Sun-dried Tomato Chicken Salad with Fresh Basil

Readymade sun-dried tomato spread gives this chicken salad a bold and unforgettable flavor! Perfect on a wrap or croissant, this flavorful sun-dried tomato chicken salad recipe with basil will be one of your new favorites!

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I love inventing flavorful and unique chicken salad recipes, like this bacon ranch chicken salad or lemon tarragon shredded chicken salad with pecans. They make perfect summer sandwiches that are so much more interesting than simple deli meat and cheese, or you can use them on top of a green salad for a lighter or lower carb option.

But my very first chicken salad recipe I developed probably 15-20 years ago was this sun-dried tomato chicken salad.

Over the years I’ve refined and improved the recipe. Instead of using canned chicken I now use homemade shredded chicken (here’s an easy way to make shredded chicken yourself!) and I’ve swapped fresh garlic and basil for the garlic powder and dried basil I used to use.

It’s gone from a simple convenience meal to a more decadent and flavorful recipe. And while I wouldn’t recommend using canned chicken as a first choice for this recipe, if you’re in a pinch you can still use it.

Ingredients

  • Shredded chicken: You can use leftover rotisserie or grilled chicken, or make your own. You can shred cooked chicken easily using the paddle attachment on a stand mixer — my absolute favorite hack! Here’s how I make shredded chicken to use in recipes.
  • California Sun Dry sun-dried tomato spread: This spread is great because it includes both a sun-dried tomato paste and bits of sun-dried tomatoes, along with herbs and spices. I usually find this on an end cap in the produce section of the grocery store next to the jarred sun-dried tomatoes, but if you can’t find it in your local grocery store you can order it online too! So far I haven’t found any combination of sun-dried tomatoes and tomato paste that match the flavor of this spread, but I will update this post if I do! This is what you’re looking for.
  • Mayonnaise: I prefer Hellman’s but you can use your favorite.
  • Fresh basil and garlic: While I used to use dried basil and garlic powder in this recipe, using fresh really improves and enhances the flavor!
  • Salt and pepper

How to make sun-dried tomato basil chicken salad

Step 1
Shred the chicken. Take poached, pan-cooked, or grilled chicken and shred it with two forks or in a stand mixer. Use the paddle attachment of a stand mixer and the lowest speed to easily shred your chicken! One pound of chicken makes about two cups shredded.

Step 2
Prepare the garlic and basil. Mince the garlic or press it through a garlic press.

For the basil, you can either chop or chiffonade it for this chicken salad. To chiffonade cut the basil, stack the leaves on top of each other and roll them tightly from side to side. Then slice thinly across, perpendicular to the stem, to create even, narrow slivers of basil.

Step 3
Mix everything together! Mix together the chicken, mayo, sun-dried tomato spread, garlic, and basil. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Step 4
Enjoy on a croissant or wrap!

How to serve this chicken salad

  • Serve on a flaky buttery croissant for a light lunch
  • Mix it into noodles for an easy pasta salad (add extra mayo and sun-dried tomato spread if you’re doing this!)
  • Make chicken salad pinwheels by spreading a thin layer onto a tortilla, rolling it up, and slicing it into one-inch sections for a simple party snack
  • Stuff mini cream puff shells with chicken salad instead of custard for a savory afternoon tea treat

You just can’t go wrong, people!

More chicken salad recipes you’ll love

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Sun-dried tomato basil chicken salad - There's nothing like the taste of this unique and flavorful chicken salad on a buttery croissant! | pinchmeimeating.com
5 from 1 vote

Sun-dried tomato basil chicken salad

This chicken salad is perfect for a light lunch on a summer day. A richly flavored unique mixture, even your non-mayo-loving friends will love this!
Print Recipe Save Recipe
Course: Main Course, Salad
Yield: 2
Prep Time:10 minutes
Total Time:10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups shredded chicken
  • 1/4 cup sun-dried tomato spread
  • 3 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 3 tbsp chopped fresh basil
  • 1 clove garlic pressed or minced
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Mix all ingredients with a fork. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Enjoy!
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