Marshall Field’s Chicken Salad is an iconic recipe but it’s still just as delicious today as it was when I first enjoyed it on a trip to Chicago many years ago!
Marshall Field’s Department Store used to be known far and wide as THE grand dame of Chicago. Much like Famous & Barr and Stix, Baer & Fuller in my hometown of St. Louis, they weren’t just a store, they were an institution.
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Although never having visited Marshall Field’s as a kid, I’ve heard from people over the years that it bears a legion of similarities to the experiences I knew with Famous and Stix so I could imagine a visit with some clarity.
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They were THE place to go downtown during the holidays with windows magically decorated for the season and always on the parade route where we would stand barely able to feel out toes from the cold but not caring as we anxiously anticipated our first view of SANTA!
More memories include elevators with heavy accordion closures instead of doors and an operator who managed the board, asking us, ‘What floor please?’ For a young girl with a lot of responsibility in our big family that one small thing always made me feel so special, like we had been magically transported to another place entirely where someone took care of our every need!
As a young adult I looked so forward to visiting one of the flagship restaurants. I have sweet memories of a favorite hot fudge sundae from Stix, Baer & Fuller when my mother worked there when I was a teen and as a young adult, lunch at Famous & Barr always meant what is still my favorite French Onion Soup.
When I was eighteen I finally ventured inside Marshall Field’s for the first time. A friend and I had traveled north to Chicago for the weekend (our first time to leave home by ourselves!) and having lunch at this iconic department store was on our agenda.
It did not disappoint; beautiful, stately and with an old world feeling of grace and appreciation for customers that is so lacking today. However, shopping was not on our mind as much as lunch so we headed for the dining room upon arrival.
My choice for lunch was this fabulous chicken salad. With a mix that included toasted pecans and grapes, it was so different from any chicken salad I had ever had and it was ‘love at first bite.’ Today I might ask the chef for the recipe but then I just left with a great memory…and one that I’ve never forgotten.
Fast forward many yearsto 1994 and my foray into the world of this new-fangled thing called the ‘Internet’ and my first food website. I know I starting searching for many dishes I thought worthy of including but many were not available online.
Was I excited to find that this was? Absolutely…and it has been my mainstay recipe for all the years since, with really minimal changes on my part.
The recipe calls for making mayonnaise from scratch. Yes, it is wonderful and I love the results but I also have to admit that about half the time I’ve found that the ease of prepared mayo trumps the slight difference in taste so I just use what is in my fridge (I currently am loving an olive oil blend).
I also might throw in dried cranberries in lieu of grapes. Don’t get me wrong…I prefer the grapes but when the spirit moves me to make chicken salad I don’t always have them on hand and I’m not the kind to run to the grocery store for one item so cranberries on hand? I use them. This photo is proof!
Sadly, so many great old department stores (including Famous and Barr and Stix, Baer & Fuller from my hometown of St. Louis among them) have been wrapped up in the Macy’s banner over the years and they are not the same.
Revisiting them is only done through a food experience and this one is so close to my first trip to Marshall Field’s that I can almost hear that operator asking me, ‘What floor please?’ This Marshall Field’s Chicken Salad Sandwich is truly so iconic that it is still perfect today. Try it, you’ll see!
More Favorite Sandwiches
- Canyon Creek Burger from Ted’s Montana Grill
- Lamb and Goat Cheese Burgers with Cabernet Barbecue Sauce
- Blue Cheese Bison Burger with Bacon Caramelized Onions
- Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Beer Battered Crust
Marshall Field’s Chicken Salad Sandwich
An iconic Chicken Salad from the Marshall Field's department store in Chicago, Illinois
5 average from less than 50 votes
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Prep Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course Chicken and Turkey, Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 325 kcal
Ingredients
For the Homemade Mayonnaise
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1-1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 1-1/2 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh
- 1 pinch white pepper
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
For the Chicken Salad Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 to 3 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
- 2-1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
For the Chicken Salad
- 1-1/2 cup shredded boiled chicken
- ½ cup celery finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons green onions finely chopped
- ¼ cup pecans toasted, chopped
- 10 seedless grapes, halved
Instructions
To Make Mayonnaise
Blend egg, Dijon and salt together in bowl of a food processor for 1 minute. Add oil to running processor in slow, steady stream. Continue to run till emulsified, then continue 1 minute longer. Add lemon juice, a pinch of white pepper and cayenne. Whir to mix. Refrigerate.
To Make Chicken Salad Dressing
Mix mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, sugar, salt, white pepper and lemon juice well.
To Make the Chicken Salad
Mix together, chicken, celery, onions, pecans, grapes, and dressing. Toss well and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
To Make the Marshall Field's Chicken Salad Sandwich
Top 1 piece of bread or half a soft roll with a layer of crisp lettuce. Top with 1/2 cup chicken salad and 3 slices of bacon. Cover with another slice of bread or top of hard roll.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Marshall Field's Chicken Salad Sandwich
Amount per Serving
Calories
325
% Daily Value*
Fat
32
g
49
%
Cholesterol
72
mg
24
%
Sodium
550
mg
24
%
Carbohydrates
4
g
1
%
Protein
6
g
12
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Calories
325
Keyword chicken salad, marshall fields
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