How to Make Delicious Cranberry Chicken Salad From Scratch

Cranberry chicken salad is a festive and tasty dish that is great for a light meal. This salad is a hit because it has the right amount of sweet cranberries, savory chicken, and crunchy bits. Don’t worry if you’ve never made cranberry chicken salad before; it’s surprisingly simple to make at home! I’ll show you how to make tasty cranberry chicken salad step by step.

Overview of Cranberry Chicken Salad

Cranberry chicken salad is a chilled chicken salad that tastes like dried cranberries. It is often served as a sandwich or snack on bread, lettuce, or crackers. It has savory shredded chicken, mayonnaise or yogurt, celery, nuts like pecans or almonds, and aromatics like onion, parsley, or dill. Cranberries add a nutty tartness to the mix. The end result is a tasty mix of crunchy, sweet, sour, and creamy foods.

Some key components that make this salad special include:

• Dried cranberries: These give the chicken texture and bursts of sweet and sour flavor that go well with it. You can use regular dried cranberries that have been sweetened or unsweetened if you want less sugar. They get softer when you soak them in water for a few minutes before mixing.

• Shredded chicken: The protein comes from rotisserie chicken, canned chicken breast, or cooked chicken breast. Leftover chicken works great too. Chilling it firms it up which helps the texture.

• Creamy binder – Mayonnaise or Greek yogurt both add moisture, richness, and a cooling contrast. Greek yogurt also adds protein and cuts calories.

• Crunchy veggies – Celery and sometimes onions provide crisp freshness and crunch. Other options include apple, fennel, or water chestnuts.

• Toasted nuts – Chopped pecans, almonds, or walnuts add nutty flavor and crunchy contrast. Toasting them enhances their flavor.

• Seasonings – Salt, pepper, fresh herbs, mustard, lime juice, or spices like curry powder customize the flavor.

Once you understand the basics components, it’s easy to make cranberry chicken salad your own with simple add-ins and seasonings. Now let’s get cooking!

Ingredients Needed

Cranberry chicken salad comes together with a handful of simple ingredients:

• 3 cups shredded cooked chicken, chilled
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or mayonnaise
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 1/4 cup toasted nuts like pecans or almonds
• 1/4 cup diced onion or scallions (optional)
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard (optional)
• 2 Tbsp fresh parsley or dill (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

The ingredient amounts can be adjusted to taste, depending on how nutty, creamy, or sweet you like your salad. Using both Greek yogurt and mayo makes a nice tangy base. Toasting the nuts in a skillet for 2-3 minutes enhances their crunch and flavor.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps for fail-proof cranberry chicken salad:

1. Cook the chicken

If starting with raw chicken breasts, poach or bake them until fully cooked, 10-15 minutes. Let cool completely, then shred or dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Chilling it firms it up which helps later.

2. Prep the ingredients

While the chicken cools, prep your other ingredients – dice the celery, toast the nuts, drain and optionally rehydrate the cranberries, mince parsley or scallions, etc.

3. Make the dressing

In a medium bowl, stir together the Greek yogurt, mayo, mustard, and salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

4. Combine the salad

Add the chilled chicken, cranberries, celery, nuts, and any herbs or onion to the dressing. Gently stir together until evenly combined.

5. Chill before serving

Let the finished salad chill in the fridge for 30 minutes up to overnight. This allows the flavors to meld together. Add any additional seasonings and enjoy!

And that’s it! With these simple steps, you’ll have a fresh, flavorful cranberry chicken salad in under 30 minutes.

Serving Suggestions

Cranberry chicken salad is versatile – serve it in a sandwich or wrap, on top of greens, alongside crackers, stuffed in a hollowed apple or tomato, or on top of a fresh croissant. Some fun serving ideas include:

• Classic sandwich on whole grain bread or croissant

• Lettuce wraps or cups for low-carb

• Stuffed in a hollowed out apple or tomato

• On top of a fresh salad or spinach

• Alongside whole grain crackers or bread as an app

• Inside an avocado half for a twist

• On a grain bowl with quinoa or farro

Storage Tips

Properly stored, cranberry chicken salad will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days. Here are some storage tips:

• Store in an airtight container and refrigerate up to 4 days.

• For longer storage, freeze for 1-2 months. Thaw in the fridge before using.

• Add nuts just before serving to preserve their crunch.

• May need to stir in a little mayo or yogurt after thawing if dry.

Easy Variations

Once you master the basic recipe, have fun with these easy variations:

• Use dried cherries, blueberries, or mango instead of cranberries

• Add shredded coconut, sesame seeds, or diced water chestnuts for different textures

• Use walnuts or hazelnuts instead of pecans or almonds

• Flavor with lime juice, orange zest, curry powder, or fresh herbs

• Make it Southwest style with corn, black beans, cilantro, and lime

• Give it an Asian twist with ginger, sesame oil, snow peas, and scallions

The possibilities are endless!

FAQs

Let’s go over some frequently asked questions:

How long does it last in the fridge?
Properly stored, it will keep for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

Can I use light mayo instead?
Yes, light mayo works well to cut down on calories and fat. Greek yogurt also lightens it up.

Can I use canned chicken?
Absolutely – just drain and chill the canned chicken before using.

What’s the best bread for cranberry chicken salad sandwiches?
We like whole grain or sourdough breads. Croissants and brioche also pair nicely.

Should I use sweetened or unsweetened cranberries?
That depends on your tastes – sweetened dried cranberries are traditional but you can use unsweetened for a less sugary salad.

Tips for the Best Flavor

Here are a few tips to help your cranberry chicken salad pack the most flavor:

• Chill the chicken before mixing for optimal texture

• Toast the nuts to bring out their flavor

• Rehydrate dried cranberries in warm water for 5 minutes first

• Mix gently to keep the chicken shreds intact

• Taste and season thoughtfully as you mix

• Let sit for 30 mins for the flavors to meld before serving