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Smoked Chicken Salad

Chicken salad is so refreshing on a hot summer day. Smoking the chicken adds to the flavor. It is great for leftovers if you are lucky to have them. I always make a huge batch and serve it for lunch. Great on croissants, wraps, crackers, or served over a bed of greens with strawberries, grapes and cashews. You can’t go wrong!

  • Author: Heather Kozik
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 90
  • Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Yield: 5-6 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Pellet Grill
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 cups diced, smoked chicken breast
  • 2 cups chopped celery
  • 1 cup  chopped red onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
  • 2 cups mayonnaise plus more if desired
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1 cup Ocean Spray Craisins
  • Salt & pepper
  • Juice from one lemon

Instructions

Let's Get Started

  1. Heat pellet grill to 225˚ Super Smoke if available.
  2. Once heated place chicken thighs coated with Traeger Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy Rub on the grill and smoke until 165˚ internal temperature. You can you any rub you like.  This could take 1 1/2 hours or longer depending on the size of the thighs. Remove from grill and let rest.

Prepare the Dressing

  1. In the meantime, chop celery and onion, and then add the Craisins.
  2. Whisk the mayonnaise, sour cream and lemon juice then add to the mix above and season. 

Finish Up

  1. Once the chicken has cooled dice and mix in. 

Notes

I’m usually just mixing this stuff up in no particular order. Sometimes I may add more onion, celery, or Craisins. We like a creamier chicken salad. Adjust the mayonnaise to your own taste. Make this your own!

Keywords: smoked chicken salad