Simple & Zesty: Ina Garten Mustard Chicken Salad Recipe

Mustard chicken salad represents a delightful culinary adventure that transforms ordinary ingredients into something extraordinary.

This vibrant dish combines tender protein with zesty condiments and fresh components that dance together beautifully.

Creamy and tangy elements create a harmonious blend that awakens your taste buds with each forkful.

Light yet satisfying, the recipe offers a perfect balance of nutrition and flavor that suits multiple meal occasions.

Home cooks appreciate its simplicity and adaptability, making it an ideal choice for quick preparations.

The combination of herbs, protein, and creamy dressing ensures a memorable dining experience that feels both comforting and exciting.

You’ll love how effortlessly this salad comes together with minimal kitchen skills: dive in and savor the deliciousness!

Why Mustard Chicken Salad Brings a Tangy Kick

• Burst with Mustard Magic: The double-mustard combination of Dijon and whole-grain creates an incredible flavor explosion that transforms ordinary chicken salad into a gourmet experience.
• Perfectly Balanced Texture Symphony: Tender roasted chicken chunks, crisp blanched broccoli, and juicy cherry tomatoes deliver a delightful mix of textures that make every bite interesting and satisfying.
• Quick Elegant Meal Prep: This recipe offers a sophisticated dish that comes together surprisingly fast, with simple roasting and blanching techniques that elevate home cooking without complex skills or extensive time commitment.

Ingredients That Bring Balance to Mustard Chicken Salad

• Chicken Breasts: Lean and tender meat that forms the main protein of the salad, best when fresh and boneless.
• Broccoli Florets: Crisp green vegetable that adds nutrition and texture to the chicken salad.

• Mayonnaise: Creamy base that binds the salad ingredients together, preferably full-fat for rich flavor.
• Dijon Mustard, Whole-Grain Mustard: Sharp condiments that provide tangy depth and complexity to the dressing.
• Tarragon Vinegar: Herbal vinegar that adds bright acidity and subtle flavor to the salad.

• Fresh Tarragon: Delicate herb that brings a subtle anise-like flavor and aromatic freshness.
• Cherry Tomatoes: Sweet and juicy addition that provides color and light burst of flavor.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings for enhancing and balancing the overall taste of the salad.
• Olive Oil: Used for roasting chicken and adding moisture, best when extra virgin.

How to Make Mustard Chicken Salad Like Ina Would

Step 1: Roast the Chicken

Preheat oven to 350°F. Place chicken breasts on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 35-40 minutes until chicken is completely cooked through. Allow to cool, then remove skin and bones. Chop chicken into chunky pieces.

Step 2: Prepare Broccoli

Fill a large pot with water and add salt. Bring to a rolling boil. Create an ice bath in a separate bowl. Drop broccoli florets into boiling water for 60 seconds until bright green and slightly tender. Quickly transfer to ice water to halt cooking. Drain thoroughly.

Step 3: Craft the Creamy Mustard Dressing

• Mayonnaise
• Dijon mustard
• Whole-grain mustard
• Tarragon vinegar
• Salt
• Black pepper

Whisk until mixture becomes smooth and well-combined.

Step 4: Assemble the Salad

• Fresh tarragon
• Blanched broccoli
• Halved cherry tomatoes

Toss ingredients carefully to distribute flavors.

Step 5: Chill and Enhance Flavors

Cover salad and refrigerate for 2-3 hours. Allow ingredients to marinate and develop deeper taste profiles. Serve at room temperature. Optional: Sprinkle additional salt if desired.

Tips to Keep Your Chicken Salad Creamy With a Tang

• Boost Chicken Flavor: Salt and pepper the chicken generously before roasting to create a deeper, more robust taste that elevates the entire dish.
• Blanch Broccoli Like a Pro: Quickly plunge broccoli into ice water after cooking to lock in its vibrant green color and maintain a satisfying crunch.
• Maximize Dressing Absorption: Mix the chicken with dressing while it's still warm to help the flavors penetrate deeply and create a more delicious salad.
• Embrace Fresh Tarragon: Use fresh tarragon leaves for an authentic, aromatic touch that dried herbs simply can't replicate.
• Allow Flavor Mingling: Refrigerate the salad for a few hours before serving, giving the ingredients time to blend and develop a more complex taste profile.

