Description
Cranberry pecan chicken salad brings delightful Mediterranean flavors to your plate, blending crisp greens with tender chicken. Savory pecans and tart cranberries create a perfect balance, making this dish a refreshing choice you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2.5 cups chicken, cooked
Fruits and Nuts:
- 0.5 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped
- 0.33 cup pecans, chopped
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 0.33 cup celery, diced
- 0.25 cup green onion, chopped
Dressing and Spices:
- 0.75 cup mayonnaise
- 4 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.125 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the foundational ingredients by dicing chicken into bite-sized morsels, roughly chopping dried cranberries and pecans, and finely mincing celery and green onions. Organize ingredients for seamless preparation.
- Transfer chopped chicken, cranberries, pecans, celery, and green onions into a spacious mixing bowl. Gently toss components to ensure uniform distribution and balanced flavor profile.
- Create dressing by whisking mayonnaise, lemon juice, honey, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper in a separate container. Blend until smooth and well-incorporated, achieving a harmonious tangy-sweet consistency.
- Drizzle prepared dressing over the chicken mixture. Delicately fold ingredients, ensuring each component receives a light, even coating without oversaturating the salad.
- Enhance serving presentation by spooning salad onto croissants, rolls, or fresh greens. Alternatively, enjoy directly from the bowl for a casual dining experience.
- Optional flavor enhancement: Toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring continuously. Remove when fragrant and slightly darkened. Allow brief cooling before incorporating into the salad, elevating the nutty undertones.
Notes
- Customize the chicken by using leftover grilled, roasted, or rotisserie chicken for added depth and convenience.
- Swap mayonnaise with Greek yogurt or a lighter mayo for a healthier, lower-calorie version that maintains creamy texture.
- Consider adding fresh herbs like chopped dill or parsley to brighten the flavor profile and introduce a fresh, vibrant element.
- Make the salad gluten-free by serving on lettuce wraps or gluten-free bread instead of traditional croissants or rolls.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg