Description
A delightful and easy-to-make Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad combining shredded chicken with crunchy pecans, sweet dried cranberries, and a creamy tangy dressing. Perfect for a refreshing lunch or light dinner, this salad is chilled to meld the flavors and offers a perfect balance of textures and tastes.
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 3 cups Chicken (shredded)
- 1/3 cup Celery (chopped)
- 1/4 cup Red Onion (chopped)
- 1/3 cup Toasted Pecans (chopped)
- 1/3 cup Dried Cranberries (sweetened or unsweetened based on your preferences)
Dressing Ingredients
- 2/3 cup Sour Cream
- 2/3 cup Mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Salt
- 1/8 teaspoon Celery Seed
- Half Lemon (juiced)
Instructions
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the shredded chicken, chopped celery, chopped red onion, toasted pecans, and dried cranberries until evenly distributed.
- Prepare the dressing: In a smaller bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, black pepper, garlic salt, celery seed, and freshly squeezed lemon juice until smooth and well blended.
- Toss salad with dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the chicken mixture. Gently toss everything until all ingredients are coated evenly with the dressing, ensuring a consistent flavor in every bite.
- Chill the salad: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the chicken salad for at least 1 hour. This allows the flavors to meld together and the salad to chill nicely.
- Garnish and serve: Before serving, garnish the salad with extra dried cranberries and toasted pecans for a visually appealing presentation and an added crunch.
Notes
- Use sweetened or unsweetened dried cranberries based on your preference.
- To toast pecans, dry roast them in a pan over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until fragrant.
- For a lighter option, you can substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
- Serve this salad chilled for the best flavor and texture.
- This salad can be enjoyed on its own, with bread, or rolled into a wrap.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
