Creamy Chicken Salad with Pecans, Cranberries, and Honey Recipe
This Chicken Salad recipe is a quick and delicious blend of diced rotisserie chicken, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, and crunchy celery, all tossed in a creamy dressing with mayo, sour cream, honey, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, and lemon juice. Perfect for sandwiches on croissants or served alongside sliced apples, celery sticks, and crackers, this salad offers a delightful balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors with a satisfying crunch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 2 cups rotisserie chicken (diced)
- 1/2 cup pecans (coarsely chopped, toasted)
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 2 stalks celery (thinly sliced, about 1/2 cup)
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sour cream (light works)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard
- 1 1/2 teaspoons poppy seeds
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
To Serve
- Croissants or other sandwich rolls
- Thinly sliced apples
- Celery sticks
- Crackers (such as Wheat Thins)
Instructions
- Toast Pecans: Heat a dry pan over medium heat and add the pecans. Toast them while stirring occasionally until they become fragrant and lightly browned, being careful to avoid burning. Remove from heat and set aside to cool before chopping coarsely.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the diced rotisserie chicken, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, and sliced celery. Add the mayonnaise, sour cream, honey, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, and lemon juice. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper initially.
- Mix and Adjust Seasoning: Gently stir all ingredients until the chicken and other components are evenly coated with the creamy dressing. Taste the salad and adjust salt and pepper as needed for balanced flavor.
- Serve: Serve the chicken salad on croissants or your choice of sandwich rolls, optionally adding lettuce. Alternatively, serve it as a side with thinly sliced apples, celery sticks, and crackers for a light, refreshing meal.
Notes
- Toasting pecans enhances their flavor and adds a delightful crunch to the salad. Be sure to watch them carefully as they can burn quickly.
- Using light sour cream keeps the salad creamy with fewer calories.
- The salad can be prepared a few hours in advance and refrigerated to let the flavors meld.
- For a lower fat option, consider using light mayonnaise or Greek yogurt instead of sour cream and mayo.
Keywords: Chicken salad, rotisserie chicken, pecans, dried cranberries, healthy chicken salad, creamy chicken salad, quick chicken salad recipe
