Creamy, crunchy, sweet, and savory! This Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad combines tender chicken, juicy grapes, dried cranberries, crunchy pecans, and crisp greens with a delicious homemade poppy seed dressing. ❤️
🛒 Ingredients
For the Chicken Salad
- 3 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup pecans, roughly chopped
- ½ cup red or green grapes, halved
- ¼ cup finely diced red onion
- 2 cups chopped romaine or mixed greens
- ¼ cup celery, finely chopped
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
For the Poppy Seed Dressing
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Pinch of salt
- 1–2 tablespoons water, as needed for consistency
👩🍳 Detailed Instructions
- Prepare the chicken
Use cooked, cooled chicken breast. Dice it into bite-sized pieces or shred it with two forks. - Prepare the ingredients
Wash and halve the grapes. Chop the pecans, celery, and red onion. If using whole romaine leaves, chop them into bite-sized pieces. - Make the dressing
In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, honey, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, and a pinch of salt.
If the dressing is too thick, whisk in 1 tablespoon of water at a time until it reaches your preferred consistency.
- Combine the salad
Add chicken, cranberries, pecans, grapes, celery, and red onion to a large bowl. Pour the dressing over the mixture. - Toss gently
Stir until everything is evenly coated. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper. - Chill
Cover and refrigerate for 20–30 minutes before serving. This gives the flavors time to come together. - Serve
Serve over chopped greens, in lettuce cups, alongside whole-grain crackers, or in a sandwich or wrap. 🥬
💡 Tips & Notes
- For extra protein, use mostly Greek yogurt in the dressing and plenty of chicken.
- Toast the pecans for 3–5 minutes in a dry skillet for extra flavor.
- For less sweetness, reduce the cranberries and honey.
- You can substitute apples for grapes for a crisp, fresh variation.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator and enjoy within 3–4 days.
❤️ If you love easy, delicious recipes like this, comment “YES” or “MORE” below so I know to keep sharing my recipes with you! Thank you! 😍
