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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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How do you prepare the chicken please?
Hi Courtney – Any cooked chicken will work. You can simply bake some chicken breasts in the oven, or poach them – here’s a recipe for that: https://www.afamilyfeast.com/sunday-cooking-lesson-perfect-poached-chicken/
I’ve been making a similar recipe for decades with lemon juice and more pepper…no brown sugar or garlic powder. Tried your recipe and it’s delicious. Will switch to this from now on. Thank you!!!
You’re welcome Diane – so glad you enjoyed the chicken salad recipe!
We love this chicken salad recipe. Are it whenever we have leftover Costco chicken. I also use celery leaves and a bit of dill.
Thank you Denise!
Oh man! This was the Best chicken salad I’ve ever made! It was the bomb diggety!!
Thanks Cindy! 🙂
This is the best chicken salad recipe I’ve ever had! I crave it and make it all the time! Sometimes I add chopped pecans, dried cranberries, even a chopped boiled egg. But the flavor of the basic salad is fabulous!
Thank you Jean!
This is the closest recipe that I have found, it’s amazing! I’m a native Rhode Islander, transplanted to a state that’s never heard of Willow Tree. Whenever I visit home, Willow Tree is always top on my list of things to have. This is my go to recipe in between. You really rocked it, Willow Tree is by far the best chicken salad I’ve ever had! Thank you!!
You’re very welcome Jackie – so glad you can enjoy a taste of home!
Absolutely delicious I make this recipe all the time
Thank you Laurie!
I finally made the chicken salad and it was great We eat a light dinner now and this was just enough. I don’t cook large meals anymore but still enjoy looking at your site
Thank you so much Linda! Glad you enjoyed the chicken salad!
I finally made the chicken salad you posted. My husband and I eat lightly at 4 pm now. This was so tasty and an easy meal preparation
I don’t cook as much but still enjoy your site
Linda
Thank you Linda – So nice to hear from you! I’m glad you enjoyed the chicken salad!
Lovely salad for my girls. Thank you!
You’re welcome Donna!