Ensalada de Pollo (Creamy Mexican Chicken Salad) + VIDEO

Ensalada de Pollo is a traditional Mexican chicken salad with a creamy dressing and veggies. Simple, delicious, and perfect for any occasion!

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A white plate with creamy chicken salad mixed with vegetables, a pickled jalapeño, a slice of carrot, and a serving of tortilla chips on the side.

When it comes to easy and comforting meals, Ensalada de Pollo Mexicana is always a winner.

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This creamy Mexican chicken salad is perfect for picnics, family gatherings, or even as a quick weekday meal.

Serve it with crackers, tostada shells, chips, or inside a sandwich for a dish everyone will love.

A baking dish sits empty on a wooden table, surrounded by bowls containing chopped cooked chicken, cubed potatoes, diced carrots, green peas, a dollop of mayonnaise or cream, and half a lime.

Table of Contents

1 🐓 Ingredients
2 Additions and Substitutions
3 👩🏼‍🍳 Step by Step Instructions
4 🫙 How to Store Leftovers
5 🙋🏻‍♀️ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
6 📕 Origins of Ensalada de Pollo
7 🍗 More Mexican Chicken Recipes
8 😋 Hungry for More
9 Ensalada de Pollo

🐓 Ingredients

Mayonnaise
Sour cream
Yellow mustard
Lemon or lime juice
Salt
Chicken
Potato Cubes
Canned Carrots
Canned Peas
Canned Corn
Pickled jalapeno (optional)

Additions and Substitutions

🌟 Instead of mayonnaise, you can use all sour cream, Greek yogurt, or blended cottage cheese for extra protein. Mexican crema makes a great substitution.

🌟 Canned peas, carrots, and corn are used in this recipe. Swap out for frozen and thawed veggies. Or use chopped celery or a can of mixed vegetables.

🌟 Want to add more veggies? Thaw frozen spinach or frozen green beans and add to the bowl.

🌟 It’s very common for people to use the jalapeño brine to add spice to the sauce, but this is completely optional.

A rectangular white dish with creamy mayonnaise mixture spread inside, surrounded by bowls of chopped tuna, carrots, potatoes, peas, and corn. A spoon rests in the dish. All items are on a wooden surface.

👩🏼‍🍳 Step by Step Instructions

In a large bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, lemon or lime juice, and a pinch of salt until smooth.
Add the cooked shredded chicken and stir until well coated.
Drain the cans.
Gently fold in the potatoes, carrots, peas, and corn until everything is combined.
Taste for salt and adjust if needed.
Cover and chill in the refrigerate until ready to serve.
Enjoy with saltine crackers, on tostadas, tortilla chips, and topped with pickled jalapeños.

🫙 How to Store Leftovers

This salad is not recommended for freezing since the creamy base can separate once thawed.
Store any leftover Ensalada de Pollo Mexicana in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
It will stay fresh for up to 3 days. Be sure to give it a good stir before serving again, as the dressing may settle.
Do not leave this out at room temperature for too long because of the creamy mayo sauce.

🙋🏻‍♀️ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! Ensalada de Pollo Mexicana tastes even better after a few hours in the fridge.

Can I use rotisserie chicken?

Absolutely. Using leftover or rotisserie chicken makes this dish super quick and easy. You can even swap out the chicken with leftover Thanksgiving turkey.

What can I serve with this?

It’s great with Arroz Mexicano and Frijoles de la Olla.

A hand holds a tortilla chip topped with creamy tuna salad over a white plate containing more tortilla chips, tuna salad, a slice of carrot, and a green pickled jalapeño.

📕 Origins of Ensalada de Pollo

Ensalada de Pollo, or Mexican chicken salad, has roots that go back to the Russian Olivier Salad. In Venezuela, cooks began making a dish called Ensalada de Gallina by mixing leftover chicken stews with mayonnaise, inspired by the original Moscow creation of Chef Lucien Olivier. Over time, this idea traveled to Mexico and took on new flavors. Today, Ensalada de Pollo is made with chicken, carrots, peas, potatoes, and a creamy dressing that sometimes includes jalapeños, making it a favorite for parties and family meals.

Hand holding saltine cracker topped with Mexican Chicken Salad, or Ensalada de Pollo

🍗 More Mexican Chicken Recipes

This Ensalada de Pollo Mexicana is a simple yet flavorful dish. With just a few easy steps, you’ll have a salad that’s perfect for potlucks and fiestas. Give it a try and see why it’s a favorite in so many Mexican homes.