Chicken Salad with Cranberries & Pecans

#14 in my '100 30 Minute Meals' series is this Chicken Salad with Cranberries & Pecans. Made with flavorful shredded rotisserie chicken, celery, pecans, and dried cranberries all blended with a creamy, tangy, and subtly sweet dressing.

Why You'll Love this Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad:

• It comes together in under 30 minutes! Just prep a few ingredients and mix it all together.
• Sweet, Savory, Crunchy, Creamy. The perfect blend of dried cranberries, pecans, savory chicken, and a sweet & tangy dressing.
• The Perfect Texture. Lightly blending the chicken and other ingredients in the food processor gives this salad a wonderful, well-incorporated texture.

Key Ingredients:

• Rotisserie Chicken: Flavorful and easy to prep, rotisserie chickens can be found already cooked and ready to go in the deli section of most grocery stores.
• Celery, Dried Cranberries, & Pecans: Give this chicken salad crunch and subtle sweet flavor.
• Creamy Dressing: Made with mayo, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard for a bit of tang, and honey for a bit of balanced sweetness. Add just a pinch of cinnamon to add to the fall flavors.

Dietary Swaps:

• Gluten-Free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free and can be served with gluten-free crackers or bread.
• Dairy-Free: Swap mayo and Greek yogurt for a dairy-free Veganaise.
• Nut-Free: Replace pecans with sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds.
• Low-Fat: Skip the mayo and use all greek yogurt instead.

Recipe Variations:

• Add extra fruit, such as diced apples or halved grapes.
• Add herbs, such as chopped parsley, chives, or sliced green onions.
• Use leftover chicken. Rather than rotisserie chicken, use last night's leftovers.

Tips & Notes:

• Pulse Gently: After adding ingredients to food processor, pulse gently. You want a chopped, slightly chunky texture, and not a puree.
• Adjust Sweetness: Start with a lower amount of honey in the dressing and adjust from there.
• Serve chicken salad on a bed of green, on bread as a sandwich, with crackers, or eat it as is with a fork.
• Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

More 30 Minute Meals You Will Love:

• Cajun Chicken Salad
• Mediterranean Pasta & Kale Salad with Garlic Basil Dressing
• Cucumber & Dill Rotisserie Chicken Salad
• Kale and Chickpea Salad
• Dill Pickle Chicken Macaroni Salad
• Italian Chicken Salad

Recipe

Chicken Salad with Cranberries & Pecans

Made with flavorful shredded rotisserie chicken, celery, pecans, and dried cranberries all blended with a creamy, tangy, and subtly sweet dressing.

5 from 1 vote

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Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Salad

Servings 4

Calories 420 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 3-4 cups rotisserie chicken roughly chopped
• ½ cup sliced celery 1-2 stalks
• ½ cup pecans
• ¼ cup dried cranberries

For the Dressing:

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• ¼-½ teaspoon honey
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Add chicken to a food processor and pulse a few times until roughly chopped.
• Add celery, dried cranberries, and pecans to the food processor. Pulse a few more times until incorporated and evenly chopped - the texture should be fine but not mushy.
• In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, honey, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Adjust to taste.
• Transfer the chicken mixture to a large bowl. Drizzle dressing over top and fold until well combined.
• Adjust seasoning as needed. Serve immediately or chill before serving.

Notes

• Pulse Gently: After adding ingredients to food processor, pulse gently. You want a chopped, slightly chunky texture, and not a puree.
• Adjust Sweetness: Start with a lower amount of honey in the dressing and adjust from there.
• Serve chicken salad on a bed of green, on bread as a sandwich, with crackers, or eat it as is with a fork.
• Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Nutrition values are an estimate only. 

Nutrition

Calories: 420kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 28gFat: 30gSodium: 480mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6g

Keyword chicken salad with cranberries and pecans

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