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final photo cranberry pecan chicken salad.

Easy Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad (High Protein)

Mallory
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. 
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Course lunch
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people
Calories 300 kcal

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

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 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. 
Storage
  • 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.
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! 
For more nutrition information and tips, visit mallorythedietitian.com. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! 😊

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cupCalories: 300kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 31gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 85mgFiber: 2gSugar: 13g
Keyword gluten free, high-protein
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