When I was a kid, my mom took my sister and me to a roadside fruit stand that served the most incredible chicken salad sandwiches I've ever had. In fact, I remember the crunch of the celery and the bright red grapes between the thick slices of sourdough bread.
Although I would never even think of eating a chicken salad sandwich today, I figured I could make two different versions of vegan chicken salad: Chickpea Chicken Salad, and a faux Chicken Salad that would bring back those comfort food memories.
As I said before, my boys are fans of alternative meats. So, as I began testing different vegan chicken salad recipes, I figured I would attempt two versions. Similar to my Vegan Chickpea Salad Stuffed Tomato and my Vegan Curry Chickpea Sandwich Spread, I made a chickpea version of vegetarian chicken salad and another version using Gardein Grilling Chicken Strips.
Even though I am not an alternative meat fan, I was curious to see what would happen when I made two versions of the same vegan chicken salad. Despite wanting to tell my family about my taste test, I kept my experiment a secret, and the results were interesting.
CHICKPEA VEGAN CHICKEN SALAD VERSION
Recently, I made a Skinny Vegan Waldorf Salad, which was a hit with my friends and family.
For that reason, I used the same dressing. Likewise, I used red grapes consistent with my childhood version of chicken salad I loved as a kid.
First, I used my food processor to pulse the chickpeas, leaving some whole, while others were crushed. As a result, the texture of the salad was perfect for adding additional vegetables and sweet grapes.
Then, I added the celery, red onion, dill, and delicious cashew-based sweet dressing. Vegetarian chicken salad with chickpeas, for example, is identical to a vegan "tuna" salad, with one exception, the poultry seasoning.
Poultry seasoning is a blend of spices which contains thyme, sage, marjoram, rosemary, black pepper, and nutmeg. Other blends may contain celery seed, celery salt, and occasionally ground cloves.
Wondering about poultry seasoning and whether or not it's vegan? Yes, poultry seasoning is completely vegan! Despite the name, poultry seasoning contains no poultry and no meat whatsoever. It's called "poultry seasoning" because it is used to season poultry, not because it contains poultry.
With that said, poultry seasoning doesn't taste like chicken either 🙂
One of my favorite new seasonings is Trader Joe's Vegan Chickenless seasoning blend.
WHAT MAKES A GREAT VEGAN CHICKEN SALAD?
Though the poultry seasoning is the magic ingredient in the vegan chicken salad, the vegetables, fruits, and dressing all work together. For both versions of the salad, I used celery, red grapes, red onion, and dill.
Additionally, I added the dressing and stirred everything together. At this point, you may want to dig a fork into the bowl, but if you refrigerate the vegan "chicken" salad, its flavors meld, and it simply tastes better.
THE GARDEIN CHIK'N SALAD VERSION
I've never eaten or cooked Gardein Meatless Chik'n Strips, though, but they looked way too much like chicken for my taste.
So, I cooked them in a pan with vegetable broth until they appeared cooked through. Then I let them cool until I could cut them. In spite of their "real" appearance, when I tasted a little bite from the pan, I wasn't impressed by any overwhelming taste. In fact, they didn't have much taste at all.
After cutting the chik'n strips into bite-sized pieces, I followed the exact recipe I used for the chickpea version of vegan chicken salad.
Chik'n Salad
Both salads, even though different, virtually looked the same, but did they taste the same? Before I gave away my secret taste test, I made sandwiches for my victims.
VEGAN CHIK'N SALAD (GARDEIN VERSION) VERSUS VEGAN "CHICKEN" SALAD (CHICKPEA VERSION).....
...AND THE WINNER IS...
Accordingly, the boys picked the chickpea version. In the end, though, I was surprised.
Consequently, they ate both halves of both sandwiches, and they took the leftovers to work happily the next day. So, give Vegan Chicken Salad Recipe a try and pick the version you like best.
IF YOU ENJOY THIS RECIPE, TRY THESE OTHER FAVORITES
- Vegan Egg Salad
- Chickpea Tuna Salad
- Jackfruit Tuna Salad
- Vegan Cornbread
- Coney Sauce Recipe
- Thai Drunken Noodles
- Vegetable Barley Soup
- Yum Yum Sauce Recipe
- Vietnamese Noodles
- Lentil Meatballs
Vegan Chicken Salad
This vegan chicken salad recipe is fabulous stuffed in a tomato, in a wrap or pita, as a sandwich, or on top of a crunchy salad! With two different versions, you get to choose how you like it.
