• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Meals With Maria
  • Holiday Hosting
    • Summer Hosting
  • Appetizers
  • Brunch
    • Appetizers
    • Sweet Brunch
    • Savory Brunch
    • Sides
    • Desserts
  • Sides
    • Potato Sides
    • Pasta Salad
    • Salad & Veggies
    • Holiday Sides
    • Summer Sides
  • Desserts
    • Red White and Blue Desserts
    • Dessert Cups
    • Bars & Brownies
  • Shop
Home » Recipes » Better Than Waldorf Salad Original Recipe

Better Than Waldorf Salad Original Recipe

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

A twist on the 1920’s classic, this salad goes great on a bulky roll or croissant. You’ll find it’s better than the Waldorf Salad Original Recipe but still close in taste!

I made this recipe when trying out some 1920’s recipes but naturally didn’t have all of the original ingredients. And I’m not mad! We loved this so much more than the Waldorf Salad original recipe and even made it again for camping just a few days later. Now, it’s a much requested cool lunch or dinner in our household.

How to MakeThis Waldorf Salad Recipe

Just like I did, if you don’t have the exact ingredients necessary to make this salad, I encourage you to make it your own. Swap in and out based on what you have on hand and what sounds good.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cups of red grapes cut in half
  • 2 cups of shredded chicken
  • 1 rib of sliced celery
  • 1 scallion sliced
  • 1/3 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp dried parsley
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp dried dill weed
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 cup of mayo but add to your liking

This recipe is super easy, you just need to mix your ingredients together and enjoy! I like to serve ours on just about any bread I can find, we really enjoy bulky rolls and croissants but any bread will do. I also like this served on crackers almost as a dip. It’s a fun snack when you have it that way! And for a low-carb treat you can actually serve it on celery!

Swaps and Recommendations

Chicken Options

For the chicken there are lots of options, to stay cool in the summer I prefer to use rotisserie chicken. I find rotisserie chicken to be extremely affordable and I can usually get 2-3 meals out of just one $5 chicken! You can also easily cook up some chicken in the instant pot or slow cooker and shred or chop that yourself. This can also be really budget friendly if you can find chicken on sale for less than $2 a lb (I recommend to stock up at that price and freeze some!) If fresh chicken just isn’t in the cards, chicken salad is a great way to use canned chicken. I’ve even heard some tips to drain and even rinse the canned chicken to get the canned flavor away.

For the Celery

I know this recipe calls for one single rib of celery and I really do hate buying celery for just one rib. I recommend when you are stuck in this situation, to buy the whole package of celery and dice and freeze the leftovers before it goes bad. Frozen diced celery works wonders in soups and anything you might need a mirepoix for! And, if you don’t have fresh celery, celery salt is a good alternative to add the right flavor just make sure to add slowly and check the flavor.

Scallion Alternatives

If you don’t have scallions there are a few alternative options. Go ahead and use minced yellow, white, or red onion. And, if you don’t have any fresh options, use 1 tsp of onion powder, this will add a lot of flavor for just pennies.

Fresh vs. Dried Herbs

While this recipe is based on dried herbs because that is what was readily available in the 1920’s, fresh herbs are never discouraged! Fresh parsley or dill would do wonders in this salad and would pack a delicious fresh punch!

Check Out This and Other Cool Summer Meal Options

This better than the Waldorf salad original recipe is a great summer lunch or dinner. It’s something I love to make when it’s super hot out and I don’t want to use the stove. You can watch me make 10 No Cook Meals Here. Or check out the blog here! For more delicious dinners, check out these 10 recipes for Simple and Cheap Dinners!

If you are looking specifically for fast and cheap recipes I’d go check out these 15 recipes for $5 in under 10 minutes or this list of 25 of the best rice and beans recipes. No matter where you end up, you’ll be getting some great, cheap, and delicious recipes!

  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • TikTok
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
waldorf chicken salad

Better Than The Original Waldorf Chicken Salad

This Chicken Salad Recipe was adapted from the 1920's classic and I like it better than the original! I'm sure you will too!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 13 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup red grapes sliced in half
  • 2 cups diced chicken
  • 1 rib celery sliced
  • 1 scallion sliced
  • 1/3 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp dried parsley
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp dried dill weed
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 cup mayo to your liking

Instructions
 

  • Mix together all the ingredients and serve on a bulky roll or croissant.
Keyword chicken salad, chicken salad recipe, easy recipe, lunch, no cook recipe, no cook reipe, pantry cooking, pantry friendly, sandwich, summer chicken recipe, summer dinner, summer lunch, summer lunches, summer recipe, waldorf chicken salad, waldorf salad

In compliance with FTC guidelines, please assume the following about all links, material on this website/videos: Any/all of the links on site/video are affiliate links of which Maria Ronan receives product credit or a small commission from sales of certain items, but the price is the same for you.

