Salad recipes

This is my copycat of the popular salad sold at McDonald's. It's the only thing I eat off their menu and I was anxious to replicate it at home.

Chicken salad Contessa: roasted chicken tossed with sweet grapes, toasted walnuts, and a creamy tarragon dressing. Roasting the chicken instead of boiling builds real flavor. Pile it on greens or a croissant.

Chili taco salad: spicy chicken chili with kidney beans and chickpeas piled on tortilla chips with lettuce, tomato, jack cheese, sour cream, olives, and jalapenos.

Chicken salad chinois is a light Asian-inspired chicken salad with yogurt, ginger, and soy dressing. Low-fat and diabetic-friendly, this make-ahead salad gets better as it chills.

Pan-fried chicken tossed with fresh cilantro, toasted sesame seeds, and scallions in a punchy sesame-soy dressing spiked with five spice. A cool, crunchy salad with serious depth.

A no-cook chicken salad with fresh ginger, artichoke hearts, baby corn, sesame oil, and soy sauce tossed in mayo and served over crisp lettuce. Light, zesty, and packed with unexpected textures.

Overnight layered salad with chicken, spinach, lettuce, cheddar, and radishes sealed under a tangy mayonnaise-mustard dressing. Make it the night before and toss to serve.

Chinese-style drunken chicken salad marinated overnight in sherry, then served cold on red lettuce with toasted sesame seeds, cilantro, and scallions. Elegant, refreshing, and make-ahead friendly.

Tallahassee chicken salad keeps it Southern simple: poached chicken thighs, crisp diced celery, mayonnaise, and a hit of hot pepper sauce. Three ingredients, big Florida-panhandle flavor.

Chicken salad with red cabbage, Granny Smith apples, walnuts, and julienned carrots in a honey balsamic Dijon dressing. Garnished with fresh orange and kiwi slices.

Cold Mexican rice salad with fresh jalapeños, tomatoes, cilantro, and a red wine vinegar dressing. A no-cook side dish that chills in 2 hours and brightens any taco night.

Crunchy Asian chicken salad loaded with toasted almonds, sesame seeds, water chestnuts, and crispy chow mein noodles in a sweet vinegar dressing. No cooking required.

Garlicky pasta chicken salad made with 6 whole heads of garlic slow-cooked in olive oil and puréed with basil and rosemary. Tossed with rotini, Parmesan, and toasted walnuts.

Peachtree Street chicken salad with fresh peaches, toasted pecans, and a creamy mayonnaise-sour cream dressing with brown sugar. A Southern-style chicken salad inspired by Atlanta's famous boulevard.

Mediterranean grilled chicken salad with broiled chicken, potatoes, mushrooms, and green beans, all marinated in a tarragon-Dijon vinaigrette and arranged as a composed plate.

Chilled wild rice chicken salad tossed with sweet green grapes, crunchy water chestnuts, and cashews in light mayo. A refreshing make-ahead lunch or potluck crowd-pleaser that serves six.