Place chicken breasts in a pot and cover with water or light broth. Add a small pinch of salt. Bring the water to a gentle boil and cook for about twenty minutes until the chicken becomes tender and fully cooked inside.

Remove the cooked chicken and let it cool slightly. Use two forks to shred the meat into very fine pieces. For a smoother deli texture, pulse the shredded chicken briefly in a food processor.

In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, sugar, salt and black pepper. Stir the mixture slowly until everything becomes smooth and creamy. This mixture will form the rich dressing for the chicken salad.

Add the finely chopped celery and minced onion to the bowl. Mix them gently into the dressing. These vegetables add a tiny bit of crunch and fresh flavor without overpowering the creamy texture.

Add the shredded chicken into the bowl with the dressing mixture. Use a spatula to fold everything together slowly. Make sure every piece of chicken gets coated with the creamy mixture.

Pour in two tablespoons of chicken broth and mix again. This small step helps create the smooth texture that makes the Willow Tree Chicken Salad Recipe famous.

For a richer flavor, melt a small amount of butter and mix it into the salad. This trick helps mimic the creamy deli flavor and makes the texture slightly softer.

Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for at least one hour. The flavors blend together while chilling and the texture becomes even smoother and more delicious.