Description
Cranberry pecan chicken salad brings together tender chicken, crisp greens, and sweet-tart berries in a delightful medley of flavors. Nutty pecans and zesty dressing complete this refreshing dish that will make lunches and light dinners deliciously memorable.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins and Base:
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 1/2 cup diced celery
Main Fruits and Nuts:
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup chopped pecans
Dressing and Seasonings:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Shred the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces, ensuring uniform texture and size for consistent flavor distribution.
- Finely dice the celery to provide a crisp, refreshing crunch that complements the tender chicken.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken and diced celery, creating a protein-rich base for the salad.
- Fold in the dried cranberries and chopped pecans, which will introduce bursts of sweet-tart flavor and nutty richness.
- Prepare the creamy dressing by whisking together mayonnaise, greek yogurt, dijon mustard, honey, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well-integrated.
- Drizzle the dressing over the chicken mixture, gently folding to ensure each ingredient is evenly coated without becoming overly saturated.
- Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley on top, adding a vibrant green color and herbaceous note to the salad.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld and develop a harmonious taste profile.
- Before serving, give the salad a light stir to redistribute the ingredients and dressing, ensuring optimal flavor in each bite.
- Serve chilled as a standalone dish, sandwich filling, or atop crisp lettuce leaves for a refreshing meal.
Notes
- Customize the texture by adjusting chicken shredding technique for more or less uniform pieces depending on personal preference.
- Swap mayonnaise with Greek yogurt or vegan alternatives to create lighter, healthier, or dairy-free versions of the salad.
- Toast pecans briefly before chopping to enhance their nutty flavor and add a deeper, more complex taste profile to the dish.
- Experiment with herb variations like dill or tarragon instead of parsley to introduce different aromatic dimensions to the chicken salad.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg