Every time I make this Cajun Chicken Salad, I can not stop taking bites out of it. Made with rotisserie chicken, red bell pepper, red onion, sharp cheddar cheese, and a creamy, slightly spicy Cajun seasoning and horseradish sauce.
Why You'll Love this Cajun Chicken Salad:
- Ready in under 20 minutes, start to finish.
- That Cajun dressing, ya'll! It's creamy, savory, and just a bit spicy (but totally adjustable).
- Made with just a few simple ingredients. Rotisserie chicken, bell pepper, onion, cheese, and a Cajun dressing that is whipped up with a few ingredients you probably already have on hand.
Jump to:
Key Ingredients:
- Rotisserie Chicken: Flavorful and ready to eat. Just pull the meat from the bone.
- Veggies: Red bell pepper and red onion give this chicken salad a bit of color and a bit of crunch.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Adds a creamy tang.
- Cajun Dressing: A blend of mayo, sour cream, Dijon, creamed horseradish, and Cajun seasoning. It's savory with a hint of spice.
Dietary Swaps:
- This salad is naturally low-carb & keto-friendly.
- Gluten-Free: Double check that all store-bought ingredients are certified gluten-free, especially the rotisserie chicken and Cajun seasoning as some contain fillers that are not safe for those with celiac.
- Lower-Fat: Swap the mayo and sour cream in the dressing for Greek Yogurt.
- Egg-Free: Swap the mayo for an egg-free Veganiase.
- Dairy-Free: Swap the cheese, mayo, and sour cream for plant based versions.
Recipe Variations:
- For a chunkier salad, chop all ingredients by hand rather than using a food processor.
- Make it a pasta salad, by folding in cooked & drained short-cut pasta along with the dressing.
- Use a different chicken. Any cooked chicken, grilled, fried, baked, or even turkey all work for this recipe. Just pull the meat from the bone and add it a food processor along with the other ingredients.
- Add or Swap Veggies. Celery, green onion, green bell pepper, yellow onion, or even fresh jalapeno for extra spice.
Tips & Notes:
- Pulse ingredients gently in the food processor, so that they are well incorporated, but keep some texture.
- If you are sensitive to spice, start with half of the Cajun seasoning and horseradish in the dressing and adjust from there.
- For a chunkier chicken salad, chop all ingredients by hand instead of using a food processor.
Storage:
- Store leftover Cajun chicken salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- This salad is not freezer-friendly.
FAQs:
How to serve Cajun chicken salad?
This chicken salad is fantastic on it's own, but is also great with crackers, as a sandwich or wrap, or a bed of lettuce for a chicken salad salad.
Should this salad be served room-temperature or chilled?
Either works! It really depends on your personal preference. Just be sure to refrigerate any leftovers!
How spicy is the dressing?
Mild to medium. The spice in this dressing is more flavorful than heat. If you are very sensitive to spice, start with half of the Cajun seasoning and horseradish and adjust from there.
More Rotisserie Chicken Recipes You Will Love:
- Gluten-Free Cucumber & Dill Rotisserie Chicken Salad
- Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake
- Macaroni Chicken Pasta Salad
- Chicken Broccoli Rice and Cheese Casserole
- Italian Chicken Salad
- Lemon Chicken Orzo Pasta
Recipe
Cajun Chicken Salad
Made with rotisserie chicken, red bell pepper, red onion, sharp cheddar cheese, and a creamy, slightly spicy Cajun seasoning and horseradish sauce.
Ingredients
- 3 cups rotisserie chicken shredded or chopped
- ¼ cup red onion roughly chopped
- ¼ red bell pepper seeds removed, roughly chopped
- ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Cajun Dressing:
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1-2 teaspoon creamed horseradish to taste
- ½-1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning to taste
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon lemon juice
- Fresh chives chopped
Instructions
- Add chicken, red onion, and bell pepper to a food processor. Pulse 3-4 times until just broken down (do not over-process).
- Add shredded cheddar; pulse once or twice to combine.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together mayo, sour cream, Dijon mustard, horseradish, Cajun seasoning, Worcestershire, and lemon juice.
- Fold the dressing into the chicken mixture until well coated. Taste and adjust seasoning with more Cajun spice, salt, or lemon juice if needed.
- Transfer to a serving bowl, sprinkle with fresh chives, and serve with crackers, over greens, or on bread.
Notes
- Pulse ingredients gently in the food processor, so that they are well incorporated, but keep some texture.
- If you are sensitive to spice, start with half of the Cajun seasoning and horseradish in the dressing and adjust from there.
- For a chunkier chicken salad, chop all ingredients by hand instead of using a food processor.
- Nutrition values are an estimate only.
Nutrition
Calories: 300kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 22gFat: 22gSodium: 480mgSugar: 1g
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
Tried this Cajun Chicken Salad? I'd love to hear how it turned out! ⭐ Please leave a star rating and review in the recipe card below. Your feedback helps others discover this ultra-flavorful salad. Enjoy, and happy cooking! Follow me on Instagram and Subscribe to my newsletter more delicious recipes, travel inspiration, and behind-the-scenes content.
Must Love Garlic says
If you are in need of an extra flavorful chicken salad, this is the one! Creamy, crunchy, slightly spicy.