Kitchen notes · a little help before you start
Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
Sweet cranberries and crisp apple give creamy chicken salad a fresh, fruity bite. Pecans add a welcome crunch, with green onion keeping the rich mayonnaise dressing savory. Each spoonful has a little contrast between tender chicken and the firmer fruit and nuts.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Original yield
- Serves 6
- Ingredients
- 9 listed
Make it part of your week
Recipe categories & planning details
- Meal type
- Main course
- Primary protein
- Chicken
- Preparation & total time
- Prep: 15 minutes or less · Total: 30 minutes or less
- Dish type
- Salads
A few quick notes
1. Combine the chunky ingredients
Put the chicken, cranberries, apple, pecans and green onion together before adding the creamy dressing.
2. Whisk dressing separately
Mix mayonnaise and seasonings in a small bowl before pouring it over the chicken and fruit.
3. Toss until mixed
Use a large spoon or spatula to distribute the dressing through all the chicken salad ingredients.
Get to know the ingredients
Chicken
Start with cooked chicken before combining it with the dried fruit, chopped apple and nuts.
Apple
Chop the apple before mixing it with the chicken so the crisp pieces distribute throughout the salad.
Pecans
Chopped pecans go into the bowl with the chicken and fruit before the dressing is stirred through.
Let’s make it
Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.
Original recipe: Serves 6. Original quantities shown.
Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.
How to make it
0 of 3 steps completeMake room for Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.
The last little job
Serve or cover
Serve the dressed salad immediately or cover it and refrigerate as directed for later serving.
A little more help as you go
Season the dressing
Whisk salt, garlic powder and pepper into mayonnaise first so they mix evenly through the salad.
Keep leftovers airtight
Use an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to five days of storage.
A few questions you might have
Does the chicken need cooking first?
Yes. The ingredient list calls for cooked chicken, combined with the fruit and nuts before adding dressing.
Should I mix the mayonnaise directly into the chicken?
Whisk it with salt, garlic powder and pepper separately first, then pour over and toss everything together.
How should the apple be prepared?
Chop it before adding it to the chicken, dried cranberries, pecans and green onion in the bowl.
Can I serve it immediately?
Yes. The directions allow serving straight after mixing or keeping the salad covered in the refrigerator.
How long can leftovers keep?
Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to five days.
Any more cooking tips?
Leftovers – Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days. Nutritional values provided are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used.
Storage & reheating safety
For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.
These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures
Recipe source: asouthernsoul.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.
Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.
