It’s creamy, savory, and undeniably nostalgic — chicken salad is the ultimate family potluck in the park dish. And it’s making a comeback. Usually made with shredded or diced chicken, some sort of mayonnaise-based dressing, and a host of add-ins, chicken salad comes in a host of various flavors, textures, and appearances.
If you’re missing your grandmother’s chicken salad, here’s where to get the best chicken salad at chains to satisfy any cravings.
Chicken Salad Chick
This one is a no brainer. Chicken Salad Chick’s main thing is chicken salad, as its name implies. With over a dozen different flavors of chicken salad, you truly can’t go wrong with what you pick.
Panera Bread
Still reeling over the discontinuation of Panera’s Napa Almond Chicken Salad Sandwich? Well, for a limited time, Panera Bread is offering a Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad Sandwich. The chicken salad is made with chicken, walnuts, and dried cranberries tossed in a creamy dressing. It’s layered with tomatoes and lettuce on top of nicely toasted sourdough, making for the ideal creamy, savory, sweet, and mouth-watering lunch.
Au Bon Pain
Fast casual restaurant and bakery Au Bon Pain’s proprietary sandwich is the ABP’s Original Chicken Salad. It contains chicken salad with cranberries and toasted almonds and is served between two halves of a croissant. Looking for a scoop of chicken salad to accompany your sandwich? Au Bon Pain offers its Chicken Salad Scoop topped with grape tomatoes, spring greens, and a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette.
Pret A Manger
You might start to sense a theme here. Pret A Manger’s Chicken Salad & Avo Sandwich includes chicken salad with cranberries and almonds — but this sandwich also contains sliced avocado and mixed greens on multi grain bread. With two undeniably creamy components, the texture of this sandwich is balanced out by the crunchy greens and textured bread. If you’re craving chicken salad and ripe avocados, this one’s for you.
McAlister’s Deli
Similar to Pret A Manger, McAlister’s Deli offers a Harvest Chicken Salad sandwich that consists of a croissant filled with cranberry pecan chicken salad, spring greens, and tomatoes. The Harvest Chicken Salad is served with a side of your choice and a tangy pickle spear.
Subway
In contrast to the chains above, Subway’s take on chicken salad is more savory-forward. Available in subs and wraps alike, Subway’s chicken salad contains scallions, celery, dill, and parsley. As with most Subway menu items, chicken salad can be paired with any assortment of toppings — we recommend onion, tomato, and cucumber.
Jersey Mike’s
Jersey Mike’s LTO Chicken Salad sandwich contains chicken salad that has diced celery and a touch of black pepper in it. Just like Subway, the toppings are customizable — but no matter what you select, trust that your sandwich will be juicy, tender, and absolutely delicious.
Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shop
If you’re hoping to have a loaded deli sandwich, go to Mr. Pickle’s on the west coast. While you can customize your own sandwich, opt for the Big Easy: no-frills chicken salad, swiss cheese, avocado, and what Mr. Pickle’s calls “The Works” (garlic sauce, iceberg lettuce, pepperoncini, pickles, red onion, tomato). It might seem like a lot, but everything blends well together.