We are about to enter the busy holiday season. To make life easier, I’m sharing a super simple and quick recipe for you! Nothing says easy like healthy chicken salad and since it’s fall, I wanted to make a festive one – hello cranberry pecan chicken salad!
By now you guys should know I love shredded chicken. I usually make a batch at the beginning of the week and it makes life so much easier come mealtime. I’ll repurpose it a bunch of different ways and one of the ways is usually chicken salad.
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I try to change the flavors and ingredients each week, but this cranberry pecan chicken salad is one of my favorites. It has some sweetness from the cranberries, nuttiness from the pecans, and some crunch and freshness from the celery. The longer you let it sit, the better it gets too!
It’s also lightly dressed with mayo (although you can add more if you like) and some lemon juice to keep it super light and fresh. If mayo isn’t your thing, swap it out for greek yogurt, which will increase the protein even more!
Why we love this cranberry pecan chicken salad recipe
- full of different flavors and textures – it’s crunchy and creamy and has the perfect balance of sweet and savory.
- it takes 10 minutes to make – with a little prep of having some shredded chicken on hand, it only takes about 10 minutes to come together.
- great for meal prep – it’s great to make at the beginning of the week to have on hand for an easy meal. The flavors get better the longer it sits too!
Is chicken salad healthy?
Chicken salad can be a healthy addition to any diet. Chicken is packed with lean protein which is going to help fill you up and keep you full. It also usually has some veggies and fruit for micronutrients and fiber.
Store-bought chicken salad can be loaded with a lot of fat due to the amount of mayonnaise used, which can add calories easily. This version is lightly dressed with a little mayonnaise to add some healthy fats to fill you up, but not overpower the recipe.
When making it at home, you have full control over what ingredients you are using.
Ingredients
- shredded chicken
- celery
- pecans
- dried cranberries
- mayo – I love using homemade, but store-bought will work.
- cinnamon
- lemon juice
- lemon zest
- salt and pepper
How to make cranberry pecan chicken salad
- Make the chicken salad. Add all ingredients to a large bowl. Stir well to combine. Adjust according to taste. If you have time, let it chill for a few hours to allow the flavors to come together.
- Enjoy! Serve in a sandwich, salad, or however you like!
What to serve with cranberry pecan chicken salad
- in sandwiches, lettuce wraps, or wrapped in a tortilla
- salad – toss it with mixed greens for an easy-on-the-go meal or for meal prep.
- with crackers
- in a power bowl – add some kind of greens, a grain, and avocado for an easy bowl meal.
- chicken salad melts – on top of a piece of toast, and then melt a little cheese on top. SO GOOD!
- as is – honestly, I love this as is with some veggies and carbs for a complete meal on days we are super busy.
Storage
- refrigerator – store the leftover chicken mixture in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days.
- freeze – I wouldn’t recommend freezing this recipe due to the mayo used.
Substitutions and additions
The beauty about cranberry chicken salad, is most of the time, whatever you throw in there, will work. You can make this your own depending on what you have on hand. Here are some of my suggestions:
- shredded chicken – I like boneless skinless chicken breasts for this recipe, but chicken thighs (skin on or off) will also work the same. You can also use a rotisserie chicken from the store for convenience. If making it after Thanksgiving, you can even use leftover turkey!
- celery – if you don’t like celery, you can totally leave it out.
- pecans – walnuts or almonds will work instead of pecans. To keep it nut-free, use pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
- dried cranberries – if you can’t find or have cranberries, diced apples or even raisins would work. Grapes would also be good too. If using fresh fruit, I would use 1 cup.
- mayo – plain greek yogurt is a great substitution for mayo and will add more protein and lower the fat.
And here are some additions to spice it up:
- fresh herbs – parsley or dill would work well.
- diced onion – try red onion or green onion to add a little more zip.
More chicken salad recipes
- avocado chicken salad
- chopped fall harvest chicken salad
- healthy chicken salad with grapes & almonds
- buffalo ranch chicken salad
- chicken cabbage salad
If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!
Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
ingredients
- 4 packed cups shredded chicken (1 pound)
- 1/2 cup chopped celery (65 grams)
- 1/2 cup pecans (60 grams)
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries (60 grams)
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons mayo
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- zest from one lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- salt and pepper, to taste
instructions
- Toast pecans (optional). Heat up a small skillet over medium-low heat. Add pecans and toast for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until they start to brown and get fragrant. Immediately remove from the heat and set aside. Let cool and roughly chopped. If not toasting your pecans, just roughly chop them.
- Make the chicken salad. Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl. Stir well to combine. Adjust according to taste. If you have time, let it chill for a few hours to allow the flavors to come together.
- Enjoy! Serve in a sandwich, salad, or however you like!
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Quick recipe, great for prepping lunches!
Glad you enjoyed it, Amanda!
Delicious – and a great recipe for the left over turkey in a couple weeks, as you said!!!
Yes, sure will be! Thanks, Nancy!
This looks so good!
Thanks, Ann!
Love it easy lunch
Glad you enjoyed it, Dan!
Love this recipe! I’ve only just come into liking chicken salad in my late 30s and this one is light, refreshing and flavorful.
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks, Laura!
What a great spin on chicken salad.
Thanks Keira!
This was such an easy meal prep and a nice change from traditional chicken salad!
Happy to hear that Hillary! Thanks for trying it!
Best chicken salad I’ve had in a long time not to mayonnaise tasting
So glad you liked it!!