Peach Basil Chicken Salad
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
This Peach Basil Chicken Salad is sweet, colorful, and such a joy to eat! Serve this peach salad as a sandwich with a croissant or on a bed of lettuce. This recipe is incredibly simple and perfect for those who love a savory and sweet combination. It’s like summer in a bowl. I know you will love this refreshing chicken salad!

I have been making this recipe for over a decade now. It is one of my favorites, especially in the summertime when the peaches are perfectly ripe and gardens and farmer’s markets are bursting with fresh basil. I first posted this recipe back in 2015, and today, it’s getting a little makeover.
Peach Basil Chicken Salad
This Peach Basil Chicken Salad is fresh, vibrant, and full of flavor. Sweet peaches pair beautifully with tender chicken, crisp celery, red bell pepper, and green onion. A creamy citrus-basil dressing brings everything together with just the right balance of tangy and sweet.
It is simple enough for a weekday lunch, yet special enough to serve at a holiday meal, potluck, or shower. Whether you pile it onto a soft roll or serve it over crisp lettuce, this chicken salad is one you will want to make again and again.
Peach & Basil Chicken Salad
Peach and basil might not be the first flavors you think of in chicken salad, but together they create something unforgettable. This is hands down one of the best chicken salads I’ve ever had. It’s fresh, colorful, and every bite is packed with flavor.
Juicy peaches, crisp celery, sweet red bell pepper, green onion, and tender shredded chicken are all tossed in a peach-basil dressing that takes it to the next level. It’s also a great way to use up leftover chicken or make good use of a store-bought rotisserie chicken. Letting it chill overnight in the fridge makes the flavors even more irresistible.
It’s the kind of dish that looks beautiful on a party table, yet is just as perfect for a simple weeknight dinner or weekday lunch.
Fresh or Frozen Peaches?
If you have fresh peaches on hand, this salad is a wonderful way to use them. Summer is peach season, and nothing beats the flavor of perfectly ripe fruit paired with crisp veggies. Around here, we find endless ways to enjoy fresh peaches, from crumbles to iced tea, and this salad is another favorite.
But don’t feel limited to just the summer months. Frozen peach slices work just as well, just be sure to thaw them before mixing into the salad. I like to keep a bag in the freezer so I can make peach recipes year-round, no matter when the craving hits.
Sweet, juicy, and versatile, peaches truly shine in this recipe.
Ingredients for This Tasty Peach and Chicken Salad
You’ll find the exact measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
For the Salad:
- Chicken: I used large cooked chicken breasts and shredded them for this recipe. Rotisserie chicken or leftover roasted chicken works great too.
- Peaches: Sweet, ripe peaches are the star of both the dressing and the salad mixture.
- Celery: Chopped celery adds crunch and freshness.
- Onion: Green onions give a mild, savory bite.
- Bell Pepper: Red bell pepper is my go-to for its natural sweetness.
For the Dressing:
- Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed is best, but bottled lemon juice works in a pinch.
- Oil: Extra-virgin olive oil adds robust flavor, though any mild vegetable oil will do.
- Basil: Fresh basil brings out the flavor of the peaches beautifully.
- Vinegar: I like Tarragon vinegar, but white wine vinegar is a good substitute.
- Seasonings: A blend of salt, celery seed, and black pepper rounds out the flavor. Adjust to taste.
- Sugar: I use granulated sugar, but you can swap in another sweetener if you prefer.
- Mayonnaise: The creamy base that ties everything together. Use your favorite brand, egg or egg-free.
How to Make This Summer Peach Chicken Salad
So easy to make by just combining a handful of ingredients, this is the easiest recipe for whenever you are short on time and want to keep things light and simple. You’ll want to make this chicken salad over and over again!
Make the dressing:
In a blender or with a hand blender, combine one peach, lemon juice, olive oil, basil, vinegar, seasoning, sugar, and mayonnaise. Blend until smooth.
Make the Salad:
Combine the shredded chicken with the diced peaches, celery, onions, and red bell pepper. Then pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and stir to incorporate.
Cover the chicken salad and place it in the refrigerator overnight. Serve on rolls or over a bed of lettuce.
Peach Basil Chicken Salad tastes even better after the flavors have had time to blend, so it is a great make-ahead recipe. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If serving on rolls, I recommend storing the chicken salad separately and assembling just before eating so the bread does not get soggy.
This recipe does not freeze well because of the fresh peaches and mayonnaise-based dressing, so it is best enjoyed fresh.
Love it? Pin it!
If you love this Pecah Basil Chicken Salad recipe, be sure to keep it where you can easily find it! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest Recipe board before you go.
Other Chicken Salad and Peach Recipes You Will Enjoy
- Apple Chicken Salad
- Italian Salad with Chicken
- B.L.A.T. Chicken Salad
- Peaches and Cream Tacos
- Peach Spice Cake
- Whiskey Peach Pie
- Individual Mini Peach Cobbler
Let’s get to the recipe for this Peach Basil Chicken Salad!
LIKE THIS RECIPE?
Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and
leave a comment below the recipe!
Peach Basil Chicken Salad
Ingredients
For the Dressing:
- 1 ripe peach peeled and cut into quarters
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 Tablespoon fresh basil chopped
- 2 1/2 Tablespoon vinegar I used Tarragon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
- 2 teaspoon sugar (or less to taste)
- 1/8 teaspoon coarse ground pepper
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
For the Salad:
- 2 ripe peaches peeled and cubed
- 2 cups cooked chicken shredded
- 3 ribs celery chopped
- 1/2 cup green onion chopped
- 1/2 cup sweet red bell pepper chopped
Instructions
Prepare the dressing:
- In either a blender or using your hand blender, combine dressing ingredients, blending until smooth. Set aside.
Prepare the salad:
- Shred chicken, and combine with peaches, celery, onion and red pepper. Pour the dressing over the salad and stir until coated.
- Cover and place in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight.
- Serve on rolls or a bed of lettuce.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted on June 7, 2015. It has been updated to improve user experience and has been re-shared on August 21, 2025.
Wow, this salad look delicious! I definitely want to try it served on slightly toast bread.. a perfect healthy summer lunch idea!
Love the combination of ingredients in this salad recipe. Totally refreshing one.
Enjoyed this for lunch today. It was a delicious, easy, no-guilt meal! I’ll be making this salad again and again.
Yummy! This salad was absolutely delicious and went so well with our dinner tonight! We just loved all the flavors and can’t get enough of this salad! Excited to make it again.
This salad sounds incredible! I am definitely going to give this recipe a go.
This was amazing! would make again.
happy you liked it!!
I’ve never had peach in a chicken salad before – what a fun and unique idea – I cannot wait to try it!
I just adore this chicken salad. I need to make it again this weekend before fresh peaches are a thing of the past. Here in the Midwest that time is coming quickly.
Does the dressing has to be left in the fridge over night?
I suppose that the salad doesn’t HAVE to be refrigerated overnight – but the flavors are definitely better if you do that step.
This looks so good! What a great combination of flavors!
Thank you!
I left out the basil (didn’t have any fresh), the sugar, the spring onions and the red peppers. Instead, I added toasted pecans, green grapes plus a small amount of pine nuts and raisins.
For the dressing, I used a whole lemon (grated peel and the juice), a generous pour of apple cider vinegar, celery seed, and mayo.
A roasted Costco chicken completed the salad…
Sounds good, although it sounds nothing at all like my recipe! 🙂