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Why buy the expensive deli chicken salad when you can make our Copycat Willow Tree Chicken Salad at home? (It’s just as good!)
A few years back when I was pregnant with my daughter, I had food cravings like most pregnant woman do. One of my cravings was for Willow Tree chicken salad. Almost every day for lunch, I went to a little sandwich shop about a block away from my office, and I would get the exact same thing to eat: a Willow Tree chicken salad sandwich (and this sandwich shop specifically stated it was Willow Tree for good reason!) on sourdough bread, milk, and a piece of fruit.
Willow Tree Farm is a New England-area food company and poultry farm based out of Attleboro, Massachusetts, famous for their deli chicken salad and chicken pot pies. According to the Willow Tree website, they credit their chicken salad as one of the reasons the company has flourished over the years, and their products are also sold at grocery chains all along the East Coast of the United States.
My husband learned of my Willow Tree chicken salad craving – and being the sweetheart that he is – he set out to recreate this chicken salad recipe at home just for me. (It’s always important to keep a pregnant lady happy!) 😉
Jack started with the recipe found online here (someone else must have had a similar craving) but tweaked it further after reading the ingredients which the folks at Willow Tree were nice enough to list on their website as well. I think Jack has come pretty close with the recipe we’ve listed below. Enjoy!
A few last notes: This recipe was originally shared here on A Family Feast in November 2012. We’ve updated the original photo (you can see that below – our food photography has definitely improved over the years) and we included a video as well (see above). Our readers love this recipe – even those readers who never tasted the original Willow Tree version!
I do also want to thank the folks at Willow Tree for being such great sports about this copycat recipe. As you can see in the comments below, the folks at Willow Tree have been following along with our readers’ comments and closely guarding the family’s real chicken salad recipe!
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Copycat Willow Tree Chicken Salad
A copycat recipe of the famous Willow Tree chicken salad.
Ingredients
- 1 pound cooked chicken breast
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons finely minced celery
- 3 tablespoons finely minced onion
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of pepper
Instructions
- Using a stand mixer with paddle attachment, blend chicken breasts until thoroughly shredded, or shred by hand. (Note: Shredded chicken rather than diced chicken pieces will help recreate the original Willow Tree chicken salad texture.)
- Remove bowl from the stand mixer and add in all other ingredients. Stir by hand to mix well.
- Serve over lettuce leaves or in sandwiches.
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You nailed it! I’m living in Wilmington NC and from North Attleboro, MA. Always loved my Willow Tree Chicken Salad but could never match the flavor. This is outstanding Thank you! Now, if you could get me fried clams…
Thanks Gary – glad we were able to bring a taste of New England to you! We don’t have a fried clam recipe on our site, but you might like our New England Fish Fry recipe here: https://www.afamilyfeast.com/new-england-fish-fry/ – we’ve been thinking that this same coating might work on fried clams too.
I am from Rhode Island and being 62 have had Willow Tree Chicken Salad many many many times.
THIS COPYCAT RECIPE IS THE BEST!!
People even tell me it’s BETTER than Willow Tree!
Wow thank you Charlene!!
Thank you Martha!
Without you I would never have gotten that recipe!
By the way, I just made a double batch 2hrs ago!
It’s in the fridge marrying, I always make it a day ahead of eating! DELISH!
I could never find the perfect chicken salad recipe until I tried this one. It’s absolutely delicious.
Thanks Jean!
This tastes just like willow tree! The best chicken salad recipe ❤️
Thanks Annmarie!
Hello, how did you cook the chicken breast for the WT Chicken Salad?
Hi – If we have already cooked chicken (roasted or baked) we use that. We also sometimes poach the chicken – you can follow this recipe here: https://www.afamilyfeast.com/sunday-cooking-lesson-perfect-poached-chicken/
Wonderful.
Thanks Rebecca!
Delicious
Thanks Kelley
I am in Canada. I happened upon this recipe when reading about the Obama’s favourite things…this was on their list!
I have made this recipe many times and my family, as well as myself, absolutely LOVE it.
I would love the opportunity to try the “real thing” one day, so that I too, can make an assesment. As for right now, I am very content with every delicious morsel of this recipe. Cheers! Thanks for sharing.
I didn’t know this was on their list MJ! Glad you enjoyed the chicken salad!
Loved this chicken salad! So easy to make and is delicious. Is definitely going to be my go to chicken salad recipe.
Thanks Shirley!
Saw this recipe a couple years ago and I don’t use any other. It is delicious. I have experimented a little and now add about 1/8 tsp of crushed thyme. We actually use it more for a dip with crackers and vegetables and it’s gone in no time. Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks for the suggestion Debbie! Sounds delicious!