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    Home » Sandwiches and Wraps

    Cranberry Chicken Salad

    Posted: Nov 26, 2020 · Updated: Nov 23, 2020 by Tonje

    Jump to Recipe

    This creamy cranberry chicken salad is great as a side dish or sandwich filler, particularly for the holiday season and winter.

    Two sandwiches filled with cranberry chicken salad and lettuce.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Top tips
    • Serving suggestions
    • Variations
    • Leftovers
    • Frequently asked questions
    • You might also like these recipes
    • Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read more about it in the privacy policy.

    This delicious cranberry chicken salad is absolutely delicious, and really easy to make if you have leftover cooked chicken.

    It's a fantastic version of creamy chicken salad, and since it's gluten free, dairy free and nut free, it's also suitable for most dietary restrictions.

    I love how quickly this salad comes together, and how little effort it requires. It's perfect around the holiday season, and I often make this salad for Sunday brunch through the winter.

    Ingredients

    To make this salad you will need mayonnaise, red onion, celery, walnuts or pecans, mustard, dried cranberries, salt, pepper and cooked chicken.

    You can use leftover roast chicken, buy a rotisserie chicken, or cook the chicken using your favorite method. I have a really easy recipe for poached chicken breasts which works incredibly well for this dish!

    Optionally, you can also add extra seasoning such as lemon juice or rosemary.

    Ingredients for cranberry chicken salad laid out on a table.

    Instructions

    Finely dice the celery and onion, and cube or shred the cooked chicken.

    Combine all ingredients in a bowl, and add any additional seasoning to taste.

    Serve the cranberry chicken salad immediately, or store it in a sealed container in a refrigerator.

    Mixing the salad ingredients in a bowl.

    Top tips

    Here are my best tips to help you succeed with this recipe:

    • Use cubed cooked chicken. You can cook your own chicken using your favorite method, or buy cubed chicken. Make sure that the chicken is plain, as certain flavors and seasonings could ruin the flavor of the salad.
    • Feel free to add or omit any ingredients as you please. Simply use what you like!
    A bowl of chicken and cranberry salad.

    Serving suggestions

    You can definitely serve cranberry chicken salad as a side dish with your meals, or as a sandwich filler. If you're looking for something else however, here are some fantastic serving suggestions:

    • Air Fryer Baked Potato - Top your baked potatoes with this creamy chicken salad.
    • Alternative sandwiches: use the salad as filling in wraps, lettuce wraps, rolls, in pita breads, or on flatbreads.
    • Flaxseed Crackers - Chicken salad on crackers is a healthy, delicious snack or breakfast!
    Lettuce wraps with cranberry chicken salad.

    Variations

    Here are some fun variations of the dish that you could try:

    Light and low calorie: Use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise for a lighter option.

    Vegetarian: Replace the chicken with chickpeas, cooked tofu or a vegetarian chicken substitute.

    Leftovers

    Leftover cranberry chicken salad can be stored in sealed containers in a refrigerator for up to 4 days. This makes it an excellent meal prep alternative for quick and easy future breakfasts, lunches or dinners.

    I don't recommend freezing the salad, as it tends to separate when thawed.

    Chicken and cranberry salad in two sandwiches on a plate.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can you use fresh cranberries?

    Absolutely, you can make chicken salad with fresh cranberries if you prefer.

    You might also like these recipes

    • Southern Style Chicken Salad
    • Grape and Chicken Salad
    • Spicy Tuna Wraps
    • Caprese Chicken Sandwich
    • Sardine Sandwich

    Recipe

    Cranberry Chicken Salad.

    Cranberry Chicken Salad

    This creamy cranberry chicken salad is great as a side dish or sandwich filler, particularly for the holiday season and winter.
    5 from 3 votes
    Created by: Tonje
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 0 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast, Salad, Sandwich filler
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 238 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ½ cup cubed chicken (2 breasts)
    • ⅓ cup cranberries
    • ½ cup celery
    • ⅓ cup roughly diced pecans
    • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
    • 4 tablespoons Greek yogurt

    Instructions
     

    • Finely dice the celery and onion, and cube or shred the cooked chicken.
    • Combine all ingredients in a bowl, and add any additional seasoning to taste.
    • Serve the cranberry chicken salad immediately, or store it in a sealed container in a refrigerator.

    Video

    Notes

    • Use cubed cooked chicken. You can cook your own chicken using your favorite method, or buy cubed chicken. Make sure that the chicken is plain, as certain flavors and seasonings could ruin the flavor of the salad.
    • Feel free to add or omit any ingredients as you please. Simply use what you like!
    • Leftover cranberry chicken salad can be stored in sealed containers in a refrigerator for up to 4 days. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 238kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 15gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 329mgPotassium: 299mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 74IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword celery, chicken, cranberries, gluten free, mayonnaise
    Tried this recipe?Mention @hintofhealthyfood or tag #hintofhealthy!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mike

      January 19, 2021 at 10:37 am

      5 stars
      This was so yummy. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    2. Sarah

      January 21, 2021 at 2:16 pm

      5 stars
      This is SO good! I doubled the recipe and it has lasted me all week.

      Reply
    3. Tim

      January 29, 2021 at 9:00 pm

      5 stars
      Awesome salad! I'm saving this recipe for Christmas brunch next year.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Tonje! I make easy and healthy everyday recipes that your family will love. Browse my recipe collection to discover new favorites, and make sure to let me know what you think!

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