Description

This Fall Chicken Salad recipe is a delightful combination of tender cooked chicken, crisp apples, crunchy pecans, and zesty dried cranberries, all tossed in a creamy, tangy dressing with Greek yogurt and Dijon mustard. Perfect for a light lunch or a festive gathering, this salad offers a refreshing taste of autumn with a balance of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

3 medium cooked chicken breasts, shredded or finely diced
2 cups finely diced apples (such as Honeycrisp or Fuji)
1 cup chopped pecans
2 cups diced celery
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup diced red onion

Dressing Ingredients

1 cup plain 5% Greek yogurt
¼ cup mayonnaise
½ cup sweet pickle relish
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon ground sage
½ teaspoon garlic powder

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Instructions

Shred Chicken: Shred the cooked chicken breasts using a food processor or by hand until finely diced or shredded to your preferred consistency.
Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, finely diced apples, chopped pecans, diced celery, dried cranberries, and diced red onion. Mix gently to evenly distribute all the ingredients.
Make Dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together the plain Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, ground sage, and garlic powder until smooth and well blended.
Toss and Serve: Pour the prepared dressing over the chicken salad mixture. Toss everything gently but thoroughly until the salad is well coated with the dressing. Serve chilled on bread, with chips, in a wrap, or on a bed of lettuce for a versatile and flavorful meal option.

Notes

You can substitute pecans with walnuts or almonds for a different nutty flavor.
Using Greek yogurt reduces fat and adds protein, making the salad healthier.
This salad can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and tastes even better once the flavors meld together.
Adjust the amount of salt and spices according to taste preferences.
For a sweeter profile, increase dried cranberries or add a touch of honey to the dressing.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American