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This Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad recipe is perfect for a quick and delicious meal. Packed with flavor and simple to make, this salad is sure to become a favorite. Try it as a sandwich, wrap, or dip with crackers for a satisfying lunch or snack.
I didn't think I was a fan of chicken salad until I made this recipe for a baby shower. Now, I'm hooked and make this almost every week! This chicken salad recipe with dried cranberries, crunchy pecans and crisp apples is easy to make and perfect for a meal prep option, potlucks, or a quick and easy lunch. I use Kirkland Canned Chicken from Costco, but you could easily use leftover chicken or purchased rotisserie chicken.
Why You Should Make This Recipe
Flavor: It has a delicious combination of savory and sweet flavors with a satisfying crunch. The chicken provides a mild, savory flavor, while the cranberries add a tart sweetness, and the pecans offer a nutty richness. Adding apples provides a refreshing crispness and a hint of sweetness, which balances out the other flavors in the dish. The overall taste is a delightful blend of textures and a flavor combination that is both hearty and refreshing.
Versatile: This chicken salad is easy to make and can be customized to your liking. You can adjust the seasoning and dressing to suit your taste buds. Some people prefer to add a little bit of honey to their dressing to enhance the sweetness, while others may like to add a little bit of mustard for a tangier flavor. Adding grapes or celery to the salad creates a more diverse flavor profile.
Meal Prep: This easy cranberry and pecan chicken salad recipe can be made in advance and stored in the fridge for up to three days, making it a perfect option for busy weekday lunches or a quick dinner.
(If you need some meal prep ideas, I've got you covered with easy and delicious recipes below!)
Meal Prep
Back to our regular programing for the easiest and best chicken salad recipe with pecans, cranberries and apples....
Ingredients Needed
Chicken salad is a very versatile recipe, using simple ingredients you typically have on hand. Below are the ingredients I used for this easy salad. I offer recipe variations in the FAQs below.
- Kirkland Canned Chicken
- dried cranberries
- pecans
- apple
- mayonnaise
- Dijon mustard
- onion powder
- pepper
- kosher salt
See the recipe card below for quantities.
How to Make Easy Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
Now that you know why this recipe is so great, let's get to the good stuff: how to make it!
- Add all the ingredients into the bowl of a stand mixer.
- With the mixer on low, stir until all the ingredients are combined.
- Serve!
Storage
Cranberry chicken salad is a great dish to make ahead of time. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days in an airtight container.
Best Chicken Salad FAQs
Add to a croissant with butter lettuce or fresh spinach.
Wrap in lettuce leaves for lettuce wraps.
Roll in a tortilla with lettuce for a tortilla wrap.
Serve with crackers and use as a dip.
The recipe is highly adaptable and customizable to suit your preferences.
Here are some variations to try:
Make it healthier: Substitute mayo with plain Greek yogurt or sour cream.
Make it more savory: add in chopped bacon or ham.
Make it sweeter: add a tablespoon of honey or raisins or dried cherries.
Make it more colorful: add in crunchy celery, red onion, green onions or shredded carrots.
Swap out the tender chicken for leftover turkey.
Choose your apples: Use a Fuji or Gala Apple for sweet apples. For tart apples, use Pink Lady or a Granny Smith Apple.
It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days in an airtight container.
And there you have it! A delicious and versatile cranberry chicken salad that will have you coming back for seconds (and thirds). So try it and let me know what you think in the comments below.
If you give this recipe a try, please leave a comment below, rate the recipe, and don’t forget to tag me @homesweetfarmhome on Instagram and use the hashtag #homesweetfarmhome. I’d love to see what you come up with and share with our community. Cheers!
Recipe Card
Easy Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 1 12.5 oz can of Kirkland Canned Chicken, drained (about 1.25 cups of cooked, chopped chicken breast baked or rotisserie if not using Costco canned chicken)
- 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
- ¼ cup pecans chopped
- ¼ cup apple diced
- ¼ cup mayonnaise or Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper to taste (depending on how much seasoning your chicken has)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt to taste (depending on how much seasoning your chicken has)
Instructions
- Drain the canned chicken well and then transfer it to a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer.
- Next, add the dried cranberries, chopped pecans, diced apple, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard and onion powder. Mix well.
- Taste and add appropriate amounts of salt and pepper.
- Serve chicken mixture on a croissant or whole wheat bread with spinach or romaine lettuce and enjoy!
* The nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Nicole says
I love this recipe for meal prepping lunches on the weekend!