Description
This chicken salad blends juicy shredded chicken, sweet cranberries, toasted pecans, and a homemade poppy seed dressing into a creamy, tangy, and crunchy delight perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
- 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp poppy seeds
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken, cranberries, pecans, celery, and red onion.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise and Greek yogurt (if using). Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour the creamy base over the chicken mixture and mix gently to coat.
- In another bowl, whisk honey, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, and a pinch of salt and pepper until smooth.
- Pour the poppy seed dressing into the salad and mix again gently until evenly coated.
- Refrigerate for 15–30 minutes before serving. Serve on lettuce, in sandwiches, or wraps.
Notes
- Substitute pecans with walnuts or almonds.
- Try dried cherries instead of cranberries for a tart twist.
- Add grated apple or halved grapes for extra sweetness.
- For a lighter option, use all Greek yogurt instead of mayo.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad, Lunch
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: chicken salad with cranberries, pecan chicken salad, poppy seed chicken salad, creamy chicken salad, holiday chicken recipe