Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad Recipe
🕒 Prep Time
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes (if cooking chicken)
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Servings: 6
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup pecans, chopped and lightly toasted
- 2 celery stalks, finely diced
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
For the Dressing
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
Cook and cool the chicken if needed. Dice or shred it into bite-sized pieces.
Step 2: Toast the Pecans
Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Toast the chopped pecans for 3–5 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant. Let them cool.
Step 3: Make the Dressing
In a large bowl, whisk together:
- Mayonnaise
- Greek yogurt
- Dijon mustard
- Honey
- Lemon juice
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt
- Black pepper
Mix until smooth and creamy.
Step 4: Assemble the Salad
Add the following to the dressing:
- Chicken
- Dried cranberries
- Toasted pecans
- Celery
- Green onions
- Red onion
- Parsley
Gently fold everything together until evenly coated.
Step 5: Chill
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. This helps the flavors blend together.
Serving Ideas
Serve this chicken salad:
- In croissants
- On toasted bread
- Wrapped in tortillas
- Over lettuce or spinach
- With crackers
- Stuffed inside pita bread
- In lettuce wraps for a low-carb meal
Storage
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.
- Do not freeze, as the mayonnaise-based dressing may separate.
Tips
- Rotisserie chicken saves time and adds great flavor.
- Toasting the pecans gives the salad a richer, nuttier taste.
- Add diced apples or seedless grapes for extra sweetness and crunch.
- For a lighter version, replace half the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
- Let the salad chill before serving for the best flavor.
Nutrition (Approximate Per Serving)
- Calories: 390
- Protein: 28g
- Fat: 28g
- Carbohydrates: 11g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 480mg
