Description
This Fall Chicken Salad Recipe combines tender cooked chicken breast with crisp apples, juicy red grapes, dried cranberries, crunchy celery and nuts, all tossed in a tangy Dijon and apple cider vinegar dressing. Perfect for a light, healthy meal or snack, this gluten-free salad embraces the flavors of autumn and is great for lunches, picnics, or easy dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast (shredded or chopped)
- 1/2 cup diced apple (such as Honeycrisp or Fuji)
- 1/2 cup red grapes (halved)
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup chopped celery
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (toasted)
- 2 green onions (sliced)
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise or Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the shredded or chopped cooked chicken, diced apple, halved red grapes, dried cranberries, chopped celery, toasted nuts, and sliced green onions. Gently stir to mix the salad components evenly.
- Prepare Dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt), Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper until the dressing is smooth and well blended.
- Toss Salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the chicken mixture. Toss everything gently but thoroughly, ensuring the dressing coats all the ingredients evenly for balanced flavor throughout.
- Adjust Seasoning and Chill: Taste the salad and add more salt or pepper if needed. Cover the bowl and chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld and the salad cool.
- Serve and Garnish: Before serving, give the salad a final stir and optionally garnish with chopped fresh parsley for a pop of color and freshness. Enjoy on its own, in lettuce wraps, on croissants, or with your preferred crackers.
Notes
- This salad can be served in lettuce wraps, on croissants, or with crackers for variety.
- Using rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut to save time.
- Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dressing for extra autumn-inspired flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
