This elderberry chicken salad is easy to toss together for lunch or dinner. It may just become a meal prep favorite, too.

There are so many days when I catch myself asking that same dreaded question: What am I going to cook? This happens with dinner, packing lunches for the kids and lunch for myself, too. 

Most days, it doesn’t feel like there is enough time to finish my to-do list and make all the meals, especially when most recipes feel so complicated. As a business owner and mom, cooking can feel exhausting at the end of the day. 

That’s why I’ve been on a constant mission to create simple recipes that are doable on busy days, and that make leftovers for meal prepping. Today, I’m super excited to share my elderberry chicken salad recipe. 

My mom would make chicken salad all the time when I was growing up. We’d have it as sandwiches for our school lunches, and for dinner when we were very busy. This is one meal that I have a hard time getting sick of. What can I say, I’m a big chicken salad fan. 

My family also loves chicken salad, so it’s a go-to around here for those long days and for the kids' lunches, too. One thing that I’ve added to this recipe as a special ingredient is elderberry syrup. Because of the amazing health benefits of elderberries, I figured it would be a great addition to the chicken salad. 

Ever since that first day I made this elderberry chicken salad, we haven’t turned back. The subtle, sweet and fruity hint of elderberry adds a nice pop of flavor to the creamy chicken salad. It’s a combo that truly impresses me, with both taste and the health perks. 

Sweet and Savory

Elderberry is what makes this recipe a little extra special and unique. Don’t get me wrong, good old classic chicken salad is amazing, but sometimes putting a spin on things can take a recipe from delicious to downright mouthwatering. It’s good to spice things up every once in a while, and this recipe is here to stay in our house. 

The creamy chicken salad pairs well with the elderberry syrup's slight tartness and sweetness, creating something that tastes amazing and is also good for your health. I try to incorporate elderberry into most of my recipes for its wellness benefits. 

Here are some of the perks of using elderberry:

• Full of antioxidants and flavonoids that support immune health and can shorten illnesses and reduce symptoms.

• It’s a simple, natural sweetener that adds a hint of fruity tartness to recipes and pairs well with everything from sweet to savory foods.

• Contains wellness-boosting vitamins that boost your immune system and reduce inflammation in the body. 

• Our Organic Elderberry Syrup is made with clean and wholesome ingredients that work for your health, not against it. 

• Very kid-friendly, even my picky eaters like the taste, and it’s a good way to get those health benefits in when you can. 

These are just a few of the many reasons that I love using elderberry syrup as often as I can. It’s a simple addition to your kitchen that can make the foods you eat more nutritious and intentional. 

Now, let’s get to it and see what you’ll need and how you make this elderberry chicken salad recipe. This recipe is very simple and doable for busy days; having a recipe like this one on hand will make your life a lot easier. 

Grab These Ingredients

Now, you’ll want to make sure that you have all of these ingredients on hand and ready to go, and luckily, this list isn’t too long or complicated. I know that it can be easy to dread and shy away from recipes with insanely long ingredient lists and overwhelming instructions. Good thing this is not one of those recipes. 

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds of shredded chicken breasts

• ⅓ cup of mayonnaise 

• ¼ cup of sliced almonds

• 1 cup of sliced celery

• 2 tbsp of Organic Elderberry Syrup

• 1 tsp of salt

• 2 tsp of black pepper

That’s it — easy and nourishing ingredients that make this elderberry chicken salad shine. Another thing that I really like about this recipe is that you can customize it however you want. Sometimes I’ll toss a handful of grapes, chopped apples or herbs to the mix, depending on what I have in the fridge.

Once you have all the ingredients together, it’s pretty quick to prepare the elderberry chicken salad, and before you know it, you’ll be trying it out for yourself. 

Step-By-Step Instructions

The instructions for this recipe honestly couldn’t get much easier. No confusion or spending forever standing in the kitchen, just simple prep and minimal cleanup. Personally, I’m head over heels for recipes that have me in and out of the kitchen and are low-stress yet delicious. For me, this elderberry chicken salad checks all the boxes. Now, let me show you how it’s done. 

Instructions: 

1. Add your cooked chicken to a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and use it to gently shred the chicken so it stays moist.

2. Put your shredded chicken in a bowl and add your mayonnaise, sliced almonds, sliced celery, elderberry syrup, salt and pepper. 

3. Stir it all together and enjoy!

I really wasn’t joking when I said this would be easy; it’s three painless steps that make life so much easier, especially on busy days. For the flavor and texture of this elderberry chicken salad, the short list of ingredients and basic steps is very impressive. Needless to say, this recipe is a regular in our meal rotation. 

Serving and Storing

There are many ways you can serve this elderberry chicken salad, and it’s always delicious. This recipe makes great lunches and dinners, too, and the way you serve it elevates it for whatever occasion pops up.

Here are some ways to serve elderberry chicken salad:

• Using crackers for dipping is actually really good, especially as a quick, high-protein snack.

• As a sandwich is something you can’t go wrong with. Whether it be plain bread slices, a croissant, a roll or an English muffin, this never disappoints.

• Over greens is a fresh and balanced approach that makes a plain salad way better and more appetizing. 

• Raw veggies like celery, broccoli, carrots and cucumbers are delicious dipped in this chicken salad.

These are all great options, whether for school lunches, snacks or dinner. This elderberry chicken salad makes a great meal prep option and can be stored in an airtight glass container in the fridge for 3-5 days.

Simple & Nourishing Meals

If you’re a fan of easy and wholesome recipes like this elderberry chicken salad, you’re in the right place. Here at Elderberry Queen, we love bringing you recipes that are health-boosting, doable for busy schedules and taste fantastic. 

Here are some more easy meals to check out:

• Honey Balsamic Pulled Pork Sliders

• Crockpot Elderberry BBQ Meatballs

• Crockpot Hamburger Soup

• Oven-Baked Elderberry BBQ Wings

If you want to stay up to date on our latest recipes, click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Simple and nourishing recipes for the whole family — that’s the heart of Elderberry Queen.