CRANBERRY PECAN CHICKEN SALAD

Cranberry pecan chicken salad is a delicious combination of tender chicken, juicy cranberries, and crunchy pecans. It is all brought together with a luscious Greek yogurt sauce. The creamy sauce adds a tangy twist, complementing the sweetness of cranberries and the nuttiness of pecans. This chicken salad comes together effortlessly for a satisfying meal. Also, it’s fantastic for meal prep!

Why You Will Love This Chicken Salad

• This chicken salad is easy to make and has the delicious flavors of cranberries and pecans.
• The cranberries and apples give a burst of sweet and tart flavor.
• The chopped pecans add a nuttiness and crunch to the salad.
• You can store it in the refrigerator for meal prep!
• It’s so quick and easy to make!
• The sauce is creamy and flavorful while being lightened up.
• There is no mayo in this recipe, we used Greek yogurt as the base of the sauce.
• This chicken salad recipe is naturally gluten-free.

What Is Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad?

This cranberry pecan chicken salad recipe is made with chopped fully cooked chicken and has the addition of flavorful dried cranberries, pecans, celery, apple, and red onion. Also, it’s tossed in a creamy sauce. This salad has the ultimate combination of flavors and is packed with protein from the chicken and Greek yogurt.

Ingredients Needed For Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

• Chicken: Use fully cooked chicken breast and chop it into bite-sized pieces.
• Cranberries: Roughly chop the sweetened dried cranberries to distribute them throughout.
• Pecans: Chop the pecans to distribute them evenly.
• Celery: Finely dice the celery. It adds crunch to the salad.
• Apples: Finely dice one large apple and remove the core.
• Red Onion: Finely dice the red onion.
• Greek Yogurt: The base of the sauce is 0-fat plain Greek yogurt.
• Vinegar: Champagne vinegar brightens the sauce and adds another layer of flavor.
• Rosemary: Complements the flavor of the chicken.
• Garlic Powder: Adds flavor to the sauce.
• Salt and Pepper: Salt and pepper to season the sauce and enhance the flavors.

What Chicken To Use

We used fully cooked chicken breast in this recipe. Some options are grilled chicken breasts, rotisserie chicken, slow cooker shredded chicken, or drained canned cooked chicken breast. Just make sure to use fully cooked chicken in this recipe. Also, chop the chicken into small bite-sized pieces for this salad. You could even use cooked leftover Thanksgiving turkey instead.

How To Make Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

Step 1: Chop the fully cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces.

After that, roughly chop the dried cranberries and pecans. Then, dice the celery, apple, and red onion.

Step 2: Add the cooked chicken, dried cranberries, pecans, celery, apple, and red onion to a large bowl. Next, mix these ingredients.

Step 3: Add the 0-fat Greek yogurt, champagne vinegar, rosemary, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a bowl.

Then, mix to combine the sauce.

Step 4: Add the sauce to the large bowl.

Then, thoroughly mix the salad. After that, serve this salad or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this cranberry pecan chicken salad right after making it or chill it first. You can enjoy it straight from the bowl, or use it to make lettuce wraps, sandwiches, or croissant sandwiches. Or, add a scoop of this chicken salad over a fresh green salad. For another option, serve it with crackers for a quick snack. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for convenient meal prep throughout the week.

Expert Tips

• Chop To Evenly Distribute: Roughly chop the cranberries and pecans to maximize the flavor of this salad. It allows you to get their delicious flavor without having to add a lot of them. Also, it helps evenly distribute the flavor throughout.
• Use A Chopper: We recommend using a chopper to make preparing the ingredients even easier. I used it to dice the apple, celery, and red onion.
• Add The Rosemary: The rosemary elevates the flavor of the chicken in this salad. You can use 1/4 teaspoon of fresh chopped rosemary or 1/8 teaspoon of dried rosemary.
• Thoroughly Mix: To ensure every bite is flavorful, thoroughly mix the sauce and salad until all the ingredients are evenly coated.

Storage Instructions

This cranberry pecan chicken salad is excellent for meal prep! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

Variations

• What Kind Of Apple To Use: We love the sweet and tart flavor of Pink Lady apples in this salad. For a more tart flavor, use a Granny Smith apple. Or, for a less tart flavor, use a Honey crisp apple.
• Vinegar Substitution: We used champagne vinegar in this recipe. If you don’t have any champagne vinegar, you can replace it with white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
• Onion Substitution: We used a red onion in this salad. You can substitute a sweet or green onion instead.
• What Pecans To Use: Make this recipe with regular pecans. Or, you could substitute them for salted pecans or candied pecans.
• Add More Cranberries and Pecans: You can always add more cranberries or pecans to this salad if you would like.
• Use Walnuts Instead: If you don’t have pecans, you can substitute them for walnuts instead.
• Chicken Substitution: You can make this salad with cooked chopped leftover turkey from Thanksgiving instead of chicken.
• Cranberries Substitution: For a lower sugar option, use reduced sugar dried cranberries. Or, replace the cranberries with dried cherries for a different flavor.
• Dairy-Free Option: You can make this cranberry pecan chicken salad dairy-free by replacing the Greek yogurt with your favorite dairy-free yogurt.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad Last?

Store this cranberry pecan chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

Is Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad Healthy?

We have lightened up this chicken salad! The base of the sauce is 0-fat Greek yogurt, and there is no mayonnaise in this recipe. This salad consists of simple ingredients such as cooked chicken, apples, celery, dried cranberries, and pecans.

Can This Chicken Salad Be Made Ahead Of Time?

Yes! You can make this chicken salad with cranberries and pecans ahead of time. Just store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy it within three days of making it.

More Salad Recipes To Try Next!

• Waldorf Chicken Salad
• Chicken Salad With Grapes and Tarragon
• Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe
• Cranberry Apple Tuna Salad
• Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad With Pecans
• Tuna Salad With Capers
• Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
• Curry Chicken Salad

If you try this recipe please be sure to leave us a comment and star rating ★★★★★ letting us know how it turns out for you.