I was in the room of one of my patients recently and she had a container of croissants sitting on her bedside table. They looked soooo good and I was soooo hungry, which made them all the more enticing. As I was standing there admiring those croissants, I remembered the chicken salad croissants that I had made for Tricia’s wedding. Tricia had a very tropical feel to her wedding and so I had made up a recipe for chicken salad which would reflect that theme. Mmmmm.
As I sat photographing the finished product this afternoon, Gavin came bursting through the front door followed by Tricia a few moments later with Kade in her arms. She sat down at the table and I asked her if she’d like a croissant. “What’s in them?” she asked. “Chicken salad,” I said. I didn’t have to say it twice.
Tropical Chicken Salad Croissants
Ingredients
- 4 cups roasted chicken, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup creamy salad dressing such as Miracle Whip may take up to 1½ cups
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup finely diced purple onion
- 1 cup halved green grapes If grapes are large, they may need to be sliced in quarters.
- 1 20 ounce can pineapple tidbits, drained
- 1 cup blanched slivered almonds, toasted
- 1 teaspoon coconut flavoring you may want more, to taste
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
- 12 croissants or 28 mini croissants
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss the chicken with the lemon juice. Cover and allow to chill in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes.
- Add the remainder of the ingredients to the chilled chicken and mix well until evenly combined. Chill until serving.
- Makes eight servings if served in large croissants. Makes 28 2-tablespoon servings for mini croissants. The croissants, if using, can be made ahead, wrapped, and kept cold until serving.
Nutrition
You can’t tell it, but there’s lemon juice in them there chicken bits. (yes, yes, I have a thing for lemon. That’s already been established.)
When you dice the onion, try to do a small dice. If your dicing skills need some practice, heck just chop the diced pieces until they are small enough for the salad. No one will pick through the salad and say, “Oh. So you chopped the onion instead of dicing it. I see that you must need more practice with your dicing skills.”
I had a hard time trying to decide if I should cut the grapes in half lengthwise, or cut them into thirds crosswise. Decisions, decisions. Why must life be filled with so many challenges?
Cilantro is flavor-packed and very distinctive. You definitely know when cilantro is around. Use it sparingly in this salad. Afterall, the salad isn’t about the cilantro. Actually, now that I think about it, maybe the chicken salad & is just an excuse to eat croissants.
I often burn, er, toast nuts in a frying pan. It is the fastest method for toasting nuts, and also the easiest way to burn them. Use medium heat and watch them carefully, stirring often.
Put everything into the bowl with the chicken and mix well. Cover the bowl and put it in the refrigerator to chill and allow the flavors to blend; at least 2 hours. Longer would be better.
For the croissants, I like a crispy outside and a soft inside. I cut them in half and then put them in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes to make a golden, crispy outside.
You are my favorite cook. Terri! I love this cooking blog! When I’m old & can’t take care of myself will you cook for me? Thanks for sharing!
I would say yes except for one little detail. I’ll be old and can’t take care of myself at the same time as you will be old and not able to take of yourself. But, I will happily be pathetic with you at the same time. We can putter around saying things like, “I don’t ever cook anymore (shake head). I don’t have anyone to cook for (continue to shake head and make an accusing face). I just bake a sweet potato and have a little yogurt, isn’t that terrible.”
You are SO funny! I love your recipes at Tasty Kitchen with the witty comments you make! Thanks for posting this!
Thank you! Welcome to to the party. Hope to see you back!
Hi Terri! The entire family will be here this Christmas and I was trying to think what I could make that is easy to prepare and that everyone would like, and I remembered these yummy chicken salad croissants you made for Trish’s wedding. I’m so happy you posted the recipie, can’t wait to make them!
Hi Nance!. You will have a house full, how fun for you! Chicken salad croissants are great for Christmas. When my kids were little and my extended family would get together, we always had them on Christmas Eve. I am so tempted to make them for Christmas Day this year; I am scheduled to work, but may not have to go in. Sooooo, these could be hanging out here ready to go at a moment’s notice, in case we can have an impromptu get together. (We’re doing a Christmas Eve thing together, but I love hanging out on Christmas Day, too.)