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Whole Foods Sonoma Chicken Salad Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 99 reviews

This Whole Foods Sonoma Chicken Salad is a fresh, flavorful, and creamy chicken salad featuring shredded rotisserie chicken mixed with a tangy Greek yogurt and mayonnaise dressing, accented with honey, apple cider vinegar, and poppy seeds. Crisp celery, sweet red grapes, sharp red onion, and toasted pecans provide delightful texture and flavor contrast, making it a perfect easy-to-make lunch or light dinner option.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded or diced, rotisserie chicken recommended)

Dressing

  • ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon poppy seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt (adjust to taste)
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground recommended)

Salad Mix-ins

  • ¼ cup celery (finely chopped, fresh stalks preferred)
  • ½ cup red grapes (halved, seedless)
  • ¼ cup red onion (finely diced; soak in cold water 5 minutes for milder flavor)
  • 1 tablespoon pecans (roughly chopped and toasted)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken: Ensure the chicken is fully cooked and cooled to avoid dressing separation. Shred or dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces for preferred texture. Using rotisserie chicken simplifies preparation.
  2. Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, honey, apple cider vinegar, poppy seeds, sea salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined. Taste the dressing and adjust salt or honey to your preference.
  3. Prep additional ingredients: Finely chop celery, red onion, and toasted pecans. Halve the seedless red grapes, ensuring all components are small and consistent in size for easier eating and better salad cohesion.
  4. Combine the salad: Place the shredded chicken in a large mixing bowl. Pour the dressing over the chicken, then add celery, grapes, red onion, and pecans. Gently toss with a spatula to coat the chicken evenly while keeping the ingredients intact.
  5. Chill and serve: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Serve cold straight from the fridge for the ideal deli-style taste and texture.

Notes

  • Using rotisserie chicken saves time and adds great flavor.
  • Soaking red onion in cold water for 5 minutes mellows its sharpness if desired.
  • Toast pecans before adding for a deeper, nuttier flavor.
  • Adjust sweetness and saltiness of dressing to taste.
  • For best texture, serve salad cold.

Keywords: Whole Foods, Sonoma Chicken Salad, chicken salad, creamy chicken salad, healthy chicken salad, easy lunch recipe, rotisserie chicken recipe