Add-ins make chicken salad a crowd pleaser

Chicken salad is one of the springtime meals that people just can't seem to get enough of. Spread it on a sandwich, stuff it into a vine-ripe tomato, or just go it alone savoring bite after bite.

"This is certainly the time of year for chicken salad," said Richard Lobb, spokesman for the National Chicken Council.

Why? "Because, with fresh produce coming in and all kinds of nice, fresh fruits and vegetables, and because chicken goes with everything, it's perfect. It's a cool, refreshing dish for outdoor dining."

Ray Neal of Chattanooga says he's very basic when it comes to his favorite blend of chicken and mayonnaise. But when he wants something different, he says there's no limit to what one can do with chicken salad.

"I use Duke's mayo, celery, green onions, white pepper and minced fresh tarragon," he said. "Then I sprinkle it with cayenne. And when I have smoked chicken, I'll use that. It adds a wonderful depth of flavor. I like chicken salad served with avocado slices, and occasionally I vary it by using red onions in place of green onions. Diced poblano peppers can also add a good note, if you are so inclined."

Here are some other ways readers turn basic chicken salad into a standout dish:

* Joan Sass adds mandarin oranges, grapes and pecans and boosts the flavor with ranch dressing mix.

* Becky McGee adds dried cranberries for color and curry for flavor.

* Linda Bennett adds bacon and jazzes up her Cha-Cha Chicken Salad with pineapple and cream cheese. It's a recipe she found in Southern Living and has enjoyed for several years.

* Besty Bramlett insists on using homemade mayonnaise when making her chicken salad.

* DeLane Haren of Etowah, Tenn., makes her Chicken Salad Fit for a Queen with soy sauce, curry powder, pineapple, grapes and water chestnuts. The recipe, with its strong Asian influence, was deemed delicious enough to serve Queen Elizabeth when she visited the University of Virginia in 1976.

* Sharon Henderson loves her Thai-inspired peanutty chicken salad.

Here are some of readers' favorite ways to prepare it that go a step beyond traditional chicken salads. They may just leave your guests clucking for more.