Delicious and Easy Cranberry and Pecan Chicken Salad Recipe
In the summertime, any recipe that allows me to prep and chill ahead of time is a keeper. A dish that can go with me everywhere is this delicious recipe for Cranberry and Pecan Chicken Salad. I love being able to hustle up a quick dinner, or even pack a picnic lunch if we’re headed to the park or to the beach with this delicious salad as the focal point. I’m so excited to share this recipe with you; it’s one of my family’s favorites! I can easily mix up a batch to last us awhile, and it keeps well sealed in the refrigerator.
This recipe also has a secret weapon – Fresh Gourmet Cranberry and Pecan Topping. It’s a mix of dried cranberries and honey roasted pecans with a little sweet and a little spice. It’s all natural, comes in a 20 oz bag, and is ready to add a little magic to my signature chicken salad.! It’s a mix of dried cranberries and honey roasted pecans with a little sweet and a little spice. It’s all natural, comes in a 20 oz bag, and is ready to add a little magic to my signature chicken salad.
It’s also great to have on hand for topping oatmeal, yogurt, or other salad varieties, too. I know you’ll love how it makes this chicken salad extra special, and you’ll figure out some fun ways to use it in a wide range of meals! It comes in a resealable bag, so you can pop the extras in the fridge and figure out some great ways to experiment.
I add the Cranberry and Pecan Topping to my chicken salad to elevate it to restaurant quality, and I think you’ll taste the difference it makes! This recipe reflects some of my family’s favorite flavors. When it comes to chicken salad, I know many people have strong opinions. There are so many options – from curry to southwestern – but my favorite is a sweet and salty balance.
The grapes are a must, as are the red onions. Both of these ingredients are sometimes controversial, but I promise that they give such a punch to this salad that you should not leave them out. Mayonnaise adds creaminess to the dressing, while Greek yogurt provides some tang. I love mixing up the dressing myself rather than using something premade; it gives me the opportunity to tweak however I’d like, and ensures that there aren’t any preservatives.
I serve this on buns or in lettuce cups, but you could heap it on top of spinach leaves, too! Or, just eat it straight out of the bowl. I love that it can quickly transition from a hearty dinner to a light lunch with just a quick tweak. There’s a healthy balance of food groups, too. It’s a full meal all in one! It’s hard to find well-rounded dishes that provide plenty of protein – another big plus for us during the busy summer. It’s also a great way to use up grilled chicken from barbeques, or from a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken if you’re in a pinch.
Savory chicken, crunchy celery and sweet cranberries create the perfect balance. The dressing is tart, which helps balance the sweetness of the apples and grapes. It’s a yin and yang experience. I hope you’ll try it, and do let me know how you like it!
Cranberry and Pecan Chicken Salad Recipe
Serves – 6
Ingredients
- 3 heaped cups of Shredded Chicken (2 chicken breasts)
- ½ cup of sliced Celery (3 celery ribs)
- ¼ cup of chopped Red Onion (½ of a medium sized onion)
- ½ cup of diced Granny Smith Apple (one small apple)
- ½ cup of Red Grapes, halved
- 1 cup of Fresh Gourmet Cranberry & Pecan Topping
- 1 cup of Mayonnaise
- ½ cup Greek Yogurt
- 1 tablespoon Spicy Brown Mustard
- 1 teaspoon of Salt
- ½ teaspoon of Black Pepper
Instructions
- In a medium sized bowl, combine mayonnaise, yogurt, mustard, salt and pepper. Whisk it well till there is no lumps.
2. In another large bowl, combine shredded chicken, celery, red onion, apple, halved grapes and the cranberry and pecan topping. Mix well.
3. Pour the prepared dressing and toss it together, till every bit of the salad is coated in the dressing.
4. Cover and let it chill for at least 2 hours.
5. Serve over sandwich buns or lettuce cups
Notes
- You can use all mayonnaise or all Greek yogurt, instead of the combination, for this recipe.
- We went with spicy brown mustard, but Dijon or yellow mustard works as well.
Bon Appétit
I hope your family enjoys our take on Cranberry and Pecan Chicken Salad.
Please check out our other recipes!
This is something I definitely have to pick up next time I’m at the store. I would totally put it in salad!
This sounds absolutely delicious – I have to admit when it is hot I do like a good salad, I’ll have to try this recipe out.
That is one tasty chicken salad! I love the addition of the cranberries and pecans for more flavor and texture. Love it.
This looks amazing! I will be making this for lunch one day. I just love cranberries!
This looks so good. I love the taste of pecans and cranberry together. Sweet, sour and crunchy.
This sounds delicious and healthy. I have an event next month that this would be perfect for sharing.
Oh I love the combination, thanks for sharing your wonderful recipe.
This sounds so tasty and perfect for summer bbqs. We will definitely be trying it out
This looks like a way to elevate chicken salad! I’m excited to try it.
this looks amazing! would be great for a July 4th barbeque!
This sounds like a delicious salad. I love that salad topping as I love pecans.
This combo is so good! I will make this for the next weekend picnic!
This is so much better than the boring chicken salad I usually make. I definitely want to give this one a try. I love the cranberries.
Wow this sure looks amazing. I haven’t had a chicken salad in a long time. Now I want to make this real soon. Yum!
What an interesting recipe for a salad. This would be perfect for when we have company over this summer.
Wow, this looks so tasty 😋 I can’t wait to try and serve this to my family this coming Father’s day.
I’ll definitely love this with any kind of gathering or picnic. Seems easy to pair with other foods.
I love how light and refreshing this salad sounds. I’m sure it’s packed with flavors yet it’s easy to make.
this looks so tasty for a hot summer barebque! i should try it soon
That looks great. I’m going to have to try making that sometimes.
Oh, my! That salad is making my mouth water. Now that’s what I want for lunch today. 🙂
Wow, what a delicious and nutritious summer salad. I love all the ingredients and I look forward to making this recipe soon.
This looks so good and delicious! My husband will love this for sure! YUM!
Yum! This chicken salad looks so delicious and healthy 😍My family would certainly enjoy it! Thanks for sharing this recipe ❤️
Oh my goodness, we use the Sam’s Club Cranberry and Pecan Topping all the time. It is absolutely perfect for salads. Your recipe looks delicious, I can’t wait to try it!
This is perfect for brunch! Easy to prepare and nutritious as well!
This salad sounds so good. I need to get that cranberry mix so i can make this.
My wife will definitely enjoy and love this Cranberry and Pecan Chicken Salad! She’s a fan of good salad recipes. So delicious!
The grapes is a must. I couldn’t agree more. The sweetness of it so perfect for salads.
Thanks for the idea, this combination would make a really great, satisfying salad.
Oh my goodness, it looks so good and tasty. I am so excited to make this for my parent’s wedding anniversary. Yum!
This looks so good. I haven’t had a chicken salad in such a long time. I definitely will have to give this a try.
I really think I want to try this. I would need to eliminate or change out the onion but aside from that this sounds great!
Yum! This seems like my favorite pita salad wrap. it contains tuna though but this one also sounds scrumptious.
this looks really amazing. just what a summer bbq needs
This recipe looks so delicious, I am going to need to try it soon, would be great to take for our picnic
Cranberry pecan chicken salad looks yumm. This is whole meal when it two buns.
Oh wow! Looks really delicious! My family will surely love this! Thank you for sharing!
This chicken salad recipe is so GOOD! The added cranberries and pecans are AMAZING!