Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

This cranberry pecan chicken salad is full of flavor and crunch topped with a homemade dressing that is creamy and delicious! Perfect for a salad, sandwich or lettuce wrap it is a versatile and tasty dish!

This is our favorite chicken salad recipe to make on a busy week night or to serve at parties and gatherings. It is a terrific recipe for entertaining or feeding your family! This homemade chicken salad recipe is perfect for so many occasions. Everyone loves the tender chicken, crisp apples, cranberries and crunchy pecans all tossed in a creamy delicious dressing!

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Why we love this Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad-

It is full of flavor and texture – This amazing cranberry pecan chicken salad filled with flavor and texture isn’t a basic boring chicken salad. It starts with tender chicken and then crunchy pecans, sweet dried cranberries, green onions, crunchy celery and fresh apples are added! The whole thing is coated with a creamy sweet and tart dressing that is as easy as it is tasty. The sweet and savory flavors of this cranberry chicken salad blend together beautifully! Every time I make this recipe people tell me how much they enjoyed this recipe and that it is the best chicken salad they’ve ever had!

It is one of the most versatile chicken recipes! Serve this chicken salad on a bed of lettuce, in tortilla wraps, on a sandwich bun or croissant, sandwich bread, or even with a variety of crackers! It is an easy lunch a quick dinner, and a great make ahead meal for a delicious meal prep option or to have on hand for busy weeks. This recipe is one that is amazing to add to a holiday luncheon buffet or holiday party, it is great for a party like a bridal or baby shower! Basically it is the best festive dish recipe for any occasion!

It is easy! This easy recipe comes together with simple ingredients are easy to find in any grocery store and that everyone loves. To make it super easy you can use leftover chicken, or a rotisserie chicken so that you don’t even have to cook! You can use chicken breast or a whole chicken, whatever you prefer!

FAQ & Recipe Tips

Make sure your chicken is cooled-

I love using leftover chicken or a store bought rotisserie chicken for this recipe or cooking extra ahead of time but you can also cook your chicken before making this recipe. If you’re cooking your chicken before making this salad for best results make sure to let the chicken cool completely before assembling the salad. If your chicken is warm it may soften the veggies.

Season your chicken-

If you are starting with raw chicken and cooking it for this recipe make sure to season it well. I like to keep it simple and season it with a little salt, and pepper and some garlic powder. You want the chicken to be delicious as a base for this great recipe! You can dice your chicken for chopped chicken or shred it to have shredded chicken in your chicken salad. 

How to Serve this Chicken Salad- 

This chicken salad recipe is delicious as a sandwich, my favorite way to serve it is on croissants or fresh baked rolls. It is also super tasty on top of a bed of greens like chopped lettuce, fresh spinach, or kale. This chicken salad makes a great main dish and can be served with simple side dishes like fries, chopped veggies, or a fresh fruit salad. This chicken salad can be served as a light dinner, a tasty lunch or with crackers as a delicious snack!

How to store this chicken salad-

This chicken salad is one that keeps well so it is great for making ahead of time or having tasty leftovers. Keep it in an air tight container and store in the refrigerator. This is one of my favorite chicken recipes to have on hand for quick and delicious lunches!

Substitutions-

Use leftover turkey instead of chicken – this recipe is a great way to use up leftovers from holiday meals. If you have leftover chicken or turkey this recipe is the perfect way to use them up! You can use light or dark meat or a mixture of both.

Use your favorite apple – I like to use granny smith apples for this recipe but you can use your favorite. If you want to use sweet apples you can or you can go for a more tart apple.

Use other nuts – If you don’t like pecans you can swap out the nuts in this recipe. Chopped walnuts are a great option and so are slivered almonds.

Swap out the vinegar– Don’t have apple cider vinegar on hand (or don’t love it?) You can use lemon juice instead! The vinegar creates a perfect balance of sweet and tart that compliments the delicious cranberry and apples beautifully!

Use pre-made dressing – This homemade dressing is easy but if you prefer bottled dressing you can use it in this recipe. A great choice is poppy seed dressing or coleslaw dressing. They both have the sweet and tart elements that taste amazing in this easy salad.

Toast the pecans– Toasted pecans can add some depth of flavor and extra crunch to your chicken salad. To toast the pecans before adding place them in a single layer on a baking sheet in the oven for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are a dark golden brown. Let them cool before chopping and adding to the salad.  

Swap out the mayo – If you’re not a fan of mayonnaise you can swap it out and still have a delicious creamy dressing. Plain Greek yogurt makes a great substitution or you can even use sour cream. If you are using Greek yogurt you may want to add a bit more honey to counteract the tartness.

Tasty additions– I love the apples, cranberries and pecans in this chicken salad but there are a few other ingredients that make great additions. If you like onion diced red onion, or green onions make a great addition. Dijon mustard is a great addition to add a little bit of spice to this delicious chicken salad.

What is the best chicken to use? 

You can really use any cut of chicken you’d like for this recipe. Boneless skinless chicken breasts make a great foundation, boneless skinless chicken thighs are great if you prefer dark meat. For super tender chicken you can use chicken tenderloins. If you need something quick canned chicken works well, or a precooked rotisserie chicken is also a great option! If you use rotisserie chicken you can dice it or for larger chunks use pulled rotisserie chicken. This is also a great way to use up leftover chicken!

Here’s what you’ll need for this cranberry pecan chicken salad recipe –

3 Cups Chopped Cooked Chicken

¾ Cup Dried Cranberries

½ Cup Chopped Pecans

½ Medium Size Granny Smith Apple

3-4 Green Onions

2 Stalks Celery

Dressing-

½ Cup Mayonnaise

2 Tbsp Honey

1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

Here’s how to make this cranberry pecan chicken salad-

Finely dice celery. Peel apples if desired, and finely chop. Finely slice green onion including the white and about half of the green part.

Place the cooked diced chicken in a large mixing bowl.

Add in cranberries and chopped pecans, chopped green onion, chopped celery and apples.

Toss together to mix well.

Place mayonnaise in a medium mixing bowl and add in apple cider vinegar. Whisk together until well combined.

Add in honey and continue whisking until blended.

Pour dressing mixture over the chicken mixture and stir to evenly coat.

Cover and chill at least 30 minutes.

Serve on sandwiches with your favorite rolls, or on a bed of greens .

Store any leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container.