15 Minute Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad (Dairy Free)

Name: 15 Minute Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 3 cups cooked shredded chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken); ½ cup diced celery; ½ cup diced apple of choice; ½ cup dried cranberries (roughly chopped); ⅓ cup chopped pecans; ½ cup mayonnaise; ¼ cup unsweetened plain greek style yogurt (I used Cocojune for dairy free); 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 tablespoon fresh dill (minced); ¼ teaspoon celery seeds (optional); kosher salt (to taste); freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

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Cranberry pecan chicken salad is my go-to recipe for a quick and easy meal. It has shredded chicken, tart cranberries, crisp apples, crunchy celery in a creamy lemon dill dressing.

Looking for more easy chicken recipes? Try my one pot french onion chicken thighs, spicy chicken burgers, or southwest BBQ chicken flatbread pizza.

What You’ll Love About This Recipe

Quick and easy – This cranberry chicken pecan salad make a quick dinner or an easy lunch, especially when you use a rotisserie chicken.
Flavor packed – This delicious chicken salad a savory flavor with a hint of sweetness from the apples and cranberries.
Simple ingredients – You only need a handful of ingredients to make this easy recipe.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this cranberry chicken salad:

Rotisserie chicken
Celery
Sweet apple – I like sweet apples, but you can also use green apple for more of a sweet-tart flavor.
Dried cranberries
Pecans
Creamy dressing – mayonnaise, unsweetened plain greek yogurt (I love Cocojune for dairy free), lemon juice, fresh dill, dijon mustard, celery seeds, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper.

How to Make Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad: Step By Step

Here are some quick visual instructions. The full instructions and ingredient list will be in the printable recipe card below!

Make salad. In a large bowl, combine shredded chicken, diced celery, diced apple, chopped dried cranberries, and crunchy pecans.
Make dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients until smooth. Season to taste with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, or more lemon juice as needed.
Combine and serve. Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and toss until well combined. Serve in lettuce wraps or a bed of greens, on toast, in a sandwich or wrap, with crackers, etc.

Helpful Tips

This simple salad is a great way to use up leftover chicken as it helps repurpose the chicken and greatly speeds up the prep time.
Roughly chopping the dried cranberries helps more evenly distribute them throughout the salad so you get a little in every bite.

Quick Tip: Buy pecan pieces. They’re cheaper than whole pecans and you’re just going to chop them anyway.

Storage

Store this in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Make It Your Way: Substitutions & Variations

Please remember that recipes are just a starting point.

How can you make this cranberry pecan chicken salad recipe using what you already have? Here are some ideas…

No celery? – use other crunchy veggies such as jicama, Persian or english cucumber, radishes, etc.
No pecans? – use walnuts.
No yogurt? – you can also use sour cream.
No lemon juice? – use champagne vinegar.
Add-ins – red onion, chopped fresh spinach, different fresh herbs to switch up the flavor, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I meal prep this cranberry pecan chicken salad?

Yes, it’s a great meal prep option as it holds up well in the fridge.

More Quick & Easy Recipes

I hope you love this Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad! If you make this recipe, please leave a comment & a star rating below. Thank you!