Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad is a classic sandwich filling that's perfect for lunch. The flavors are perfectly balanced, it's delicious on a bed or Spring greens, or tucked into a pita bread for a sandwich.
Why You'll Love This Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad Recipe
If you're looking for a fresh and flavorful dish to add to your weekly rotation, then look no further than this classic cranberry pecan chicken salad! Perfectly cooked chunks of juicy chicken are paired with sweet and tart dried cranberries, crunchy pieces of nutty pecans, then combined with a honey-lemon mayonnaise based dressing.
- Easy to make. The ingredients are simple and straightforward, and the recipe is quick and easy to follow.
- Versatile. You can serve it on sandwiches, crackers, or lettuce leaves. You can also add it to wraps or salads.
- Delicious. The combination of chicken, cranberries, pecans, and mayonnaise is simply irresistible.
- Festive. This salad is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any other fall gathering.
If you prefer sliced bread instead of pita, you can use this bread machine Cheesecake Factory brown bread recipe for a slightly sweet, soft sandwich bread.
Ingredients Overview
This delicious chicken salad is bright and festive, made with juicy chicken, tart cranberries, crunchy pecans, a hint of tarragon, and a creamy mayonnaise based dressing. Using already cooked chicken makes prep even easier! Read on for our favorite version of this classic recipe.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How To Make Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
Whether you're hosting brunch or packing lunch, this easy chicken salad recipe is sure to be a hit with the whole family. Plus, it's loaded with bursts of flavor from the cranberries and pecans, that make it far from boring.
Dice The Chicken and Vegetables
- Chop the chicken into dice sized chunks. Chop the dried cranberries and pecans to the size pieces you prefer in your salad. Slice the green onions, mince the fresh tarragon, and dice the celery.
- Add the chopped chicken, cranberries, pecans, green onions, minced tarragon, and celery to a large mixing bowl.
Prepare The Honey Lemon Dressing
This simple mayonnaise salad dressing can be adapted and adjusted with different ingredients. Some great options are using lime juice instead of lemon juice.
- Add the mayonnaise, lemon juice, honey, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a smaller mixing bowl.
- Using a whisk or your mini food processor, blend the ingredients until creamy and smooth.
Dress The Salad
- Pour the creamy salad dressing over the top of the chopped ingredients in the large mixing bowl.
Chill and Serve
- Fold the salad dressing into the bowl of chicken and chopped ingredients. Blend until all ingredients are coated. If you prefer more moisture, you can add more mayonnaise, or additional lemon juice.
Serving Suggestions
Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad can be enjoyed in many way, try it in lettuce wraps, as a dip with crudités like carrots and cucumbers, or in sandwiches using naan bread, flour tortilla wraps, or our homemade oatmeal bread.
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few delicious variations when making this chicken pecan salad recipe.
- If you don't want to use mayonnaise, you can use yogurt or sour cream.
- You can add other fruits or vegetables to the salad, such as grape halves, diced apples, or diced jicama.
- Chopped herbs such as Tarragon, Parsley, or Thyme are delicious added to this salad!
Tips for Success
- Use a good quality mayonnaise. This will make a big difference in the flavor of the salad.
- Use good quality chicken. The better the chicken, the better the salad will taste.
- If you don't have dried cranberries, you can use raisins.
- Use rotisserie chicken instead of cooking your own.
Storage Options
- Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- This salad does NOT freeze well!
Related Recipes
- Chicken Salad Sandwich without Celery
- Original Chick-fil-A Carrot Raisin Salad
- Watermelon Fruit Salad
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, canned chicken is perfect for this cranberry chicken pecan salad recipe.
Yes, you can use other types of nuts in this recipe, such as walnuts, almonds, or pistachios.
No, mayonnaise based salads do not freeze well. When thawed, the mayonnaise separates into a watery mess.
Yes, you can use a ranch dressing or honey mustard dressing.
Soup and Stew Recipes
Get The Recipe!
Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad Pitas
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
Ingredients
- 3 cup Chicken cooked - Leftover, rotisserie, or canned.
- ⅔ cup Cranberries coarse chopped or whole
- ⅓ cup Pecans chopped
- 3 Green Onions sliced
- 2 tablespoon Tarragon fresh, chopped
- 1 stalk Celery diced
- ⅔ cup Mayonnaise more if you want it moister
- 2 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon Honey
- ⅛ teaspoon Garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon Black pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Chop the chicken into dice sized chunks. Chop the dried cranberries and pecans to the size pieces you prefer in your salad. Slice the green onions, mince the fresh tarragon, and dice the celery.3 cup Chicken, ⅔ cup Cranberries, ⅓ cup Pecans, 3 Green Onions, 1 stalk Celery, 2 tablespoon Tarragon
- Add the chopped chicken, cranberries, pecans, green onions, minced tarragon, and celery to a large mixing bowl.
- Add the mayonnaise, lemon juice, honey, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a smaller mixing bowl.⅔ cup Mayonnaise, 2 tablespoon Lemon juice, 2 tablespoon Honey, ⅛ teaspoon Garlic powder, ½ teaspoon Salt, ¼ teaspoon Black pepper
- Using a whisk or your mini food processor, blend the ingredients until creamy and smooth.
- Pour the creamy salad dressing over the top of the chopped ingredients in the large mixing bowl.
- Fold the salad dressing into the bowl of chicken and chopped ingredients. Blend until all ingredients are coated. If you prefer more moisture, you can add more mayonnaise, or additional lemon juice.
- Use this cranberry pecan chicken salad to make sandwiches using pita bread, fresh homemade sliced bread, croissants, or simply top on a fresh greens. To make a lighter dressing, just use plain Greek yogurt instead of the mayonnaise.
Notes
- Use a good quality mayonnaise. This will make a big difference in the flavor of the salad.
- Use good quality chicken. The better the chicken, the better the salad will taste.
- If you don't have dried cranberries, you can use raisins.
- Use rotisserie chicken instead of cooking your own.
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