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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PrintCopycat Willow Tree Chicken Salad
A copycat recipe of the famous Willow Tree chicken salad.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: mixed
- Cuisine: American
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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This is the best chicken salad recipe ever!! Love the flavor and the consistency!! Got my husband hooked too!! Thanks for sharing!!!
You’re very welcome Marisa! So glad you both enjoyed the recipe!
Would love to try this recipe? I’m looking for a new unch go to meal and I may try this but my question is – can you use plain fat free greek yogurt in place of mayo?
Hi Kat – Sure – Greek yogurt has a very different flavor than mayo but if you are OK with that, it’s definitely a lower fat option for you than using mayo.
I think I will try this recipe with Turkey.. seeing I will have Turkey leftovers this THANKSGIVING!!
This recipe works great with leftover turkey – enjoy!
1 TSP soy sauce and 1/4 TSP of Chinese 5 Spice for an Asian twist. Definitely on my menu for the weekend!
Sounds like a delicious variation! Thanks for sharing!
I have made this recipe on several occasions and I’m always asked to make it again and again. I add dried cranberries and walnuts and the result is pretty close to Willow Tree’s. Add a little Buffalo Sauce and you get their buffalo chicken. They’re latest flavor sensation is sriracha chicken salad! I’m transplant to Pennsylvania, but whenever we go to Massachusetts every trip includes a stop at the Willow Tree store. Chicken salad and pot pies to take home! Gotta Love The Tree!
Great suggestions Ellen! So glad you are enjoying our copycat version!
Instead of brown sugar use honey…..big difference…
Thanks for the suggestion Carol! We’ll give it a try!
How do you usually prepare your chicken breasts– boiled, roasted, ect. ?
Hi Donna – We poach the chicken following this method: https://www.afamilyfeast.com/sunday-cooking-lesson-perfect-poached-chicken/ Hope this helps!
Thank you for the recipe; I am eager to give it a try, because it looks and sounds wonderful.
You’re very welcome Delores! We hope you love it as much as we do!
I have never had WillowTree chicken salad (I live in Indiana.) That being said, this chicken salad recipe is amazing! Absolutely love it.
Thanks Melissa! So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Good chicken salad. Thanks
You’re very welcome! So glad you enjoyed it Linda!