Cranberry chicken salad is one of my favorite easy lunches to make once fall shows up. It’s creamy, crunchy, and full of flavor thanks to juicy bites of chicken, crisp celery, sweet-tart cranberries, chopped pecans, apples, and green onions. The simple mayo-based dressing gets a bright kick from lemon juice and a hint of garlic powder–just enough to tie everything together. It’s even become one of my traditions to make cranberry pecan chicken salad sandwiches for post-holiday meals. Yum!
Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
I’m a huge chicken salad lover, and when the holidays start to roll around, I like to make it festive! Enter this cranberry chicken salad. It’s rich and creamy but with an autumn twist. I add dried cranberries, plus chopped apple and pecans to this fall chicken salad to give it a festive flair. It’s juicy and slightly sweet with a wonderful nutty crunch from the pecans. I can’t stop making it, and it’s also super delicious with leftover Thanksgiving chicken, too!
I love using sweet Honeycrisp apples for this chicken salad, but truly any kind is delish in this recipe. Granny Smiths add a tart contrast to the sweet-tart cranberries and the creamy dressing.
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Poach Your Chicken for the Best Flavor
For the juiciest, most flavorful chicken salad, I recommend poaching your own chicken breasts instead of using rotisserie chicken or leftover roasted chicken (though any cooked chicken works here). Gently simmer the chicken in lightly salted water (or broth with bay leaves and peppercorns) until just cooked through. This method keeps the meat tender, moist, and neutral in flavor, so it doesn’t compete with the cranberries, apples, and pecans. It’s a classic chef technique that makes this cranberry pecan chicken salad truly stand out.
Cranberry Chicken Salad Recipe
This cranberry pecan chicken salad with apples and creamy dressing is the perfect fall chicken salad for lunches or holidays.
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Serves 4 people
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In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
¾ cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 pinch salt and pepper
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Stir in the chicken, celery, pecans, cranberries, apple, and green onions.
4 cups chopped cooked chicken, 2 ribs celery, 1 cup pecans, ¾ cup dried cranberries, 1 apple, 3 green onions
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Serve with crackers or bread, or as a sandwich on a roll, croissant, or lettuce wrap.
**I love Honeycrisp, but use your fav apples.
Tips:
- If the dressing seems too runny, add a bit more mayonnaise. If it’s too thick, add more lemon juice.
- I love this chicken salad best when it’s been chilled for 2-3 hours, or up to overnight, so the flavors have time to meld.
Storage: Store cranberry chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Facts
Cranberry Chicken Salad Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 765
Calories from Fat 495
% Daily Value*
Fat 55g85%
Saturated Fat 8g50%
Trans Fat 0.1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 25g
Monounsaturated Fat 19g
Cholesterol 142mg47%
Sodium 773mg34%
Potassium 671mg19%
Carbohydrates 31g10%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 23g26%
Protein 44g88%
Vitamin A 271IU5%
Vitamin C 8mg10%
Calcium 60mg6%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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How to Make Cranberry Chicken Salad Step by Step
Prep: Gather the list of ingredients for cranberry chicken salad. Juice the lemon, chop the cooked chicken and pecans, and finely chop the celery, apple, and green onions.
Make the Dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together ¾ cup of mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.
Add the Chicken: Stir in 4 cups of chopped cooked chicken, 2 ribs of finely chopped celery, 1 cup of chopped pecans, ¾ cup of dried cranberries, 1 finely chopped apple, and 3 finely chopped green onions. I like to toss the cut apple in a bit of lemon juice (from the other half of the lemon) before adding it to the salad to help keep it from browning prematurely.
Mix and Serve: Serve your cranberry pecan chicken salad with crackers or bread, or as a sandwich on a roll, croissant, or lettuce wrap.
How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
Store leftover cranberry apple chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Enjoy cold. I do not recommend freezing chicken salad.
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