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Chicken Pecan Cranberry Salad

A crunchy, sweet-savory bowl of comfort that's perfect for busy days, this Chicken Pecan Cranberry Salad is healthy, flavorful, and versatile.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 3 cups cooked chicken, chopped or shredded About 2 medium breasts or a small rotisserie chicken
  • 3/4 cup pecans, roughly chopped and lightly toasted Toast in a skillet for 3-4 minutes
  • 3/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup celery, finely diced
  • 1/3 cup red onion or green onion, thinly sliced (optional) For a little bite
Dressing
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise Or 1/4 cup mayo + 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt for a lighter dressing
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup (optional) Balances the tang
  • Salt and black pepper To taste
For Serving
  • Lettuce leaves, croissants, or whole-grain bread For serving

Method
 

Preparation
  1. If your chicken isn’t cooked, poach it. Place 2 boneless skinless breasts in a saucepan, cover with water, add a pinch of salt, bring to a simmer, and cook for 12-15 minutes until cooked through. Let cool and shred with two forks.
  2. Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add pecans and toss for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and slightly darker. Watch them — nuts go from toasty to burnt faster than you’d think. Transfer to a plate to cool.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise (and Greek yogurt if using), Dijon mustard, lemon juice, honey (if using), salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust.
Mixing
  1. Add chopped chicken, celery, onion, dried cranberries, and cooled pecans to the bowl with the dressing. Toss gently until everything is coated evenly.
Chilling and Serving
  1. Pop the salad into the fridge for 15-30 minutes to let flavors meld. Alternatively, serve immediately on a bed of mixed greens, in sandwich bread or croissants, or scooped into halved avocados.

Notes

This chicken salad is versatile; you can swap yogurt for mayo or add fruits like grapes or apples. It's great for meal prep and tastes even better the next day.