Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad – Easy chicken salad filled with tender chicken, dried cranberries, walnuts, apples, celery, dill, and parsley. For a healthier option, you can use Greek yogurt in the dressing and serve the chicken salad on lettuce instead of bread. VIDEO BELOW!
As the weather heats up in Arizona, I start craving easy no-cook meals. Every weekend I do our grocery shopping for the upcoming week, and I always pick up a rotisserie chicken. Between soup, chili, sandwiches, or salads, I always find a way to use the chicken during the week. Lately we have been using rotisserie chicken for this this easy Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad.
Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad
This is my personal favorite version of chicken salad. It includes dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, chopped apple or celery, and just a touch of dill and parsley. The dressing is made from mayo, sour cream or Greek yogurt, and a splash of fresh lemon juice.
This recipe can easily be made lighter/healthier by using Greek yogurt and by serving the chicken salad in lettuce cups or over mixed greens. It’s a fairly low carb recipe (except for the dried cranberries), so for people who try to watch their carb intake, this is a great high protein meal. Note: Full nutrition facts below.
Tips for making Cranberry Chicken Salad
- Take a shortcut with a rotisserie chicken.
- Prefer to cook the chicken yourself? I love this recipe.
- Adjust the seasoning to suit your taste (I like extra dill and black pepper in mine).
- Use toasted nuts (so much flavor!). This recipe calls for walnuts, but pecans or pistachios would be a great substitute.
- Don’t have dried cranberries? I have also used dried cherries and raisins with success.
- If you’re out of sour cream you can try one of these Sour Cream Substitutes.
How do you like to eat your chicken salad? On bread? With crackers? In lettuce cups? Sometimes I just steal bites from the fridge right off a fork. Since this is a high protein, fairly low-carb meal, I can eat it guilt free. And just in time for bathing suit season. 😉
However you decide to eat it I know that you will love it! Extra points if you get to enjoy it while sitting outside on a beautiful, warm day.
You might also like: HEALTHY LUNCH IDEAS – CHICKEN RICE SOUP – TORTELLINI SALAD
Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt, I prefer light sour cream or lowfat yogurt
- 1 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon minced flat leaf parsley
- ¼ teaspoon dried dill
- 3 cups chopped or shredded cooked chicken, I use white meat from a rotisserie chicken
- ½ cup finely chopped celery or finely chopped apple
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries
- ⅓ cup chopped toasted walnuts, see note
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk mayonnaise, sour cream or yogurt, lemon juice, parsley, and dill. Add remaining ingredients and stir until combined. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve chilled on bread or lettuce.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
Kelly Cassell
Served this for a luncheon..7/7 women loved it! All requested recipe:)
Celebrating Sweets
I’m so happy to hear that. Thanks for taking the time to stop by to share!
Kasey
I am so glad I came across your recipe!! I’ve made this several times now and it is just as wonderful with dried cherries. I absolutely love it! I’m not much of a sandwich person, so I typically enjoy it with pita chips instead!
Allison
That sounds delicious! I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Cindy
I am not a fan of chicken salad but this recipe has changed my mind. I just made this and it is absolutely delicious. Thank you
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad to hear that. Thanks for stopping by!
Kelly
Would this work with salad cream instead of mayo?
Celebrating Sweets
I don’t know what salad cream is. If it is like sour cream, plain yogurt or creme fraiche, then yes, it should work.
Megan
This is a great option for lunch to take to work.
Teri
I made this recipe for little “tea sandwiches”. I choose to leave out the nuts this time. It was a fabulous recipe to serve along with the sweets I prepared for my tea! I got many compliments on these sandwiches!
Celebrating Sweets
Great! Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
El
Can you substitute something else for the cranberries
Celebrating Sweets
Sure, just about any other dried fruit should work (raisins, cherries, apricots etc).
Karla Tammaro
How many servings is this recipe?
Celebrating Sweets
Approximately 4-6 servings.
Susan Golden
I make this for my elder mother that won’t eat. She eats so much of this, it makes me so happy. I love it. I made this for my friends at work…. Thru couldn’t stop eating it. It’s a wonderful recipe.
Celebrating Sweets
Thanks for the kind review, Susan. I’m so glad that everyone enjoyed it. 🙂 -Allison
NGreen
Hi, just wondering how long it will last in the fridge!? Would like to make and use it through out the week for lunch. Thank you.
Allison
It should keep for about 3-4 days (assuming the chicken is fresh the day you assemble it). Enjoy!
Laura Peregoy
Tastes Amazing! Is the nutrutional info based on using regular sour cream? Light sour cream? greek yogurt?
Allison
Light sour cream. I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