Ingredients
DRESSING
- 1 cup organic raw cashews
- 1 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 Tablespoons maple syrup
CHICKPEA VEGAN CHICKEN SALAD
- 1 15 ounce can chickpeas
- 1 cup red grapes, cut in halves
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
- 2 Tablespoons chopped dill
- 1 Tablespoon poultry seasoning
- 1/3 cup dressing
GARDEIN CHICK'N STRIP VEGAN CHICKEN SALAD
- 1 10 ounce bag of Gardein Chick'n Strips
- 1 cup red grapes, cut in halves
- 1/2 diced celery
- 1/2 diced red onion
- 2 Tablespoons chopped dill
- 1 Tablespoon poultry seasoning
- 1/3 cup dressing
Instructions
DRESSING
- Combine all ingredients in a high speed blender until smooth
- Place in a refrigerator until you plan to use
- Lasts 7 days in the refrigerator
CHICKPEA VEGAN CHICKEN SALAD
- Drain and rinse chickpeas
- Put in a food processor
- Pulse until chickpeas are partially mashed (Some should still be whole; you don't want them o be mushy), so don't over pulse
- Remove chickpeas and place in a large bowl (scrape the sides of the food processor bowl)
- Add celery, grapes, onion, dill, poultry seasoning, and 1/3 cup dressing
- Stir
- Refrigerate until serving
GARDEIN CHICK'N STRIP VEGAN CHICKEN SALAD
- In a large skillet on medium heat, cook chick'n strips until heated through
- Use vegetable broth to prevent sticking
- Flip chick'n strips over until cooked
- Remove from heat and let cool
- Once cooled, chop chick'n strips into small biet sized pieces
- Add celery, grapes, onion, dill, poultry seasoning, and 1/3 cup dressing
- Stir
- Refrigerate until serving
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
-
365 by Whole Foods Market, Organic Pure 100% Grade A Maple Syrup, Dark Color Robust Taste, 32 Fl Oz -
The Spice Lab Himalayan Salt - Coarse 2.2 Lb / 1 Kilo - Pink Himalayan Salt is Nutrient and Mineral Dense for Health - Gourmet Pure Crystal - Kosher & Natural Certified -
Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard (8 oz Jar) -
NutriBullet Pro 900 Hi-Speed Blender/Mixer, 9-piece Set -
Bragg Organic Raw Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar with The Mother, 16 ounce, 2 Pack -
Raw Cashews, 1 Pound – Deluxe Whole Nuts, Unsalted, Unroasted Fancy Snack, Size W-320, Kosher, Vegan, Bulk, A good source of Magnesium, Phosphorus, Copper & Manganese -
Trader Joe’s Vegan Chicken-Less Seasoning Salt Pack of 2
Nutrition Information
Yield
10Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 196Total Fat 4gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 4mgSodium 375mgCarbohydrates 28gFiber 3gSugar 16gProtein 4g
Nutrition facts may not be 100% accurate.
Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂
Kyleigh Dabler
do you soak the cashews to make the sauce or blend them raw?
Kathy Carmichael
Kyleigh, the raw cashews are for the sauce. If you have a good high-speed blender, you don't have to soak them overnight. If you don't have a high-speed blender, you can also take a short cut and boil the raw cashews to soften them for 10 minutes. Let me know if you like it.
Lois
In your recipe you say half the salary and half diced red onion. What does that mean? Half a cup or half of a stock of celery and half of an onion. I’m not the most seasoned and cooked and need more specific details ... thank you
Kathy Carmichael
Hi Lois, I'm sorry about that. I don't know how that happened. It is 1/2 cup diced celery and 1/2 cup diced red onion. Thank you so much for letting me know. And I hope you enjoy the recipe. Stay safe and healthy 🙂
Dora Calderon
What is the purpose of the maple syrup. Does it make the dressing taste sweet?
Kathy Carmichael
Hi Dora, the maple syrup is used to cut the acidity in the lemon juice and apple cider vinegar. You can always leave it out, taste it, and add it at the end if you prefer. I hope you enjoy the recipe.
Joan Beverly Grillo
I cannot eat nuts/cashews what can I substitute?
Kathy Carmichael
Hi Joan, you can use white beans in place of the nuts, a store-bought-soy vegan mayo, or you could make tofu vegan mayo recipe as well.I hope this is helpful. Happy Thanksgiving.
Joyce A Stevens
I made this Vegan Chicken Salad with the chickpeas (I love anything chickpeas) and found it to be very salty. Not sure why, but could it have been the 1 tbsp of poultry seasoning? I left the sea salt out of the dressing purposely because I didn't want the extra salt.
What do you recommend to make it taste less salty? Thanks.
Kathy Carmichael
Hi Joyce, poultry seasoning contains a milligram of salt, so I don't think that would be where the salty taste is coming from. The chickepas, themselves, I think taste salty on their own in the aquafaba though. Maybe you could rise the chickpeas more thoroughly, or use dried chickepas that are soaked and then cooked?
Kathy Carmichael
Hi Joyce, poultry seasoning contains a milligram of salt, so I don't think that would be where the salty taste is coming from. The chickepas, themselves, I think taste salty on their own in the aquafaba. Maybe you could rise the chickpeas more thoroughly, or use dried chickepas that are soaked and then cooked?