Cranberry Chicken Salad (old-fashioned recipe)
This classic Chicken Cranberry Salad recipe is a great way to use leftover rotisserie, baked or grilled chicken. The dressing is the best, tangy and savory with a hint of sweetness.
Servings 6 side servings
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons natural or Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup or to taste
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- large pinch of black pepper or to taste
- large pinch of curry powder optional, but very good
For the salad:
- 3 cups cooked chicken shredded
- 3 tablespoons pine nuts, chopped walnuts, pecans or almonds
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup finely chopped celery stalk
Instructions
Make the dressing:
- In a medium bowl, mix 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons natural or Greek yogurt, 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup, ¼ to ½ teaspoon salt, a large pinch of black pepper, and a large pinch of curry powder until smooth. You can prepare several hours ahead and store in the fridge in an airtight jar. Stir before using.
Assemble the salad:
- In a large bowl, combine 3 cups cooked chicken, 3 tablespoons pine nuts, chopped walnuts, pecans or almonds, ⅓ cup dried cranberries and ¼ cup finely chopped celery stalk.
- Pour half of the dressing over the salad and gently toss together until evenly coated. Add more dressing as needed. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes (or more) before serving if desired.
Notes
Taste and adjust. Always make iterations if needed, so it's exactly what you want, especially with the dressing. That said, start with small amounts! You can always add more, but it's hard to remove.
Variations:
Skip the mayo and use only yogurt, and maybe a tablespoon of sour cream for creaminess. Make sure to adjust the seasonings.
Add a few tablespoons of chopped yellow or green onions. They have different flavor profiles, but they add some acidity and sharpness.
Add fresh herbs, such as parsley, chives, and thyme.
Add spiciness with a little smoked paprika, cayenne pepper or a dash of Tabasco (or other hot sauce) for a spicy kick.
Use raisins instead of cranberries, and change the name. The salad will be sweeter.
Use another protein, like chopped turkey or ham, instead of chicken.
Add fruit, like seedless grapes or a chopped apple.
Skip the mayo and use only yogurt, and maybe a tablespoon of sour cream for creaminess. Make sure to adjust the seasonings.
Add a few tablespoons of chopped yellow or green onions. They have different flavor profiles, but they add some acidity and sharpness.
Add fresh herbs, such as parsley, chives, and thyme.
Add spiciness with a little smoked paprika, cayenne pepper or a dash of Tabasco (or other hot sauce) for a spicy kick.
Use raisins instead of cranberries, and change the name. The salad will be sweeter.
Use another protein, like chopped turkey or ham, instead of chicken.
Add fruit, like seedless grapes or a chopped apple.
