Chicken Salad Fruit Plate | An Easy Summer Meal Idea
In this post: Make this easy Chicken Salad Fruit Plate for summer lunches or Sunday Suppers. It’s the perfect dinner for two or the recipe can be adjusted to feed a crowd.
There’s a bit of a back-story to this post so I’ll start with that and then move on to the recipe. When my kids were growing up, we spent countless summer days at our pool. One of the biggest treats, at least for me, was when we ate lunch there. It was such a nice change from hot dogs and peanut butter! Anyway, the snack shack menu was limited to mostly kid-friendly choices but they also served what they called a “fruit plate.” You could pick chicken salad or cottage cheese for the middle and they surrounded it with different kinds of fruit. The finishing touch was a couple of mini muffins. When we ate lunch at the pool, we always ordered a fruit plate…I would eat the middle and we would share the rest.
When my kids left the nest, and I was cooking for two, I started making fruit plates for our dinner during the summer. My husband loves them, they are easy, and fairly healthy. For years I could get the most wonderful chicken salad at my Kroger deli. Just a few months ago, they changed their recipe and now it’s not very good. In fact, we don’t like it at all. So…I decided to start making my own chicken salad. I tried to copy the old Kroger recipe and came pretty close. I’ve made it twice and both times it was delicious.
Easy Chicken Salad Fruit Plate
Ingredients
- 2 cups diced cooked chicken I use white meat from rotisserie chicken.
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1/2 cup seedless red grapes, halved
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup light mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Milk
- salt & pepper to taste If you use rotisserie chicken, you won't need this.
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss well. Add the 2 tablespoons milk to thin the mayo if needed. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour before serving.
Notes
- Place a large scoop of chicken salad in the middle of a dinner plate.
- Surround it with four different kinds of fresh chopped fruit and a muffin or quick bread slices.
- Optional additions: hard boiled egg, fresh mini carrots, cherry tomatoes.
I know that some people consider rotisserie chicken unhealthy and every time I include it in a recipe, I get comments about how bad it is for you. Here’s the deal…I know it’s not necessarily the best choice. BUT, we don’t eat it that often and I love the convenience of it. So if you object to rotisserie chicken, please substitute whatever kind of chicken breasts you like best.
If you’ve got a busy day, these fruit plates can be made up ahead of time and stashed in the refrigerator. Just cover the plate with plastic wrap.
For quick bread & muffin ideas to accompany your chicken salad fruit plate, click the links below. Don’t forget that most quick bread recipes can be made into muffins and most muffin recipes can be made into quick breads!
Just in case you need a reminder, here’s my take on cooking the perfect hard boiled egg.
When I write posts like this, I am tempted to feel sorry for myself and truth be told, sometimes I do. I let my mind wander and I go back to those sweet days when my kids were young…and still at home. When that happens, I let myself go there for a little while and then I shut the door. Wishing for days gone by doesn’t do anyone any good. I rearrange my thoughts and remind myself of everything I have to be thankful for. You all are at the top of that list. I am so grateful for your support and friendship…and the fact that I can fill my days writing and creating is one of the biggest blessings of all.
Other Sunday Supper Recipes:
- Chicken Noodle Casserole
- Easy Baked Spaghetti
- Rosemary Parmesan Chicken
- My Mom’s Pot Roast
- Hearty Potato Soup
- Chicken Pot Pies with Puff Pastry Crust
- Chicken Salad Fruit Plate
- Beef Barley Soup
- Chicken Noodle Soup
*Some links lead to websites where I am an affiliate. Click HERE for my disclosure statement.
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Thank you so much for spending
some time with me…see you soon!