Vegan Chicken Salad (Printable)
Plant-based chicken salad with jackfruit, fresh veggies, and creamy vegan dressing. Ready in 30 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Vegan Chicken
01 - 2 cups shredded jackfruit (canned, drained and rinsed) or 2 cups store-bought vegan chicken pieces
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
04 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Salad Base
08 - 1 celery stalk, diced
09 - 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
10 - 1/2 cup red grapes, halved (optional)
11 - 1/3 cup chopped pickles or cornichons
12 - 1/4 cup sliced almonds or sunflower seeds
→ Dressing
13 - 1/3 cup vegan mayonnaise
14 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
15 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
16 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or agave nectar
17 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill or parsley, chopped (optional)
18 - Salt and pepper, to taste
# How-To:
01 - If using jackfruit, shred it thoroughly and squeeze out any excess moisture. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the jackfruit or vegan chicken pieces along with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Sauté for 5 to 7 minutes until slightly browned and fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled sautéed jackfruit or vegan chicken, diced celery, chopped red onion, halved grapes (if using), chopped pickles, and sliced almonds or sunflower seeds.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the vegan mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, maple syrup or agave nectar, and fresh herbs. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated and well combined.
05 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
06 - Serve on toasted bread, in wraps, or over a bed of fresh greens.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It comes together in under thirty minutes and tastes even better after sitting in the fridge overnight.
- The smoky jackfruit tricks even my most skeptical friends into going back for seconds.
02 -
- Soggy jackfruit is the number one enemy here, so squeeze it like you mean it before it hits the pan.
- This salad actually improves after a night in the fridge, making it perfect for meal prep.
03 -
- Let the dressed salad sit in the fridge uncovered for the first ten minutes so the excess moisture evaporates instead of making everything watery.
- A tiny pinch of celery salt in the dressing will make people wonder what your secret ingredient is.