Description
This easy and flavorful Cranberry Chicken Salad combines tender cooked chicken breast with sweet dried cranberries, crunchy celery, toasted pine nuts, and a creamy mayo-based dressing. Perfect for sandwiches, serving on croissants, or scooping onto apple slices for a low-carb option, this salad is a refreshing and satisfying meal or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked chicken breast, chopped
- 1 stalk celery, sliced
- 1 – 2 green onions, sliced
- 3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder (or 1 – 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard)
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prep the salad ingredients: Slice the celery into small pieces, chop the green onions finely, and cut the cooked chicken breast into bite-sized chunks. Toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden and fragrant, about 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Mix the chicken salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped chicken, celery, green onions, dried cranberries, and toasted pine nuts. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, dry mustard powder or Dijon mustard, coarse salt, and black pepper. Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and stir gently but thoroughly to evenly coat all ingredients.
- Chill before serving: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
Notes
- This salad pairs wonderfully with sandwiches or croissants but is also delicious served on apple slices for a low-carb alternative.
- For a nutty variation, feel free to substitute pine nuts with toasted pecans or almonds.
- To reduce sugar, use unsweetened dried cranberries or soak sweetened ones in hot water briefly and drain.
- Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days when stored in an airtight container.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 405 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 384 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0.03 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 87 mg
