Apple Cranberry Chicken Salad

Apple Cranberry Chicken Salad – The flavors of savory, sweet, creamy, and crunchy are expertly balanced in this chicken salad with apples and cranberries. A wonderfully prepared lunch! Keep reading for all of our serving suggestions!

Overhead view of a freshly mixed bowl of Apple Cranberry Chicken Salad

Apple Cranberry Chicken Salad Ingredients

Overhead view of a glass bowl of ingredients for Apple Cranberry Chicken Salad--shredded chicken, diced apples, celery, dried cranberries, mayo, and seasonings.

  • Cubed or shredded cooked chicken weighing 12 ounces (about 3 cups)
  • 1 cup of apple, chopped finely
  • a half-cup of toasted pecans
  • 1/3 cup celery, finely diced
  • 1/3 to 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/3 cup dried cranberries.
  • Fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon
  • 12 teaspoon salt
  • 1-2 tablespoons of pepper
  • Optional: 1-2 Tbsp of fresh herbs, such as parsley, dill, or tarragon.

Instructions

  1. Combine the chicken, apple, pecans, celery, and cranberries in a large bowl.
  2. Along with the lemon juice, salt, pepper, and (if using) herbs, add 1/3 cup mayonnaise. Add a few more tablespoons of mayonnaise if desired, stirring to combine, depending on how well-dressed you like your chicken salad.
  3. Adjust the seasonings or salt according to taste.
  4. For up to four days, store the chicken mixture in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Serving ideas

Front view of an apple cranberry chicken salad sandwich made with a gluten-free bun on a white plate.

Front view of a halved apple cranberry chicken salad wrap made with a gluten-free tortilla

  • On apple slices. To create a round, almost cracker-like shape, turn a clean apple on its side so that the stem is pointing left to right instead of up and down. Then, using a sharp knife, cut thin slices all the way through the apple. Top with chicken salad, and enjoy!
  • With crushers. Chicken salad and crackers go well together! Simple Mills almond flour crackers (paleo and gluten-free), Hu Kitchen grain-free crackers (paleo and gluten-free), and gluten-free Ritz-style crackers are our favorites.
  • Spooned into leaves of lettuce. Make a lettuce wrap out of your apple cranberry chicken salad! We prefer romaine hearts or butter lettuce leaves.
  • Over salad greens scooped. Or, you can just spread chicken salad on a bed of salad greens and eat it like a salad! The greens will also be dressed by the chicken salad’s dressing!
    Wrapped in a grain-free or tortilla-free wrap. Wrap your sandwich in a tortilla or grain-free wrap with some greens to take it in a new direction. It’s delectable!