If you're looking for easy healthy lunch recipes or something to bring to a gathering, this Cranberry and Pecan Chicken Salad is a delicious option you can meal prep in advance! It's a little bit savory, a little bit sweet and what really makes it special is the creamy dressing that coats the combo of chicken, crunchy pecans, and crisp apples.
As a dietitian, I get asked all the time for an easy lunch to meal prep for the week, and one of my favorites is chicken salad. There are so many different flavor combinations, and it's a simple way to take bland, dry chicken breasts and turn them into something you actually look forward to eating!
This cranberry chicken salad is one of my favorite chicken salad recipes, and it's the one I tend to make in fall and winter months because it includes some of the classic flavors found around the holidays like pecans + cranberries. It's so delicious that I've even brought it as a dip with crackers to a party and it was one of the first things completely devoured! 🥰
Once you've made a batch, slather this cranberry pecan chicken salad between a couple slices of bread for a sandwich, throw it on top of a bed of lettuce or arugula for a quick dinner, or bring it as an appetizer with a side of your favorite crackers for special occasions! However you enjoy it, I hope you love it as much as I do.
More Healthy Chicken Salad Recipes
- Tuscan Chicken Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
- Classic Chicken Salad Made Healthier
- Green Goddess Chicken Salad
- Buffalo Chicken Salad Dip
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Key Ingredient Notes and Substitution Ideas
This cranberry pecan chicken salad is made with simple ingredients. Below is the list of ingredients. Be sure to check the printable recipe card at the bottom for measurements.
- Shredded Chicken - I suggest using boneless, skinless chicken breast for the most lean option since you'll be adding lots of other ingredients for flavor. As a shortcut, you can use store-bought rotisserie chicken. If you don't want to use pre-cooked chicken, you can cook your own (I often either bake it in the oven or use my slow cooker shredded chicken) Cook it using your favorite method and then shred the chicken.
- Greek Yogurt - replace mayo typically used in chicken salads or chicken dips with Greek yogurt to make it creamy and add more nutrition. Greek yogurt also cuts down on saturated fats compared to mayonnaise.
- Dried Cranberries - I love adding a bit of sweetness to chicken salads and dried cranberries are perfect for this. A little goes a long way so you don't need much...just enough to get a little pop of sweetness. Dried cranberries do have added sugars. If you want to cut back on added sugars, feel free to use chopped dates instead.
- Raw Pecans - chopped pecans provide crunch and important nutrients like vitamin E and healthy fats.
- Fresh Spinach - spinach pairs nicely with the other flavors and adds some green. It also adds dietary fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin K. I opt for baby spinach over mature spinach because it's a bit more tender and sweet. I suggest to finely chop it for this recipe so it blends in with the other ingredients.
- Fresh Apple - sweet apples add so much flavor and natural sweetness. They also provide vitamin C, antioxidants, and dietary fiber for gut health. My favorite apples to use are Honeycrisp or Cosmic Crisp. You could also use a Fuji, Gala, or Golden Delicious. Green apples work here too!
- Red Onions - onion adds more flavor and a satisfying crunch. You can use green onions instead if you want.
- Lemon Juice - a little lemon juice is one of my favorite secret ingredients to enhance the other flavors in this delicious chicken salad!
- Garlic Powder - this is optional, but I like to add it for the subtle garlic flavor it adds.
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper - a bit of salt and pepper to tie all the flavors together.
- Optional ingredients if you want to take the flavor up a notch - fresh herbs like fresh parsley, basil, fresh dill or mint, feta cheese, balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar, pine nuts, red peppers, cherry tomatoes, Italian seasoning, or lemon zest all make great additions.
- Optional to make it more moist: add extra virgin olive oil to help everything stay moist and add nutrition. Extra virgin olive oil is high in an Omega-9 fatty acid called oleic acid that is anti-inflammatory and may reduce the risk of heart disease.
How to Make Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
Below are the directions for how to make this recipe with some photos that I hope are helpful. Check the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
- Step 1: Dice the chicken into small pieces or shred it by pulsing it in a food processor (whichever you prefer). Finely chop the apple, pecans, spinach and red onion. I do fine chopping so everything gets incorporated into the mixture evenly.
- Step 2: Add the chicken, Greek yogurt, Dijon, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a bowl and combine until the chicken is coated.
Step 3: Add the pecans, cranberries, spinach, apple, and red onion. Mix everything to combine. Give it a taste and add more salt to taste. If you want it creamier, you can add more Greek yogurt or a bit of mayo.
