Ever been walking through Costco minding your business (eating samples) and then you pass the rotisserie area while they are removing chickens from those big skewers? You had almost made it to the frozen area without deviating from your shopping list that you actually remembered to make and bring. (That last part deserves pause.) But oh no, does Costco expect you to just walk past the most beautiful chickens you ever did see and smell? Oh wait…they are $4.99 (in Atlanta, at least)? That’s cheaper than a value meal in a drive thru. You tell yourself you won’t get it. You don’t need this item. You’ve already planned your meals, and this isn’t on the menu. You don’t have room in your fridge for this chicken, no matter how delicious. Who knows if your kids have sworn off chicken this week? Nope…you’re committed to not getting this chicken. Then you get to the checkout area and magically the chicken has made its way into your cart. How’d that happen? You get home and the chicken looks as delicious as it did in the store only now it looks bigger. And the kids ate chicken nuggets on their way home. They don’t want more chicken.

Look, I get it. Totally not your fault. Chickens gon cluck.

The next time this happens, you grab that chicken and say: “You don’t own me! I say who, I say when, I say who!” (Do you remember that scene from Pretty Woman?) Then you pull yourself together, take a deep breath and smile, knowing that you’re about to turn this pollo into the stuff that deli-lovin dreams are made of: chicken salad.

There are a lot of chicken salad recipes out there. This one is super easy, super tasty and super versatile. Consider this the little black dress of chicken salads. It’s yummy on its own but you may choose to adorn it with grapes, craisins, pesto, avocado or whatever you suits your taste. This is great on top of a bed of lettuce, on toasty bread or buttery croissants, with crackers, or as a fridge sample – you know…when you go to the fridge for one thing but end up taking a bite of something else that catches your eye while you’re in there.