Elevate your appetizer game with these refreshing Cucumber Chicken Salad Appetizers. Crisp cucumber slices are topped with flavorful chicken salad, creating a delicious and elegant bite-sized treat. Perfect for parties, gatherings, or a light snack, these cucumber bites are sure to impress. Let's dive into how to make these irresistible bites!
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Why This Recipe Works
- Protein-Packed: These chicken salad bites are filled with chicken, making it a satisfying, protein-rich snack.
- Crisp and Refreshing: The cucumber base offers a refreshing contrast to the creamy chicken salad.
- Easy Finger Food: Perfect for parties or quick lunches, these cucumber bites are convenient and mess-free.
📋 Ingredients
All you need to make this easy recipe for chicken salad can be found below.
- Light Mayonnaise: Offers a creamy, tangy base that binds the chicken salad together.
- Thinly Diced Red Onion: Adds a sweet, sharp crunch, enhancing the overall texture and flavor profile.
- Cooked Chicken Breast: Chicken breasts are the star of this dish, providing lean, high-quality protein.
- Salt and Pepper : Essential for bringing out the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Cucumber: Serves as a crisp, refreshing base for the chicken salad, adding a cool contrast to the rich salad.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Add Avocado: You can also make this into an avocado chicken salad recipe but chopping up an avocado and mixing it right in. This would be a great superfood addition and healthy fat to add, too.
- Rotisserie Chicken: If you don't have chicken breast you can use rotisserie chicken or any leftover. chicken you may have.
- Add Extras: For added crunch, add some finely chopped celery, green onion, sliced green apple, or chopped walnuts to your mixing bowl.
- Citrus: For a tangy twist add a tablespoon of lemon juice to the mix.
- Celery Sticks: If you want to try another base, place the salad chicken salad onto celery sticks instead. You could also add raisins or green grapes and make these appetizers into edible bugs.
🔪How To Make Chicken Salad Appetizers
The Method for making these Chicken Salad Cucumber bites is pretty simple and easy. If you love chicken, you're going to love this.
Step One: You mix all the ingredients (minus the cucumber) together in a bowl.
Step Two: Then scoop one teaspoon of the Chicken mix onto each cucumber slice.
Step Three: Prepare to serve and add parsley to garnish.
- Hint: If serving these appetizers at a party, make the chicken salad ahead of time and store the cooked chicken mixture in the fridge until you're ready to complete.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Select the Best Cucumbers: Opt for English or mini cucumbers for their thin skin, crisp texture, and minimal seeds, which are ideal for bite-sized appetizers.
- Enhance the Chicken: Season and cook the chicken thoroughly with fresh herbs like dill or parsley. If using leftover chicken, mix it with a bit of mayonnaise or Greek yogurt to keep it moist and flavorful.
- Drain the Cucumbers: After slicing, salt the cucumbers lightly and let them sit to draw out excess moisture. This step ensures the appetizers remain crisp and not soggy.
- Assemble Neatly: Use a small spoon or a piping bag to add the chicken salad to each cucumber slice. This method keeps the presentation tidy and appealing.
- Garnish for Flair: Add a final touch with a garnish like a sprig of dill, a dash of paprika, or a small wedge of lemon to enhance both the look and flavor.
💭 FAQs
For chicken to be considered safe to eat, it needs an internal temperature of 165 degrees. I recommend using a meat thermometer to make it as accurate as possible.
Chicken salad can be served on crackers, cucumber slices, mini croissants, endive leaves, or inside phyllo cups for bite-sized appetizers.
Add ingredients like fresh herbs (dill, parsley), nuts (almonds, pecans), dried fruit (cranberries, raisins), or a dash of Dijon mustard to enhance the taste. A squeeze of lemon juice also brightens the flavor.
Yes! Chicken salad actually tastes better after a few hours as the flavors meld. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, but wait to assemble appetizers until just before serving.
You can use rotisserie chicken, poached chicken breasts, or leftover grilled chicken. Shredded or finely chopped chicken works best for easy scooping and serving.
Serving Suggestions
These are some great side dishes to serve with chicken salad bites.
- Caprese Salad Skewers: Cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil drizzled with balsamic glaze.
- Sweet Potato Fries: Oven-baked for a healthier twist, a sweet and savory pairing.
- Roasted Red Pepper Hummus with Pita Chips: Creamy hummus paired with crunchy chips, a delightful dip.