Maria Ronan is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Links on this site may include affiliate links to Amazon and its affiliate sites on which the owner of this website will make a referral commission. Thank you for supporting Meals With Maria! My videos and website are for entertainment purposes only. Any information related to food, food safety, cooking, recipes, etc. are my opinions only. Maria Ronan is not liable and/or responsible for any advice, services, or product you obtain through this video and website.

Related

Previous Post: « Really Wonderful Gazpacho Recipe Made With Canned Ingredients!
Next Post: All New, Must Try, No Cook Lunch Ideas, Camping Meals and More! »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Maria Ronan of Meals With Maria

About Maria

Helping you make gatherings feel special

Hi, I’m Maria. I help women make holidays and gatherings feel special with crowd-pleasing recipes and simple hosting ideas. A lot of my love for hosting came from watching my grandmother, who is 88 and still brings people together around the table.

Read More

Follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube

  • Amazon
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
Free Mother's Day Brunch Guide

Free guide

Get my free Mother’s Day Brunch Guide

Simple, pretty ideas for a brunch that feels special without overdoing it.

Send Me the Guide
Holiday hosting ideas and seasonal menus

Holiday hosting

Planning your next gathering?

Browse my holiday hosting ideas, seasonal menus, and crowd-pleasing recipes to figure out what to make next.

See Holiday Hosting

Featured Recipes

Top 10 Mother’s Day Brunch Recipes for a Crowd

summer charcuterie board with cheese, fruit, crackers, olives, and prosciutto

Easy Summer Charcuterie Board

melon prosciutto rose skewers on a platter

Melon Prosciutto Rose Skewers (Easy No-Cook Appetizer)

clear carrot cake cups with carrot cake, frosting, and chocolate carrots on top on top of a large cutting board with a bunny sign that says egg hunt in the background and some plants and a white bunny

Carrot Cake Dessert Cups (Bakery-Cute, No-Fussy Frosting!)

Heart Shaped Caprese Bites (Easy Valentine’s Day Appetizer)

No bake cheesecake cups with grandy organic granola in the background

No-Bake Cheesecake Cups with Strawberries and Dark Chocolate Crunch

strawberry cream cheese muffins with bakery style muffin liners and streusel topping

Strawberry Cream Cheese Muffins (Bakery-Style & Good Enough to Sing About)

chocolate pistachio deviled strawberries on a plate with a hand with pink nails holding on closer to to the camera

Chocolate Covered Deviled Strawberries (Better Than Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries)

Dark Chocolate Pistachio Cookies on a cooling rack on top of a Christmas skating themed board

Dark Chocolate Pistachio Cookies with Ghee (Rich, Festive & Unforgettable)

the best easy stuffed mushrooms with pork sausage on a wooden cutting board

Best Easy Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms with Pork Sausage and Cream Cheese

Footer

Pages

  • Appetizers for a Crowd: Easy Party & Holiday Appetizers
  • Bars and Brownies: Easy Dessert Bars for Entertaining
  • Brunch Appetizers: Easy Brunch Starter Ideas
  • Brunch Desserts: Easy Dessert Ideas for Brunch
  • Brunch Recipes for a Crowd: Easy Brunch Ideas
  • Brunch Side Dishes: Easy Brunch Sides for Entertaining
  • Contact
  • Dessert Cups: Easy Individual Desserts for Entertaining
  • Desserts for a Crowd: Easy Dessert Ideas for Entertaining
  • Holiday Hosting
  • Holiday Hosting Hub
  • Holiday Side Dishes: Easy Sides for Entertaining
  • Pasta Salad Recipes: Easy Pasta Sides for BBQs & Gatherings
  • Potato Side Dishes: Easy Potato Sides for Entertaining
  • Recipes
  • Red White and Blue Desserts: Easy Patriotic Dessert Ideas
  • Sample Page
  • Savory Brunch Recipes: Easy Brunch Ideas for Entertaining
  • Shop Favorites
  • Sides
  • Start Here
  • Summer Charcuterie Boards for Easy Entertaining
  • Summer Hosting
  • Summer Side Dishes: Easy Sides for BBQs & Entertaining
  • Sweet Brunch Recipes: Easy Brunch Ideas for Entertaining
  • Vegetable Side Dishes: Salads & Veggies for Entertaining
  • About Me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2026 Meals With Maria on the Foodie Pro Theme