Description
A delicious and easy-to-make Apple Cranberry Chicken Salad featuring tender cooked chicken, crisp apples, toasted pecans, celery, and dried cranberries all dressed in a creamy mayonnaise and lemon juice dressing. Perfect for sandwiches, lettuce cups, or as a make-ahead meal prep lunch packed with savory, sweet, and crunchy flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 12 oz. cooked and cubed or shredded chicken (about 3 cups)
- 1 cup finely diced apple
- 1/2 cup toasted pecans
- 1/3 cup finely diced celery
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/3-1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon pepper
- Optional: 1-2 Tablespoons fresh herbs (like tarragon, dill, or parsley)
Instructions
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the cooked chicken, finely diced apple, toasted pecans, celery, and dried cranberries. Gently mix to combine all the solid ingredients evenly.
- Add Dressing Ingredients: Pour in 1/3 cup of mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, salt, and pepper. If using, add the fresh herbs. Stir everything together until well coated. Add extra mayonnaise by the tablespoon if you prefer a creamier salad.
- Taste & Adjust: Sample the chicken salad and adjust seasoning by adding more salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed for your preferred flavor balance.
- Serve & Store: Serve the salad immediately on sandwiches, inside lettuce cups, or your favorite bread. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Notes
- This chicken salad combines sweet, savory, creamy, and crunchy textures for a perfect balance of flavors.
- You can substitute the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for a lighter version.
- Try different herbs like tarragon, dill, or parsley to vary the flavor.
- Use gluten-free bread or lettuce wraps to keep it gluten-free and Paleo-friendly.
- Toast pecans lightly for added crunch and deeper flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 0.75 cup chicken salad
- Calories: 267 kcal
- Sugar: 9.2 g
- Sodium: 435.6 mg
- Fat: 15.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12.9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12.3 g
- Fiber: 2.3 g
- Protein: 15.3 g
- Cholesterol: 45.1 mg
