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–+ servings
overhead view of cranberry chicken salad in a large white serving bowl.
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Cranberry Chicken Salad Recipe

This cranberry pecan chicken salad with apples and creamy dressing is the perfect fall chicken salad for lunches or holidays.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: lunch, Salad, Sandwiches
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 765kcal
Author: Becky Hardin

Ingredients

For the Dressing:

  • ¾ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice from ½ lemon
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 pinch kosher salt to taste
  • 1 pinch ground black pepper to taste

For the Chicken Salad:

  • 4 cups chopped cooked chicken *
  • 2 ribs celery finely chopped
  • 1 cup pecans chopped
  • ¾ cup dried cranberries
  • 1 apple finely chopped**
  • 3 green onions finely chopped

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
    ¾ cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 pinch kosher salt, 1 pinch ground black pepper
    mayonnaise dressing in a glass bowl with a whisk.
  • Stir in the chicken, celery, pecans, cranberries, apple, and green onions.
    4 cups chopped cooked chicken, 2 ribs celery, 1 cup pecans, ¾ cup dried cranberries, 1 apple, 3 green onions
    chopped chicken, celery, pecans, apple, and dried cranberries in a glass bowl.
  • Serve with crackers or bread, or as a sandwich on a roll, croissant, or lettuce wrap.
    cranberry chicken salad in a glass bowl with a rubber spatula.

Notes

*I like poached or sous vide chicken best, but any leftover cooked chicken (or rotisserie chicken) will work here.
**I love Honeycrisp, but use your fav apples.
Tips:
  • If the dressing seems too runny, add a bit more mayonnaise. If it's too thick, add more lemon juice.
  • I love this chicken salad best when it's been chilled for 2-3 hours, or up to overnight, so the flavors have time to meld.
Storage: Store cranberry chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 765kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 55g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 25g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 773mg | Potassium: 671mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 271IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 2mg