Description
A delicious and creamy chicken salad made with tender shredded chicken, sweet dried cranberries, crunchy celery, juicy grapes, and crunchy walnuts or pecans. Tossed in a rich, flavorful dressing, this salad is perfect for meal prep, sandwiches, wraps, crackers, or a light lunch. It offers the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and crunchy flavors in every bite.
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 4 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 1 cup seedless green grapes, halved
- ¾ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup celery, diced
- ½ cup walnuts or pecans, chopped
- 2 tablespoons red onion, finely chopped (optional)
For the Dressing
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions - Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients
- Cook and cool the chicken completely.
- Shred or chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Wash and halve the grapes.
- Dice the celery into small pieces.
- Chop the walnuts or pecans.
- Finely chop the red onion if using.
- Step 2: Make the Dressing
- In a large mixing bowl, add the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, honey, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Whisk everything together until the dressing is smooth and creamy.
- Step 3: Combine the Salad
- Add the shredded chicken to the bowl.
- Stir in the grapes, dried cranberries, celery, walnuts (or pecans), and red onion.
- Gently mix until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Step 4: Chill the Salad
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Chilling allows the flavors to blend and improves the texture.
- Step 5: Serve
- Remove the salad from the refrigerator.
- Stir gently before serving.
- Serve chilled in meal-prep containers, sandwiches, croissants, wraps, lettuce cups, or over fresh greens.
- Storage Instructions
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Keep refrigerated for up to 3–4 days.
- Do not freeze, as the dressing may separate and affect the texture.
- Chef’s Tips
- Use rotisserie chicken for extra flavor and convenience.
- Toast the walnuts or pecans before adding them for more crunch.
- Add diced apples for extra sweetness and texture.
- Adjust the amount of mayonnaise to make the salad creamier or lighter.