Embrace the flavors of autumn with this exquisite Cranberry Chicken Salad, enhanced by the delightful crunch of toasted walnuts. This recipe offers a delicious seasonal spin on a beloved classic, making it an effortless and delightful choice for any fall afternoon lunch. Its ease of preparation and make-ahead convenience ensure a satisfying meal is always within reach.
Chicken salad, at its heart, is a deeply personal culinary creation. Just like a cherished family recipe, everyone has their own ideal version. Some prefer it elegantly simple, allowing the quality of the chicken to shine through with minimal adornment. Others delight in a rich tapestry of flavors and textures, blending savory notes with unexpected touches of sweetness. This versatility is what makes chicken salad a perennial favorite across countless tables and palates.
Our featured Cranberry Chicken Salad with Toasted Walnuts proudly belongs to the latter category. It’s a symphony of contrasts: tender, succulent chicken pieces enveloped in a luscious, creamy dressing, perfectly balanced by the crisp bite of fresh celery and the earthy crunch of toasted walnuts. The true star, however, is the vibrant burst of sweet-tart dried cranberries (often known as craisins), which elevate this dish beyond the ordinary. This delightful combination makes it one of our most treasured autumn lunch recipes, offering both comfort and sophistication in every bite.
Cranberry Chicken Salad: A Delicious Autumnal Twist
This delightful cranberry chicken salad is a direct descendant of our cherished family recipe for Classic Chicken Salad with Tarragon, a springtime favorite that has graced our tables for generations. With just a few thoughtful adjustments, we transformed that vibrant spring classic into a comforting and irresistible fall staple. The beauty of this recipe lies in its adaptability, allowing us to capture the essence of different seasons through simple ingredient swaps.
The foundation of our family’s chicken salad dressing is a rich mayonnaise base, subtly lightened and made even creamier with a thoughtful touch of sour cream. This addition lends a beautiful tang and a velvety texture that truly sets it apart. To brighten the overall flavor profile, Dijon mustard and fresh lemon juice are indispensable components, adding a zesty kick that cuts through the richness. For essential crunch and a mild aromatic depth, classic additions of finely chopped shallot or red onion and crisp celery are always included.
For this inviting fall variation, we carefully maintained the beloved flavor profile of the original dressing, simply omitting the tarragon to make way for a more autumnal essence. The key players in this seasonal transformation are the generous additions of sweet-tart dried cranberries and wonderfully toasted walnuts. These ingredients infuse the salad with a warmth and heartiness that perfectly complements the cooler weather. Should your preference lean elsewhere, toasted pecans also make an excellent substitute for walnuts, offering a similarly rich and nutty flavor.
Choosing the Best Chicken for Your Cranberry Chicken Salad
The quality and preparation of your chicken are paramount to the success of any chicken salad. For this Cranberry Chicken Salad, my personal preference is to use perfectly poached chicken breasts. Poaching is a gentle cooking method that yields exceptionally tender, flavorful, and incredibly juicy meat, which is ideal for a creamy salad. Furthermore, poached chicken offers fantastic make-ahead potential; you can prepare it a few days in advance and store it chilled in the refrigerator, ready to be transformed into your delicious salad whenever inspiration strikes.
However, the beauty of this recipe lies in its flexibility. I have successfully prepared this dish using convenient store-bought rotisserie chicken, which provides a fantastic shortcut and a savory depth of flavor. Leftover oven-roasted chicken breast from a previous dinner also works wonderfully, making this a great way to repurpose leftovers. While roasted breast meat might be slightly less juicy than freshly poached chicken, it still blends beautifully when tossed with the rich, creamy dressing, absorbing its moisture and flavor.
When opting for store-bought rotisserie chickens, it’s worth noting that their salt content can vary significantly between brands. Always keep this in mind when you’re seasoning your chicken salad. It’s always a good practice to start with a conservative amount of salt and then taste and adjust as needed, ensuring your salad achieves perfect balance without being overly salty.
Regardless of whether you choose poached, roasted, or rotisserie chicken, the way you prepare the meat is crucial for optimal texture. I recommend cutting the chicken into a uniform 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch dice. This size ensures you get substantial, meaty chunks of chicken in every bite, providing a satisfying texture. More importantly, it keeps the salad manageable and easy to enjoy, especially when served as a sandwich, preventing pieces from falling out and allowing for a pleasant eating experience without the constant need for a fork.
Creative Ways to Serve Your Cranberry Chicken Salad
The versatility of this Cranberry Chicken Salad makes it suitable for a multitude of serving styles, ensuring it’s always a delightful addition to your meal plan. Our personal favorite way to enjoy it is nestled between slices of a robust hearty 4-grain bread, as beautifully captured in the accompanying photos. The complex, nutty, and slightly toasty quality of the grain bread creates an exquisite harmony with the sweet-tart cranberries and the earthy walnuts, enhancing the overall flavor experience.