How to Store Mustard Chicken Salad the Right Way

• Vacuum Sealing: Lock in freshness by using a vacuum sealer with specialized bags. Extract air completely to prevent bacterial growth and maintain optimal flavor for up to 5 days. Perfect for preserving delicate mustard chicken salad textures and preventing moisture loss.
• Glass Container Method: Select thick-walled, clear glass containers with tight-sealing lids for best preservation. Glass prevents flavor absorption from plastic and allows easy visual inspection of food quality. Refrigerate immediately after cooling to maintain crisp ingredients and prevent potential bacterial development.
• Portion Freezing Technique: Divide chicken salad into single-serve freezer-safe containers before storing. Freeze portions for up to 2 months, ensuring convenient future meal prep. Thaw overnight in refrigerator and consume within 24 hours after defrosting for maximum taste and safety.

Creative Variations on Mustard Chicken Salad to Explore

• Herb-Infused Fusion: Replace tarragon with a blend of fresh basil, chives, and parsley for a vibrant, garden-fresh flavor profile.
• Mediterranean Makeover: Swap cherry tomatoes for roasted red peppers, add crumbled feta cheese, and introduce a touch of dried oregano for a Greek-inspired transformation.
• Spicy Southwest Kick: Incorporate diced jalapeños, replace Dijon mustard with chipotle mustard, and mix in black beans and corn for a zesty, southwestern-style chicken salad.
• Asian-Inspired Remix: Swap tarragon vinegar for rice vinegar, add sesame oil, sliced green onions, and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds to create an Asian-influenced version.

One Tangy Forkful to Finish the Mustard Chicken Mix

Gourmet chicken salad sensations await with Ina Garten’s signature mustard-infused masterpiece.

Her culinary magic transforms simple ingredients into an extraordinary dining experience.

Mediterranean-inspired flavors dance across palates with complex mustard notes and tender chicken pieces.

Broccoli adds crisp green contrast while cherry tomatoes provide sweet bursts of freshness.

Salt and pepper elevate each carefully crafted bite with remarkable depth.

Classic recipe techniques shine through, inviting kitchen adventurers to explore delicious possibilities – share this delectable discovery, comment with excitement, and spread gourmet love with fellow flavor enthusiasts!

Ina Garten Mustard Chicken Salad Recipe

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4.7 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s mustard chicken salad blends creamy Dijon with tender roasted chicken for a luxurious lunch option. Fresh herbs and crisp celery create a delightful texture that beckons you to savor each delectable bite.

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Ingredients

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Proteins:

• 2 whole (4 split) chicken breasts, bone in, skin on (3 pounds / 1.36 kilograms)

Vegetables and Fresh Herbs:

• 5 cups (1.18 liters) small broccoli florets
• 1 pint (473 milliliters) cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh tarragon leaves

Sauce and Seasonings:

• 1½ cups (355 milliliters) mayonnaise
• ½ cup (118 milliliters) Dijon mustard
• ¼ cup (59 milliliters) whole-grain mustard
• 2 tablespoons tarragon vinegar
• Good olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Prep the oven by heating to 180°C / 350°F. Position chicken breasts on a baking sheet, massaging with olive oil and generously seasoning with salt and pepper. Roast for 35-40 minutes until thoroughly cooked through, ensuring internal temperature reaches 74°C / 165°F.
2. Remove chicken from oven and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes. Carefully discard skin and bones, then slice meat into uniform, bite-sized cubes approximately 1.5 centimeters / 0.5 inches.
3. Fill a large cooking pot with water, add a pinch of salt, and bring to a rolling boil. Create an adjacent ice bath in a separate large bowl with cold water and ice cubes.
4. Submerge broccoli florets in boiling water for precisely 60 seconds, maintaining their vibrant green color and crisp texture. Immediately transfer to ice water using a slotted spoon to halt cooking process.
5. In a spacious mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, whole-grain mustard, tarragon vinegar, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until achieving a smooth, consistent texture.
6. While chicken remains slightly warm, incorporate it into the prepared dressing, ensuring each piece is evenly coated. Gently fold in fresh tarragon leaves, blanched broccoli, and halved cherry tomatoes.
7. Transfer salad to a sealed container and refrigerate for 2-3 hours, allowing flavors to harmonize. Before serving, let sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes and adjust seasoning if needed.

Notes

• Maximize chicken’s flavor by generously seasoning with salt and pepper before roasting, ensuring a delicious and memorable dish.
• Preserve broccoli’s vibrant green color and crisp texture by quickly plunging it into an ice bath after cooking.
• Enhance the salad’s taste by mixing warm chicken with dressing, allowing for deeper flavor absorption.
• Elevate the recipe’s uniqueness with fresh tarragon, which brings an irreplaceable fragrant dimension to the dish.
• Give the salad time to develop its full potential by refrigerating for a few hours, letting ingredients harmonize perfectly.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Roasting
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 480
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 950 mg
• Fat: 38 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Carbohydrates: 6 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 24 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg