Chicken Salad Sandwich

My homemade chicken salad recipe is easy to make and loaded with crunchy celery, juicy chicken thighs, sweet relish, and is tossed in a creamy mayo dressing. This uber versatile classic is perfect for meal prep and can be served on sandwiches, green salads, crackers!

📝 Ingredients

• 3 lbs chicken thighs ((bone-in skin-on))
• 6-7 cups water
• 1/4 cup chicken bouillon
• 4 Dandy celery sticks (divided (2 cut in half & 2 chopped))
• 1 yellow onion (quartered)
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 4 eggs (hardboiled and chopped finely)
• 2 scallions (thinly sliced)
• lettuce (optional)
• tomato (sliced (optional))
• red onion (thinly sliced (optional))
• sliced bread
• 1 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup sweet relish
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
• 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon celery seed

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- Prepare chicken ---
2. 2Separate chicken thigh from the chicken skin. Place the chicken (thighs & skin), water, two stalks of celery, onion, bouillon seasoning, and salt into a 6 quart instant pot. Water should cover all the contents by at least an inch.
3. 3Seal the Instant Pot according to the manufacturer's instructions. Set the Instant Pot to manual, high pressure, for 20 minutes.
4. 4Quick pressure release the instant pot. Drain and transfer chicken to a sheet pan. Discard chicken skin and freeze or reserve stock for later. Let chicken cool until able to handle safely. Remove bones and gristle then shred chicken with a fork (or dice as preferred). Refrigerate chicken until you are ready to combine with the dressing.
5. 5--- Prepare Dressing ---
6. 6In a medium bowl whisk together all the dressings ingredients then refrigerate until you are ready to combine with chicken.
7. 7--- Prepare Salad ---
8. 8In a large bowl add shredded chicken, dressing, chopped celery, scallions, hardboiled eggs and toss until thoroughly combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. The longer the chicken salad has to rest and chill better after it tastes. If possible, make a day ahead.
9. 9--- Assemble Sandwich ---
10. 10Spread chicken salad between two slices of bread and top with your favorite fixings like lettuce, tomato, and onion. This salad also pairs well with your favorite crackers.