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5 from 11 votes

Newk's Chicken Salad - Easy Copycat Recipe

Newks Chicken Salad with grapes, pecans, onions, and celery has the best combination of flavors and texture. This famous Newk's copycat recipe is absolutely irresistible!
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword Chicken Salad, Newks Chicken Salad
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 10
Calories 505kcal
Author Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

  • 3 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 2 cups mayonnaise
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
  • 2.5 pounds cooked white chicken
  • 3/4 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/8 cup diced red onion
  • 3/4 cup finely diced celery
  • 1 cup sliced red grapes

Instructions

  • In a medium-sized bowl combine lemon juice, mayonnaise, ground black pepper, sugar, salt, and seasoned salt.
  • Stir the salad dressing very well.
  • Add in the cooked white chicken, chopped pecans, diced red onion, finely diced celery, and stir well. After the salad is well combined, gently fold in the sliced red grapes.
  • Placed the salad in an air-tight container, and allow the salad to rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Video

Recipe Tips

Pro Cooking Tips for Perfect Newk's Chicken Salad

  1. The Secret to Moist Chicken: The unique cooking method described above—quick sear followed by gentle steaming—is key to chicken that's moist and flavorful rather than bland and waterlogged from poaching or dry from overcooking.
  2. Texture Balance: For the best texture contrast, make sure to dice the chicken, celery, and onions to a similar size (about ¼-½ inch pieces), but keep the pecan pieces slightly larger for that satisfying crunch.
  3. Chilling Time Matters: While it's tempting to serve immediately, allowing the prepared chicken salad to chill for at least 30 minutes (or ideally 2 hours) allows the flavors to develop and meld together, resulting in a much more flavorful final product.

Nutrition

Calories: 505kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 771mg | Potassium: 511mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 107IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg
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