Description
This Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad is a delightful blend of tender cooked chicken, sweet dried cranberries, crunchy pecans, and refreshing celery, all brought together by a creamy mayonnaise dressing. Perfectly seasoned and chilled, it makes an ideal filling for sandwiches, a topping for fresh greens, or a satisfying standalone dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Salad
- 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded or diced)
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1/2 cup pecans (chopped)
- 1 shallot (finely minced)
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Cook the Chicken: If you don’t have leftover cooked chicken, season chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then bake them at 350°F for 25-30 minutes until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Cool and Dice: Allow the cooked chicken to cool completely, then dice it into bite-sized pieces suitable for salad.
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium mixing bowl, mix together the diced chicken, dried cranberries, diced celery, finely minced shallot, and chopped pecans.
- Add Mayonnaise: Pour 3/4 cup of mayonnaise into the bowl and gently fold it through the salad ingredients, adjusting the mayo quantity based on your desired creaminess.
- Season: Add 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper to the mixture, stirring gently to incorporate and adjusting to taste if necessary.
- Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the chicken salad for at least one hour to let the flavors meld and the salad chill thoroughly.
- Serve: After chilling, serve the cranberry pecan chicken salad as a sandwich filling, on a bed of fresh greens, or enjoy it alone as a light meal.
Notes
- You can substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for a healthier alternative, though the texture and flavor will be different.
- For extra flavor, consider adding a splash of lemon juice or a teaspoon of Dijon mustard to the dressing.
- Leftover chicken can be from rotisserie or poached chicken breasts.
- Toast pecans lightly to enhance their flavor and crunch.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
