Description
This Easy Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad is a high-protein, flavorful dish perfect for quick lunches or light dinners. Featuring tender cooked chicken combined with crunchy pecans, tart dried cranberries, and fresh apple, it offers a delightful balance of sweet and savory flavors with a creamy, herbed dressing made from mayo and Greek yogurt. Ready in just 10 minutes, this salad is versatile for serving with crackers, in lettuce wraps, or sandwiches.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Salad Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked chicken, diced (preferably rotisserie or poached chicken breasts)
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1 Granny Smith apple, cored and diced
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup pecans
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt (substitute additional mayo for dairy-free option)
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the diced cooked chicken, chopped celery, diced Granny Smith apple, dried cranberries, pecans, mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, and all the herbs and spices including paprika, dried parsley, dried thyme, dried rosemary, and sea salt.
- Mix Well: Thoroughly mix all the ingredients until the chicken salad is evenly coated with the creamy dressing and the flavors are well distributed. Adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Serve: Enjoy the chicken salad immediately or chill it in the refrigerator for a cold serving. Serve with crackers, stuffed in lettuce wraps, or as a sandwich filling.
Notes
- To make your own cooked chicken quickly, poach chicken breasts by simmering them gently in water or broth until cooked through, about 10-15 minutes.
- You can substitute the plain non-fat Greek yogurt with more mayonnaise to make a dairy-free version of this salad.
- For added crunch, consider toasting the pecans before adding.
- The salad keeps well refrigerated for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
