Emotions Are Running High Online With Nicholas Spark’s Chicken Salad Recipe
Who hasn't enjoyed (or cried to) a Nicholas Sparks story? The man behind The Notebook and A Walk to Remember practically invented the tear-jerking romance genre. Sparks has a long list of achievements to look back on, including over 130 million copies sold worldwide, 11 movie adaptions and a Broadway musical. Not to mention his latest novel, "Counting Miracles," hit #1 on The New York Times Bestseller list. But lately, the beloved author has made headlines for something other than his writing—a recipe. When I first stumbled upon the viral chaos surrounding his now-infamous "Splenda Chicken Salad," I had to do a double-take. The controversy? There are 16 packets of Splenda—yes, 16—in Nicholas Sparks' chicken salad recipe. Naturally, the internet had a lot to say.
What is Nicholas Sparks' chicken salad?
The recipe came to light in a New York Times profile on Sparks published in September, 2024. And it's as unusual as it sounds. The base of the salad includes pretty standard ingredients: two rotisserie chickens, chopped celery, a Vidalia onion, mayonnaise, pickle relish and a jalape?o relish. All of that sounds delicious enough—until you get to the part where Sparks adds 16 packets of Splenda. He even explained his reasoning: “You can use real sugar, but why throw sugar in if you can use Splenda?”
Sparks' decision to use Splenda instead of regular sugar is might be understandable from a nutritional standpoint. After all, he noted in the interview that he tries to avoid carbs “most of the time.” But the sheer volume of sweetener is where things get… tricky.
Nicholas' Sparks chicken salad recipe
After hearing his chicken salad was breaking the internet, he took to Instagram to clarify the recipe in the post below. Notably, the amount of Splenda was reduced to eight packets. Here's how to make it:
Ingredients:
1 rotisserie chicken, skinless, chopped
1 large sweet onion, diced
7 stalks celery, chopped
3 Tbs. dill relish
2 Tbs. diced jalape?os (from jar)
For the mayo sauce (combine)
1 cup Duke’s mayonnaise
3 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. salt
? tsp. pepper
? tsp. cayenne pepper
8 packets of Splenda
Directions:
Pour the mixture over the chicken, onions, celery etc. and mix. The flavor will continue to deepen for a day, but you can eat it right away.
Fans (and critics) react
Almost as soon as the story went live, social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and food blogs lit up with opinions. One user joked, “From the south and we’re known for using obscene amounts of sugar, but I’ve never even considered putting it in chicken salad.” Another commented, “This is the second most cursed thing I’ve read this morning.” One user simply exclaimed, "WHAT."
But not everyone was put off! Some fans said they were eager to try the unique dish, with one person exclaiming, “Sounds delicious to me,” and another user praising Sparks for his culinary creativity, saying, “Oh my gosh, is there anything you can’t do?” Many were already convinced to make the recipe for themselves: "This sounds amazing! I’m making it," wrote one user. One fan even went so far as to ask for more: "I want more recipes Nick, please!"
With word traveling fast, Splenda, the artificial sweetener brand, weighed in on the debate by expressing support for Sparks’ creation amidst the mixed reviews?. "Congrats on the new book and beautiful home. But *chef’s kiss* on the chicken salad recipe!" the company responded on X.
Foodie taste tests and reviews
So, how sweet is too sweet for chicken salad? Typically, sweetness in chicken salad comes from ingredients like apples, cranberries or even a bit of sugar. But Splenda, and that much of it, takes the dish into strange new territory. I personally love making chicken salad with diced apples, so I think I'll keep my Splenda for my coffee.
However, many foodies have already experimented with Sparks' recipe at home, and the reviews are, well, not so sweet. One review from Eater claimed that they "felt the visceral need to grimace. It tasted like an accident." Another review from TODAY said, "The sweetness is so far over the top that as I eat lunch, it’s already watching the sun set spectacularly, on the horizon of common sense." Both would make the base salad again, just without the Splenda.
Overall, the viral recipe has given us all something to laugh (or cringe) about. And one thing's for sure: Nicholas Sparks knows how to keep us talking—even if this time it’s not about love stories, but sugar-laden chicken salad. So, would you try Nicholas Sparks' chicken salad? Let us know in the comments below.
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