Hint: since the flavor depends partly on the way you cook your chicken, give it a taste once everything is mixed together. If it tastes bland, the best way to fix that is to add more salt to taste before adjusting anything else!
Dietitian Tip
A traditional chicken salad recipe is made with mayo or sour cream. Replace it with Greek yogurt to make a creamy dressing that's higher in protein and lower in saturated fats. If you're a big fan of mayo and can't stand the thought of chicken salad without it, try a half and half mixture of mayo + Greek yogurt!
Variations
The great thing about this cranberry pecan chicken salad recipe is you can customize it based on your preference. Below are some ideas, but feel free to get creative!
- Spicy - add red pepper flakes to make it a bit spicy.
- Extra Veggies - mix in some chopped red peppers and cherry tomatoes for a great way to add more vegetables.
- Sweet - add red grapes and a squeeze of honey to sweeten this chicken salad up. Be sure to use seedless grapes!
How to Serve Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
Once you have a batch of this chicken salad, there are so many different ways you can serve it! Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy it:
- Chicken Salad Sandwich or Wrap - turn this chicken salad into a balanced healthy meal by serving it between two slices of sourdough or whole wheat bread with some extra greens. Or wrap it in a flatbread or tortilla and heat it in a skillet.
- In Lettuce Wraps - if you're looking for a gluten-free option, serve this chicken salad recipe in fresh lettuce wraps. Romaine lettuce works great for this.
- Green Salad - add a couple of scoops on top of a green salad and add your favorite fresh vegetables and some balsamic vinaigrette on top! This flavor combination pairs really well with arugula.
- As a dip with crackers - bring it to a party or gathering for a healthy option. If doing so, I suggest bringing crackers to serve it with and my favorite at the moment are the Simple Mills Rosemary Crackers. They're gluten-free and since I have a few friends who can't tolerate gluten, I love being able to bring something they can enjoy too!
Storage for Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
- Refrigerator - you can meal prep this chicken salad in advance and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Expert Tips
- Be sure to use a chicken you like the flavor of since it will have an impact on the flavor of this chicken salad.
- For this recipe, I use shredded chicken. One of the easiest ways to shred chicken for chicken salads is to shred it in a food processor or with a hand mixer.
- I like to finely chop the apples, red onion, spinach, and pecans instead of having larger pieces. It makes everything combine more evenly.
- Give it a taste and adjust salt to taste. Depending on what kind of chicken you use, you may need a bit more salt.
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, this chicken salad is a nutrient-rich option. Chicken is a high-quality lean protein and also provides other important nutrients including iron and vitamin B6. This recipe also contains extra virgin olive oil which has been shown to support brain health and hormone health. It also uses fresh ingredients like spinach and apples that contain antioxidants and several vitamins and minerals.
Yes, this is a gluten-free recipe.
Absolutely! The easiest substitution that will still be healthier than mayonnaise is whipped cottage cheese. I've also done a half and half mix of cottage cheese and Greek yogurt. A half and half mixture of mayo and either Greek yogurt or cottage cheese works too. All are great options!
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📖 Recipe
Easy Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad (High Protein)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped or shredded chicken
- 1 cup spinach, finely chopped
- ¾ cup Greek yogurt
- ½ a large apple, chopped (about ½ cup chopped)
- ½ a red onion, chopped (about ½ cup chopped)
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup pecans, chopped
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3-4 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt (more to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper (more to taste)
Instructions
- Dice the chicken into small pieces or shred it (whichever you prefer). Dice it using a sharp knife or shred it by pulsing it a few times in a food processor or use 2 forks. Chop the apple, pecans, and red onion. I do fine chopping so everything gets incorporated into the mixture evenly.
- Add all the ingredients to a large bowl and mix it well so that everything is coated. Give it a taste and add more salt as needed.
- Hint: since the flavor depends partly on the way you cook your chicken, give it a taste once everything is mixed together. If it tastes bland, the best way to fix that is to add more salt to taste before adjusting anything else!
Notes
- Be sure to use a chicken you like the flavor of since it will have an impact on the flavor of this chicken salad.
- For this recipe, I use chopped chicken. If you prefer shredded chicken, one of the easiest ways to shred chicken for chicken salads is to shred it in a food processor or with a hand mixer.
- I like to finely chop the apples, red onion, spinach, and pecans instead of having larger pieces. It makes everything combine more evenly!
- Give it a taste and adjust salt to taste. Depending on what kind of chicken you use, you may need a bit more salt.
- Refrigerator - you can meal prep this chicken salad in advance and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
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