This Cranberry Chicken Salad is full of wonderful ingredients besides the chicken, like cranberries, pecans, celery, red onion, and more. This chicken salad is perfect for lunch, picnics, and cookouts. It makes a great sandwich or is excellent as an appetizer on crackers.
Want more great salad ideas? Then try our Mashed Potato Salad or our Caprese Melon Salad.
A chicken salad, to keep it from being bland, needs extra flavors and textures. Pecans, celery, and red onion all give the salad a little crunch and so much more flavor, too.
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What are the Ingredients in Chicken Salad?
This is a simple salad with delicious ingredients and one that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Cooked and shredded chicken breast – You can use leftover cooked chicken, turkey, rotisserie chicken, or even grilled chicken for this recipe. Make sure the chicken is shredded or diced into bite-sized pieces.
Dried cranberries – Dried cranberries work excellent with chicken, and add a chew and sweetness to the salad.
Celery – The perfect crunch is what you will get with celery in a salad like this.
Red onion – Customize the salad with additional ingredients like sliced grapes, diced apples, or chunks of avocado along with the red onion.
Pecans or walnuts (optional) – I love adding in a nut to a chicken salad. You will get the crunch that is needed and additional flavor.
Mayonnaise – The combination of mayonnaise and Greek yogurt (or sour cream) gives the dressing a nice balance of creaminess. You can adjust the ratio based on your taste preferences. You can use more yogurt and less mayonnaise if you want a lighter option.
Greek yogurt (or sour cream) – You can substitute sour cream here if that is what you have on hand.
Dijon mustard – This condiment gives the salad a bit of a tang and a deeper flavor.
Salt and pepper to taste – Always necessary for seasoning.
Fresh parsley for garnish (optional) – This is optional but adds the necessary color and a bit of freshness.
How to Make Cranberry Chicken Salad
In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, dried cranberries, chopped celery, red onion, and nuts (if using).
In a separate small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt (or sour cream), Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Adjust the seasoning to taste.
Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and toss everything together until well-coated.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Before serving, garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Serve the chicken cranberry salad on a bed of lettuce, in a sandwich, or with crackers.
Recipe Pro Tips!
Recipe Notes & FAQ
- Allowing the salad to chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes is essential. This gives the flavors time to meld together and enhances the overall taste of the salad.
To Store
- Store any leftover chicken cranberry salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should stay fresh for 2-3 days. If you are preparing it in advance, consider adding the nuts just before serving to maintain their crunch.
Can I substitute mayonnaise with a lighter option?
- Yes, you can use light mayonnaise or a mayo alternative for a lower-fat version. Additionally, you can increase the amount of Greek yogurt or use a light sour cream.
How do I prevent the salad from becoming too soggy?
- Avoid adding the dressing too far in advance. Mix the dressing with the salad ingredients just before serving. If you plan to make it ahead of time, keep the dressing separate until you’re ready to eat.
Love a Great Chicken Meal?
Then try more of our delicious chicken recipes. Recipes from soup to air-fried chicken, we love them all.
Cranberry Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken breast
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts optional
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, dried cranberries, chopped celery, red onion, and nuts (if using).
- In a separate small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt (or sour cream), Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Adjust the seasoning to taste.
- Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and toss everything together until well-coated.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Before serving, garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
- Serve the chicken cranberry salad on a bed of lettuce, in a sandwich, or with crackers.
Comments & Reviews
Sherry says
I am loving the addition of cranberries in with the chicken salad.
Tara Noland says
It makes all the difference to the salad!!