Apple Pecan Chicken Salad

5 from 1 vote

Seasonal flavors are the star in this chicken salad. Chewy cranberries, toasted nuts, and crisp apples give this salad lots of texture. Ideal as a make-ahead option for weekday lunches.

Prep Time15

Total Time15

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple chicken salad, apple pecan chicken salad

Servings:

Calories: 588kcal

Author: Abbey McDermott

Ingredients

Dressing

½ cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon deli-style brown mustard
1 tablespoon maple syrup
½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar
⅛ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon Kosher salt

Chicken salad

¼ cup pecans toasted and chopped, see notes
2 cups diced cooked chicken breasts
¼ cup dried cranberries
1 honey crisp apple or similar variety, diced
¾ cup sliced celery
4 rolls or bread or croissants

Instructions

Dressing

In a small mixing bowl, add the mayonnaise, mustard, maple syrup, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper if necessary.

Chicken salad

In a large bowl, add the chicken, apple, pecans, celery, and cranberries. Add the dressing and gently fold until the dressing evenly coats all of the ingredients.
To serve in a bread bowl: scoop out the center of a large roll. Fill with chicken salad and serve. Alternatively, serve in sandwich form on bread, croissants, or rolls.

Notes

To toast the nuts: add the pecans to a small skillet over medium-low heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently until the nuts are fragrant.
Dice the ingredients into smaller pieces, about ¼ - ½-inch. The salad will hold together better, especially on smaller sandwiches. It's also easier to eat.
For larger batches, you can roast 1-2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a 425°F oven for 20-25 minutes until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F. Before roasting, season the chicken and drizzle with oil. Use a simple blend of salt and pepper or add other spices such as onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, dried thyme, or parsley. Chill the chicken before chopping it into bite-sized pieces.
Refer to the post above for many wonderful serving ideas.
Avoid freezing chicken salad containing ingredients such as celery, apples, or grapes. These items are high in water content and freezing and thawing will compromise the texture and consistency.

Nutrition