Copycat Costco Chicken Salad
It’s hard to resist grabbing a package of Costco’s creamy chicken salad when you’re shopping, but there’s enough of it to feed the whole block! If you’re hungry for their famous chicken dish, check out my Copycat Costco Chicken Salad recipe, which is every bit as good but scaled for a more reasonable serving size.
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I love Costco’s chicken salad, but I don’t love that I have to eat it over and over again. There’s just so much of it! When I’m craving it, I make my copycat version, just like the kind you can get in Costco in the USA and Canada. I swear, it tastes just like the original; I even did a side-by-side tasting when developing this recipe, just to get it right!
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This chicken salad is smooth, balanced, and scoopable, with that classic taste that works just as well piled onto bread as it does eaten straight from the bowl. It has tiny bits of celery and onion in it to give it some crunch and flavor. Use a vegetable chopper to get tiny dice for the salad.
Tuck this Copycat Costco Chicken Salad into croissants, spoon it onto sandwich bread, serve it with crackers, or pile it over lettuce for a quick meal. However you use it, this is one of those simple, dependable recipes that make busy weekdays a whole lot easier.
Ingredients
- Cooked chicken breast – Rotisserie chicken works best for convenience. Use mostly white meat for the closest texture. Dice it small so the salad holds together instead of feeling chunky.
- Mayonnaise – Full-fat mayo works best. Light mayo can make the salad thinner and less creamy.
- Sour cream – Full-fat sour cream is key here. Don’t skip it; it keeps the salad from tasting too heavy.
- Celery – Dice it very finely so it blends into the salad and doesn’t overpower each bite. I use a vegetable chopper to make quick work of the onions and celery.
- Sweet yellow onion – Sweet onion works best for balance. Don’t substitute with red or white onion; they’re sharper and will change the flavor.
- Lemon juice – Fresh lemon juice only. Bottled lemon juice tastes flat and won’t give the same brightness.
- Garlic powder – Use garlic powder, not garlic salt, or the salad can get too salty fast.
- Salt – Start with less and adjust to taste after chilling. If you use Costco’s rotisserie chicken, it’s already well seasoned so you may not need to add much, if any, salt.
- Black pepper – Freshly cracked black pepper has the best flavor.
- Parsley – Use for topping right before serving. I know the Costco version is sold with a sprinkle of dried parsley on top, but dried parsley has zero flavor and I won’t buy it. Fresh parsley is the way to go, trust me!
How to Make Copycat Costco Chicken Salad
Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until the dressing is smooth and fully combined.
Add the chopped chicken, finely diced celery, and finely diced sweet onion to the bowl with the dressing and mix just until combined so the chicken stays tender and the salad does not turn overly mashed.
Cover the bowl and chill the chicken salad for at least 30 minutes. This helps it firm up and gives the flavors time to settle together.
Taste and adjust with a little more salt or lemon juice if needed, then sprinkle the parsley over the top just before serving.
Chef Jenn’s Recipe Notes
- The sour cream is what keeps this salad from tasting too heavy, so I would not leave it out.
- Dice the chicken, celery, and onion nice and small. That texture is a big part of what makes this feel like the Costco version. I use a vegetable chopper to get tiny diced veggies.
- Sweet onion really matters here. A sharper onion can throw off the balance and make the salad taste too strong. You can soak the diced onion in ice water for a few minutes to help take the bite out of it, if you’re sensitive to onion.
- If the flavor feels flat after chilling, add a small pinch of salt or a little extra lemon juice before reaching for more mayo.
Serving Suggestions
Pile this onto croissants, sandwich bread, or toasted sourdough for an easy lunch. It is also really good scooped into lettuce cups or served over mixed greens for something lighter. For a simple lunch plate, serve it with crackers, sliced fruit, and a handful of chips or cut vegetables. I love making a salad plate with Southern Ham Salad and my favorite Deli Seafood Salad.
Storage
Store the chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Give it a quick stir before serving. If it tightens up a little in the fridge, a tiny spoonful of mayo or sour cream can loosen it back up. This chicken salad recipe won’t freeze well, so eat it fresh.
Frequently Asked Questions
It comes down to texture and balance. Costco’s version is very finely chopped and uses a specific ratio of mayo to add-ins, which gives it that smooth, scoopable consistency. Getting the dice small and the dressing balanced is what makes this copycat work.
You can, but it won’t be the same. Canned chicken tends to be softer and more shredded, which changes the texture. If you’re in a pinch, drain it well and keep the mix gentle so it doesn’t turn mushy, but expect your chicken salad with canned chicken to be more watery.
Croissants are the classic choice because they’re soft and slightly buttery, but sandwich bread or toasted sourdough also works well if you want something sturdier.
Copycat Costco Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked chicken breast chopped
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ½ cup celery finely diced
- ¼ cup sweet yellow onion finely diced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon parsley for topping
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
- Add the chopped chicken, celery, and sweet onion to the bowl with the dressing and mix gently until evenly coated.
- Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes so it firms up and the flavors settle.
- Sprinkle the parsley over the top just before serving.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.