Mediterranean Chicken Salad

I absolutely adore throw-it-together meals that can be adapted to whatever we've got in the fridge and chicken salad is solidly in that category. There are hundreds of ways to make chicken salad, and most of us have our favorites.

Many (many) years ago a friend of mine made chicken salad with grapes and in contrast to the super basic chicken salad of my childhood, I thought it was the most delicious, exotic thing I'd ever eaten.

Thankfully, my culinary horizon has widened considerably since the chicken salad and grape days (although I still love grapes in chicken salad) and I've made more variations than I could possibly count.

But, I keep coming back to these fresh Mediterranean flavors. I just love the briny flavor of the capers happily mingling with lemon juice and plenty of fresh herbs. Slices of crisp veggies give it some crunch and rotisserie chicken means the whole thing can be prepared in a matter of minutes.

Ingredients needed to prepare this recipe

• Thick slices of sturdy bread or sandwich rolls
• Mayo
• A few dashes of garlic powder
• A dash or two of cayenne (more if you like it spicy!)
• Plenty of fresh herbs: Chives, tarragon or oregano, and Italian flat leaf parsley
• Nonpareil capers
• Fresh lemon juice
• Shredded rotisserie chicken
• Salt and pepper
• Roasted red peppers
• Cucumber
• Radishes

Substitutions, additions, and variations

I love a recipe with options and Mediterranean chicken salad is just begging to be adapted to whatever you have and whatever you love.

I mean, seriously. You can do pretty much anything with this recipe. But, if you still want to keep those bright, fresh Mediterranean flavors, here are a few suggestions...

• So many bread choices: Use any kind of bread or sandwich rolls, or opt for something like a bagel or a croissant.
• Layer any kind of veggies into this sandwich. Consider adding thin slices of carrots, red bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, onions, or tomatoes.
• Use whatever fresh herbs you like. Good options include basil, dill, fennel, marjoram, mint, and thyme.
• Instead of mayo: Use unsweetened plain Greek yogurt in place of mayonnaise if you prefer. Or use garlic aioli or sour cream.
• Make it egg free: Mashed avocado makes a delicious stand in for mayonnaise. You can also use a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil plus some additional lemon juice in place of the mayo if you prefer.

How to make Mediterranean chicken salad sandwiches in 4 simple steps

Add the mayonnaise, garlic powder, cayenne, chives, tarragon or oregano, parsley, capers, and lemon juice to a large bowl. Stir to mix.

Add the shredded rotisserie chicken and stir until the chicken is well coated with the dressing. Taste and add more lemon juice and/or salt and pepper if desired.

Layer two slices of bread or the bottom half of two sandwich rolls with a couple of sliced roasted red peppers, and several cucumber and radish slices. Sprinkle the veggies lightly with salt and pepper.

Divide the chicken salad between the two sandwiches and top with a second slice of bread or the tops of sandwich rolls. Serve immediately.

Make ahead and meal prep tips

Mediterranean chicken salad can be prepared up to 3 days in advance, just don't layer it onto bread until right before you're ready to serve. Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

You can also slice up the veggies in advance. Sprinkle them with some salt and pepper and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

For those of you who are new here, my husband and I are nomads, traveling the country in a 5th wheel RV. One thing I try to do on travel days, when we are hauling our RV from one place to another, is pack our lunch. We may still eat it at a truck stop, but packing our lunch in a cooler saves us from eating truck stop food.

This chicken salad is one of my favorite things to pack. I pack the salad into a couple of jars, the sliced veggies in a zip-top bag, and wrap a couple of pre sliced sandwich rolls in plastic wrap to keep them from drying out.

When we're ready to eat, we simply assemble the sandwiches in the truck and chow down. This, of course, works for any kind of packed lunch. Just make sure the lunch carrier is insulated to keep the chicken salad cold.

My other favorite thing to pack for travel days? This vegan pearl couscous salad, which is also packed with bright, fresh Mediterranean flavors!

Serve it 4 ways (beyond chicken salad sandwiches)

1. Who says this chicken salad has to be eaten as a sandwich??? Pile Mediterranean chicken salad onto a plate of fresh greens or serve it with raw, roasted, sautéed, or grilled veggies.
2. Serve Mediterranean chicken salad in lettuce wraps for a gluten free, low carb meal.
3. I know this is still technically a sandwich (of sorts), but I love to serve this chicken salad stuffed into pita pockets. Add the sliced veggies to the pita pocket first, then scoop as much chicken salad as you can without splitting the bread.
4. Spoon this chicken salad on top of flat bread or naan. Cut it into small squares for a delicious appetizer or as a part of a mezze platter.

More easy recipes that start with a rotisserie chicken

If you give this recipe a try, let me know! Scroll down to leave a comment and rate it!