Easy Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad (High Protein)

This Easy Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad is packed with protein and the perfect way to use up leftover turkey! It’s got tender chicken, tart green apples, cranberries, pecans, and savory seasonings in a creamy Greek yogurt mayo sauce. The best flavor combination!

What Makes This Recipe Great

Chicken salad is my favorite thing to prep ahead of time on a Sunday. This simple salad is the perfect easy recipe and healthy no-cook lunch to have throughout the week. I love serving this Easy Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad on lettuce wraps or on gluten free bread. It’s packed with sweet and savory flavors, simple ingredients like crunchy pecans, and lots of protein. I am personally a big fan of adding fruit to my chicken salad. The combination of tart dried cranberries and Granny Smith apples with the savory chicken and spices is amazing. This cranberry pecan chicken salad recipe is also perfect for using up leftover chicken or Thanksgiving turkey!

Recipe Highlights

• No cooking required
• Favorite way to use leftover turkey or chicken
• Sweet and savory
• Great recipe for baby showers or ladies’ luncheons!
• Gluten free
• Easy lunch or quick dinner
• Favorite chicken salad recipe on my site!
• Dairy free option
• Perfect meal prep option
• Packed with protein

Ingredient Notes

Cooked chicken: I used a rotisserie whole chicken from Whole Foods to keep this super simple, but you can also poach some chicken breasts if you don’t have cooked chicken on hand! Many regular rotisserie chickens have a bunch of additives, gluten, sugar, and other junk – so make sure to check ingredients! You can also use boiled chicken breasts or boiled chicken thighs. If you’ve purchased rotisserie chicken and aren’t sure what to do with it, this recipe is for you!

Apples: Any variety of apples will work for this recipe. I personally love using green apple because of their tart sweetness.

Cranberries: Dried cranberries work best. You could also sub raisins!

Celery: Crunchy celery is a must in this delicious salad. Feel free to add some red onion if you would like!

Pecans: For nut free, simply omit these or add some sunflower seeds instead! I like to use a meat mallet to smash the pecans and make pecan pieces.

Mayo: I like to use avocado oil mayo. Sir Kensington’s is great! You can also make your own mayo at home.

Greek Yogurt: I like adding this for extra protein and to lower the fat content. I like to use plain Greek yogurt (non-fat). For dairy free, simply replace with more mayo.

Herbs & spices: Paprika, rosemary (dried), thyme (dried), and salt

How to Make Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

How To Make Easy Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

1. Combine all of the ingredients for this easy chicken salad in a large mixing bowl.
2. Give everything a good stir and mix to combine.
3. Serve the chicken mixture plain, on a sandwich, or on a bed of lettuce like I did (shown below). Enjoy this delicious recipe!

Mary’s Tips & Tricks

Cooking chicken: To make easy poached chicken breasts at home, simply bring a pot of water + your chicken breasts to a boil. Cover, remove from heat, and let it sit (covered) for 10 minutes. All done! Drain and shred chicken breasts, and you’re ready to add it to the salad.

Storage: You can make this cranberry pecan chicken salad ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Protein: For even more protein and less fat, use all Greek yogurt and omit the mayo

Dairy Free: To Make this dairy free, omit the Greek yogurt and replace with more mayo. 

Leftover turkey: This chicken salad is the perfect way to use leftover Turkey from Thanksgiving! Simply use that instead of the chicken.

The Best Chicken Salad Recipes

Buffalo Chicken Chicken Salad

Chicken Salad with Grapes

Strawberry Poppyseed Chicken Salad

*This post was originally published on October 7, 2019 and updated with a new photo and new copy on November 12, 2023.