Pickle-Packed Chicken Salad

The Jill Pickle chicken salad LTO at Chicken Salad Chick proves that successful menu innovation doesn’t always require complex flavor-building. Crunchy chopped dill pickles are added to the brand’s traditional chicken salad recipe composed of all-white-meat shredded chicken, finely minced celery, mayonnaise and a house seasoning. That’s all it took to create the most successful flavor LTO in company history.

“We have always served a dill pickle spear on the side with meals, and it’s something our guests know us for and already love. That, in combination with pickle being such a trending flavor profile, made it an obvious route to explore,” says Gabi Wall, manager, menu strategy and innovation for the fast-casual chain. “When we sampled it, we knew we unlocked something special. The flavors together just work. I’m surprised we didn’t think of it sooner!”

Within four broad flavor categories—Traditional; Savory; Fruity and Nutty; and Spicy—there are 12 recipe formulations on the core menu, and each is given a persona with a backstory, such as Classic Carol, Fancy Nancy, Barbie-Q and Jalapeño Holly. “We took the traditional spirit of Classic Carol, our most popular flavor brand-wide, and gave it a briny twist,” explains Wall. The brand introduces five LTOs each year. “Even though somewhat niche, chicken salad is such a versatile food to work with. We are able to introduce flavor through many different avenues, whether that’s spices/seasonings, sauces or new ingredients.”

Read more Best of Flavor 2026