Curried Chicken Salad with Cashews and Peas

This curried chicken salad with cashews and peas is made with a handful of ingredients that will rock your chicken-salad-loving world. It’s made with chicken, mayo, curry powder, green peas, crunchy celery, green onions, cilantro, and cashews. Packed with big flavors, and perfect for a simple lunch or picnic spread!

I am sitting here in WI writing this blog post as I get ready to head back home, and all I can think about is the container of amazing curried chicken salad with cashews that I left at home in my fridge!

Think that’s weird? You haven’t had this chicken salad yet.

Made with tender pieces of chicken, mayo, curry powder, green peas, crunchy celery, green onions, cilantro, and cashews, this chicken salad is not your mama’s chicken salad.

Or maybe your mama has been totally rocking the curried chicken salad game since way back in the day, in which case, YOU HAVE A V COOL MOM.

But either way, if you love chicken salad, you have to try this recipe!

Just like this recipe for Classic Chicken Salad, my Easy Tuna Salad, or my Deviled Egg Salad, it’s one of those cold salads that is just begging to hang out with you throughout the all of summer.

Sunny weekday lunch breaks? Check.

Picnic in the park? Check check.

Spontaneous day at the beach? TRIPLE CHECK!

As the days grow longer and dreams of outdoor adventures get bigger, we all could use another tasty on-the-go recipe for our back pockets (or picnic baskets!).

And friends, THIS IS IT.

How to make this curried chicken curry salad

This recipe is a unique spin on a classic chicken salad recipe that is just bursting with flavor. It’s my own take on my favorite curried chicken salad from our local natural foods store – PCC community markets.

I remember the first time that I tried this chicken salad.

I think it was by default because they didn’t have their classic chicken salad stocked in the deli case. Usually, curried chicken salad would not be my first choice – I’m a classic chicken salad girl through and through.

Or so I thought

I remember being like like… ehh.. I guess I’ll give it at try? Read: not very into the idea.

But after my first bite… I was SOLD.

Everything about it is SO GOOD. Bright and zippy flavors, plenty of texture and crunch from thinly sliced celery and cashews, PLUS little bites of bright green from the cilantro and green onion –> YES

I like to buy pre-grilled chicken breasts from the deli at our natural food store to cut down on prep time.

It’s probably a little more expensive than cooking your own chicken, but it is a big time saver. Grilled chicken adds a nice depth of smoky flavor, but pan frying, baking, or even poaching the chicken would all work great.

Once you have your chicken all sorted out, cube it into bite sized pieces and mix it together with the rest of the ingredients for the best chicken salad of your life.

Bold statement? Yes. Legit statement? Also yes.

Curried chicken salad ingredients

This curried chicken salad recipe is made with lots of flavorful + simple ingredients.

We’re talking:

• Tender pieces of grilled chicken
• Sweet peas (trust me)
• Crunchy celery
• Toasty cashews
• Green onions
• Cilantro
• Mayonnaise
• Mustard
• Lemon juice
• Sea salt + pepper

Mix it up and stash it in your refrigerator to enjoy the whole week long.

Bonus: It’s one of those cold salads that not only keeps well, but also gets better (and takes on a brighter hue!) after a night or two in the fridge.

Serving suggestions

This curried chicken salad with cashews is delicious:

• With your favorite bread and some greens for a yummy grab and go sandwich
• Scooped into crunchy romaine lettuce leaves for a mouthwatering lettuce cup situation
• Served alongside crackers / chips – my personal favorite way to enjoy! #iamachipmonster
• Scooped onto a big leafy salad
• With cucumber slices and cut celery
• On it’s own – only a fork is required!

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