This incredibly creamy and flavorful Copycat Chicken Salad Chick Egg Salad is a game-changer for quick lunches and light dinners. In just 15 minutes, you can recreate this beloved restaurant favorite at home with simple ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. The perfect balance of creamy, tangy, and savory flavors makes this egg salad irresistible on croissants, bread, or even lettuce wraps!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Lightning Fast: From start to finish in just 15 minutes – perfect for those busy days when you need something delicious without the wait.
- Budget-Friendly: Made with everyday ingredients that won’t break the bank, yet delivers restaurant-quality flavor.
- Versatile: Works beautifully as a sandwich filling, wrapped in lettuce for a low-carb option, or served atop crackers for a quick snack.
- Customizable: The base recipe is fantastic as is, but you can easily adjust seasonings to match your personal taste preferences.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Hard-boiled eggs: The star of the show, providing protein and that classic egg salad texture. The fresher your eggs, the better your salad will taste!
- Mayonnaise: Duke’s is recommended for its rich, tangy flavor that makes this egg salad truly special. It binds everything together with creamy goodness.
- Onion powder: Adds savory depth without the harsh bite or texture of raw onions. A little goes a long way here.
- Salt and black pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance all the other flavors. Adjust to your taste preferences.
- Sweet relish: The secret ingredient that gives this egg salad its distinctive sweet-tangy profile. Don’t skip the juice – it adds moisture and flavor!
- Yellow mustard: Provides a subtle tangy zip that balances the creaminess of the mayo and the richness of the eggs.
Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Variations
Texture Add-ins
Add finely diced celery for crunch, minced red onion for bite, or chopped bacon for a smoky twist.
Flavor Boosters
Try adding a dash of paprika, a sprinkle of dill, or swap the yellow mustard for Dijon for a more sophisticated flavor profile.
Make It Spicy
Add a few dashes of hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper to give your egg salad a kick.
Healthier Version
Substitute half the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for a protein boost and fewer calories.
How to Make Copycat Chicken Salad Chick Egg Salad
Step 1: Prepare the Eggs
Hard boil your eggs using your preferred method. An air fryer works wonderfully for consistent results, but stovetop boiling is perfectly fine too. Once cooked, cool completely under cold running water to stop the cooking process.
Step 2: Dice the Eggs
Peel and dice your eggs into small, uniform pieces. For perfectly diced eggs, use an egg slicer in two directions (slice once, then rotate 90° and slice again). Alternatively, press peeled eggs through a cooling rack for quick and even dicing.
Step 3: Combine All Ingredients
In a medium bowl, combine your diced eggs, mayonnaise, onion powder, salt, black pepper, sweet relish (including a little of the juice), and yellow mustard.
Step 4: Mix Thoroughly
Gently stir all ingredients until well combined. Be careful not to overmix or mash the eggs too much – you want to maintain some texture in your salad.
Step 5: Taste and Adjust
Taste your egg salad and adjust seasonings if needed. Some people prefer more mayo for creaminess or extra relish for sweetness.
Step 6: Chill (Optional)
For best flavor, cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together, though it’s perfectly delicious served immediately.
Pro Tips for Making the Recipe
- Perfectly Cooked Eggs: For ideal hard-boiled eggs with no gray ring around the yolk, cook them just until done, then immediately plunge into ice water.
- Consistency Control: If your egg salad seems too dry, add a bit more mayonnaise or a splash of relish juice rather than more relish (which would change the flavor balance).
- Temperature Matters: Room temperature eggs are easier to peel than cold ones straight from the refrigerator.
- Make-Ahead Magic: This egg salad actually tastes even better after the flavors have had a chance to meld in the refrigerator for a few hours.
How to Serve
Perfect Pairings
- Serve on buttery croissants for an indulgent sandwich experience
- Try it on toasted sourdough or whole grain bread with crisp lettuce
- Scoop onto a bed of mixed greens for a lighter lunch option
- Fill hollowed-out tomatoes or avocado halves for an impressive presentation
Complete the Meal
Pair your egg salad sandwich with a side of crispy kettle chips, a fresh fruit salad, or a light soup for a complete and satisfying meal.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store egg salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavor actually improves after a few hours as the ingredients meld together.
Freezing
Not recommended. Unfortunately, egg salad doesn’t freeze well due to the mayonnaise, which tends to separate when thawed.
Food Safety
Because egg salad contains mayonnaise, never leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour in hot weather).
FAQs
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Can I use a different type of mayonnaise?
Absolutely! While Duke’s mayonnaise is recommended for its distinctive tangy flavor, any high-quality mayonnaise will work. Just be aware that different brands will slightly alter the final taste of your egg salad.
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How can I make this egg salad healthier?
For a lighter version, try replacing half the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt, which adds protein while reducing fat and calories. You can also serve it on lettuce wraps instead of bread, or use whole grain bread for added fiber.
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Why is my egg salad watery?
This usually happens if the eggs weren’t cooled completely before mixing or if too much relish juice was added. To fix watery egg salad, add a bit more egg or a small amount of mayonnaise to help bind the excess moisture.
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How fine should I chop the eggs?
This comes down to personal preference. Some people enjoy a chunkier texture with larger pieces of egg white visible, while others prefer a more uniform, finely diced consistency. Try different chop sizes to find your perfect texture!
Final Thoughts
This Copycat Chicken Salad Chick Egg Salad recipe brings the beloved restaurant favorite right to your kitchen with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Whether tucked into a croissant for lunch, spread on crackers for a quick snack, or served on lettuce for a lighter option, this versatile egg salad is sure to become a regular in your meal rotation. Give it a try—I bet you’ll be surprised at how such simple ingredients can create something so delicious!
PrintCopycat Chicken Salad Chick Egg Salad Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 sandwiches 1x
- Category: Side-dishes
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Copycat Chicken Salad Chick Egg Salad is a quick and easy recipe that’s perfect for sandwiches or as a side dish. It’s creamy, flavorful, and a perfect choice for a simple yet satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 6 hard boiled eggs, peeled
- 2.5 tbsp mayonnaise (Duke’s preferred)
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp sweet relish plus a little juice
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
Instructions
- Prep your eggs: Hard boil the eggs. You can use an air fryer or any preferred method to boil the eggs. Peel them once cooked.
- Dice the eggs: Dice your peeled, hard-boiled eggs into small pieces. You can use an egg slicer for more precision—slice in one direction, turn the egg 90º, and slice again. Another option is pressing the eggs through a cooling rack to dice them.
- Combine the ingredients: In a mixing bowl, add the diced eggs, mayonnaise, onion powder, salt, black pepper, sweet relish (plus a little juice), and yellow mustard. Stir everything together until thoroughly combined.
- Serve: Serve this egg salad with fresh lettuce on a croissant or your favorite bread. Enjoy!
Notes
- We are not dietitians and recommend consulting a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.
- The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program, and there is room for error. For an accurate count, run the ingredients through a professional nutrition calculator.
- Feel free to adjust the seasoning to your taste preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 430mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 190mg