Cranberry Chicken Salad Magic: A Must-Try Flavor Explosion
A creamy, crunchy, sweet, and savory cranberry chicken salad made with tender chicken, dried cranberries, pecans, and a smooth dressing. Perfect for sandwiches, wraps, croissants, or meal prep lunches.
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast diced or shredded
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup celery finely chopped
- ¼ cup red onion finely diced
Dressing Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt or more mayo
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
Step 1 — Prepare the Chicken
- Place the cooked, cooled chicken on a cutting board and dice or shred it into bite-sized pieces. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Step 2 — Add the Mix-Ins
- Add dried cranberries, chopped pecans, celery, and red onion into the bowl with the chicken. Mix gently to combine.
Step 3 — Make the Dressing
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until smooth and creamy.
Step 4 — Combine the Salad
- Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture. Stir until everything is evenly coated and creamy.
Step 5 — Chill and Serve
- For best flavor, refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Serve in sandwiches, wraps, croissants, lettuce cups, or on its own.
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken for unbeatable convenience and flavor.
- For sweetness, add 1–2 teaspoons honey.
- For crunch, swap pecans with walnuts or almonds.
- To lighten it up, use all Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise.