple and mango chunks with it. Could you see if you can figure out how to make Chicken Salad Chick's Pimento Cheese? I make homemade pimento cheese but I prefer theirs. I would just like to make it in bulk when I want to at home. Thanks for great recipes.
Allyson
Becky! I do have a great pimento cheese recipe that seems similar to CSC! Check it out here!
Becky
Wow! Thanks for this. Mine is similar but without the mustard, hot sauce, and Worcestershire. That might be the flavor that I am missing. I'm giving this one a try as well. I enjoy all of your recipes. The hubby is impatiently waiting on the CSC salad this week with fresh pineapple and mango on the side-lol.
Allyson
That sounds incredible! Enjoy!
Joan Pearson
How do you cook your chicken for chicken salad? Thank you!
Allyson
I like to use my instant pot following these directions HERE. If you dont have an instant pot, go ahead and pop the chicken breasts in the oven at 350 for about 25 minutes, then shred 🙂
eileen
could i mash a avocado up instead of mayo for the chicken salad?
Thank You for your reply
Allyson
Yes! It will change the flavor but that will work. Maybe try adding a few TBS of greek yogurt to make it a bit creamier as well.
Alexa
I’m so glad I stumbled on this recipe! Have lots of memories associated with the chicken salad chick. Is there any way to get a copycat Jalapeño Holly recipe? Thanks!