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Home ยป Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

January 23, 2023 Kristy Richardson 1 Comment

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Close up of cranberry pecan chicken salad piled on an open croissant on top of a second image of chicken salad in a bowl piled high from the side with title text overlay between the images.

Creamy cranberry pecan chicken salad makes a tender, melt-in-your-mouth lunch that is quick, easy and tasty. This easy salad gets its flavor from slightly tart but also sweet cranberries, nutty pecans, and crunchy celery tossed in the most delicious dressing with leftover cooked chicken for a quick and delicious recipe.

Cranberry pecan chicken salad mixed in a bowl on a counter with lettuce, croissants and part of a sandwich on the counter.

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Why We Love Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

  • Great For Leftovers Or Rotisserie Chicken – This recipe is the perfect way to use up a little leftover roast chicken, or you can make it even faster with rotisserie chicken from the grocery store.
  • Perfect For Lunch Or Dinner – This simple recipe makes a delicious lunch, but is still filling enough for dinner or can also make a quick snack. Homemade chicken salad is one of my favorite things to prep ahead for an afternoon party and always gets rave reviews.
  • Easy Recipe – Only a few ingredients mixed together help this recipe come together fast, while still packing in flavor to make the best chicken salad.

Ingredients For Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

Ingredients for cranberry pecan chicken salad in bowls on a counter from overhead with text overlay.
  • 2 ½ cups chicken, about 2 cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts – or 14 ounces cooked chicken
  • ½ cup dried cranberries roughly chopped, these give the recipe a delicious sweet tart flavor
  • ⅓ cup pecans chopped
  • ⅓ cup celery 1 stalk, diced
  • ¼ cup green onion chopped, 2 pieces, you could also use red onion
  • ¾ cup mayonnaise
  • 4 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper

How To Make Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

  • Chop the leftover chicken, pecans, cranberries, celery and green onions into small bite sized pieces.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add chicken, chopped pecans, cranberries, celery, and green onion and mix together well.
Diced chicken being mixed with dried cranberries and pecans in a large bowl from overhead on a counter with celery and green onion nearby.
  • In a second smaller bowl, add mayonnaise, lemon juice, honey, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Blend this mixture well with a whisk or fork.
Mixing together mayo with spices, honey and lemon juice in a bowl from overhead on the counter.
  • Pour the dressing mixture over chicken mixture. With a spoon, mix in the dressing until the chicken and vegetables are evenly coated.
Cranberry pecan chicken salad being mixed with dressing in a large bowl from overhead on a counter with a wooden spoon.
  • Scoop and enjoy! Add to croissants, fluffy dinner rolls, lettuce cups, or enjoy all by itself.

Variation Ideas

  • Swap The Bread – Serve this chicken salad on a croissant, fluffy roll, or between two toasted pieces of chewy bread for the most delicious chicken salad sandwiches.
  • Try A Wrap– Wrap this tender chicken salad in a tortilla with some crunchy lettuce for a delicious meal, or make a lettuce wrap and enjoy.
  • Try Different Nuts– I’ve used crunchy pecans, but almonds or cashews are also a great addition in place of pecans.
  • Play With Fruit– Use fresh grapes or apples like a more classic chicken salad instead of cranberries, or add them in with the cranberries for extra sweetness – the best part!
  • Lighten It Up– You can swap plain greek yogurt for the mayo in this recipe for a slightly lighter version.
Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad piled high on a croissant with lettuce to make a sandwich on a plate.

How Long Will Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad Last?

Expect this cranberry pecan chicken salad to last for about three days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

.It’s a great recipe to prep ahead the night before a party or for lunch.

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Cold Veggie Pizza– Perfect for a crowd, if you’ve never tried making this cold veggie pizza full of ranch flavor and vegetables, you’ve got to try it and watch it disappear!

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Cranberry Pecan Chicken salad in a bowl on a counter cropped in square.

Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

Kristy Richardson
Cranberry pecan chicken salad is an easy recipe with only a few simple ingredients. This delicious recipe gives the perfect balance of sweet cranberries, crunchy celery and tender chicken for the ultimate quick lunch or snack.
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Save to Pinterest
PREP TIME 20 mins
COOK TIME 0 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Course Dinners, lunch, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 8 Servings
Calories 259 kcal
Prevent your screen from going dark while you cook

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ½ cups chicken, cooked 2 chicken breasts or 14 ounces cooked chicken
  • ½ cup dried cranberries roughly chopped
  • ⅓ cup pecans chopped
  • ⅓ cup celery 1 stalk, diced
  • ¼ cup green onion chopped, 2 pieces
  • ¾ cup mayonnaise
  • 4 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
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Instructions
 

  • Chop the chicken, pecans, cranberries, celery and green onions into small bite sized pieces.
  • In a large bowl, add chicken, chopped pecans, cranberries, celery, and green onion and mix together well.
  • In a second smaller bowl, add mayonnaise, lemon juice, honey, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Blend this mixture well with a whisk or fork.
  • Pour the dressing mixture over chicken mixture. With a spoon, mix in the dressing until the chicken and vegetables are evenly coated.
  • Scoop and enjoy! Add to croissants or fluffy rolls or enjoy all by itself.

Notes

Toasting Pecans

I like to toast the pecans before adding them to the chicken salad because it gives them great flavor and texture. To toast the pecans. place them in a pan over medium heat. I usually spray it with a light spray of cooking oil. Heat pecans for about 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently. Then move the pecans to a cutting board and chop them.

Nutrition

Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 338mg | Potassium: 223mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 80IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Keyword chicken, chicken recipe
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30 Minute-Meals, Chicken, Healthy Recipes, Lunchboxes, Main Dishes, Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Jack says

    January 26, 2023 at 6:25 am

    5 stars
    This is a delicious and healthy way to enjoy a meal! With its crisp apples, sweet cranberries, and crunchy pecans, Iโ€™m loving the recipe!!

    -Jack from Skilletguy.com

    Reply

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    Welcome to On My Kids Plate, I'm Kristy! Here you will find ideas for helping kids have fun with food, recipes both kids and parents love, fresh parenting ideas, great tips and a little bit of humor. I hope you find an idea your family loves. Follow along below to see all the ideas on social media below, or email me hello@onmykidsplate.com

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