- Wonton Cups: Serve with tender chicken wonton cups or phyllo cups or pair with chicken salad puffs for something different.
🍜 Related Recipes
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Easy Chicken Salad Appetizers
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons Light Mayonnaise
- ½ cup Red Onion Thinly Diced
- 2 Chicken Breast cooked and shredded
- Salt
- Ground Pepper
- ½ Cucumber
Instructions
- You mix all the ingredients (minus the cucumber) together in a bowl.
- Then scoop one teaspoon of the Chicken mix onto each cucumber slice.
- Prepare to serve and add parsley to garnish.
Notes
Nutrition
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What a great idea. These sound very tasty. They sound like a fab snack for over the summer 🙂 x
Thanks Kim. They were rather tasty and easy and fast to make.
What a great idea. These sound very tasty. They sound like a fab snack for over the summer 🙂 x
Thanks Kim. They were rather tasty and easy and fast to make.
Hi, I had the sleeve a week ago, just looking for tips if you have any and don't mind sharing I'd love to hear about them ? Xx
Soup is great at the start. Some have pureed chicken in low fat gravy and pureed veg like carrotts, mash and sweet potato. You can have sloppy porridge. I have some blog posts on it too!
Hi, I had the sleeve a week ago, just looking for tips if you have any and don't mind sharing I'd love to hear about them ? Xx
Soup is great at the start. Some have pureed chicken in low fat gravy and pureed veg like carrotts, mash and sweet potato. You can have sloppy porridge. I have some blog posts on it too!
Oh, these look scrumptious! I LOVE cucumber, it's so refreshing, and this would be the perfect poolside snack! Thanks for sharing-and I'm glad to hear your recovery is going well!! <3
Thanks. Yes I think it would be a great pool side snack and one for all the family or to take to a buffet.
Oh, these look scrumptious! I LOVE cucumber, it's so refreshing, and this would be the perfect poolside snack! Thanks for sharing-and I'm glad to hear your recovery is going well!! <3
Thanks. Yes I think it would be a great pool side snack and one for all the family or to take to a buffet.
these are the perfect snack! I love this... I love to try anything easy to do, so this one is going to be on my 'to do' list... I know the girls will love it too! #bloggerclubuk
I also love easy fun ideas! Glad you enjoyed this!
these are the perfect snack! I love this... I love to try anything easy to do, so this one is going to be on my 'to do' list... I know the girls will love it too! #bloggerclubuk
I also love easy fun ideas! Glad you enjoyed this!
I saw these on your instagram the other day, they look delicious! x #BloggerClubUK
thanks Emma. They are tasty.
I saw these on your instagram the other day, they look delicious! x #BloggerClubUK
thanks Emma. They are tasty.
Hi Angela, these little bites would make a good nibble for a party or barbecue too! The addition of bacon is something I would definitely do as well, chicken and bacon work so well together!
xx
I agree. I think Chicken and bacon would be great for those who like those meats! 🙂 Or Tuna!
Hi Angela, these little bites would make a good nibble for a party or barbecue too! The addition of bacon is something I would definitely do as well, chicken and bacon work so well together!
xx
I agree. I think Chicken and bacon would be great for those who like those meats! 🙂 Or Tuna!
These sound lovely, a great accompaniment for a barbecue if we ever get some sun! Good to hear you're doing well after your op 🙂
Thanks for linking up to #BloggerClubUK 🙂
Debbie
Thanks Debbie. They are yummy!
These sound lovely, a great accompaniment for a barbecue if we ever get some sun! Good to hear you're doing well after your op 🙂
Thanks for linking up to #BloggerClubUK 🙂
Debbie
Thanks Debbie. They are yummy!
Love these, so healthy x
Thanks. John and Sylvia loved them too!
Love these, so healthy x
Thanks. John and Sylvia loved them too!
These sound delicious! Healthy but tasty 🙂 xxx #BloggerClubUK
Thanks Yvonne. They were yummy.
These sound delicious! Healthy but tasty 🙂 xxx #BloggerClubUK
Thanks Yvonne. They were yummy.
These look yummy and very healthy too, I may have to try these. #memyselfandI
Oh it was a tasty snack Laura! 🙂
These look yummy and very healthy too, I may have to try these. #memyselfandI
Oh it was a tasty snack Laura! 🙂