Beyond the classic sandwich, I find it incredibly difficult to resist a generous scoop of this salad on a slice of lightly-toasted farmhouse bread, which offers a soft, comforting base. For a touch of indulgence, a flaky, buttery croissant provides a luxurious textural contrast that is simply irresistible. If you prefer a handheld option that’s a bit lighter, wrapping this chicken salad in your favorite tortilla is a fantastic idea—a whole wheat tortilla would be particularly delicious and add an extra layer of wholesome goodness.
For those who appreciate a satisfying crunch, pairing the salad with crisp club crackers or a selection of light crispbreads makes for an excellent snack or light appetizer. And if you’re seeking a lower-carb alternative, this Cranberry Chicken Salad shines when served in a crisp lettuce cup or wrap. Honestly, sometimes the purest enjoyment comes from simply savoring it straight out of a bowl with a fork – a testament to its irresistible flavor profile.
Maximizing Freshness and Flavor: Make-Ahead Tips
One of the most appealing aspects of this Cranberry Chicken Salad recipe is its exceptional make-ahead potential, making it an ideal candidate for effortless fall lunches or quick meal prep. Once prepared, the salad can be tightly covered and stored in the refrigerator, maintaining its freshness and delicious flavor for 3 to 5 days from the time the chicken was cooked. This extended shelf life allows you to enjoy homemade, gourmet-quality lunches throughout the week without daily effort.
However, it’s important to note a crucial step for optimal flavor development: if you plan to enjoy the salad on the same day it’s prepared, it absolutely benefits from at least one hour of chilling in the refrigerator before serving. This resting period isn’t merely for cooling; it’s a vital opportunity for all the individual flavors within the dressing and ingredients to meld beautifully. During this time, the chicken pieces absorb the aromatic nuances of the dressing, and the cranberries and walnuts subtly infuse their distinctive notes, resulting in a perfectly textured, irresistible salad with a cohesive and harmonious taste profile. Don’t skip this chilling step – it truly makes a difference in transforming a good salad into a great one.
More Seasonal Fall Lunch Recipes to Savor:
- Turkey and Brie Croissant Panini (Striped Spatula) – A warm, buttery delight combining savory turkey with creamy brie, perfect for a cozy fall day.
- Apple Cheddar Flatbread Pizza with Caramelized Onions (Killing Thyme) – An unexpected yet delicious fusion of sweet and savory flavors on a crispy flatbread base.
- Curried Cauliflower Soup (Striped Spatula) – A comforting and aromatic soup, warming and satisfying, ideal for chilly autumn afternoons.
- Ham and Brie Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onion and Apple Spread (The Spruce Eats) – An elevated grilled cheese experience with rich ham, creamy brie, and a sweet, tangy spread.
- French Lentil Soup with Escarole (Striped Spatula) – A hearty and nutritious soup, packed with earthy lentils and tender escarole for a wholesome meal.
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Cranberry Chicken Salad with Walnuts
Ingredients
- 2-1/2 cups cubed poached or rotisserie chicken breast, chilled (see cooking notes below)
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1-2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (to taste, depending on how tart you like it)
- ⅓ cup diced celery
- ¼ cup diced red onion or shallot
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup toasted chopped walnuts
- ¼ cup flat leaf parsley, chopped
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined. This forms the creamy base of your salad dressing.
- Next, gently stir in the diced celery, red onion or shallot, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, and fresh flat leaf parsley into the prepared dressing. Ensure all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Carefully fold in the cubed chicken until it is thoroughly combined with the dressing and other ingredients. Be gentle to maintain the chicken’s tender texture.
- Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This chilling period is essential to allow the flavors to meld together, creating a more harmonious and delicious salad.
- Before serving, taste the chicken salad and adjust seasoning as needed with additional salt and pepper to achieve your desired flavor balance.
- We highly recommend serving this delightful chicken salad on a hearty 4-grain bread, lightly-toasted farmhouse white bread, or in a flaky croissant for the best experience.
Notes
To Poach Chicken Breasts for Optimal Tenderness:
- Place 2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a single layer in a pot. Sprinkle lightly with about 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt to season the meat from within.
- Enhance the flavor of the poaching liquid by adding approximately 1 teaspoon of whole peppercorns and a selection of aromatics. Consider including 1-2 garlic cloves, a few sprigs of fresh herbs like parsley, dill, or thyme, and a dried bay leaf for depth.
- Pour enough water into the pot to fully cover the chicken breasts by about 1 inch. Bring the water to a gentle boil, then immediately cover the pot and reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer. It’s normal to observe a white foamy substance accumulating in the pot as the chicken cooks; this can be skimmed off or left as is.
- Continue to simmer until the thickest part of the chicken breasts registers an internal temperature of 165 degrees F when tested with a meat thermometer. Cooking times will vary from 5 to 14 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of the chicken breasts.
- Once cooked, remove the chicken from the poaching liquid and let it cool completely before dicing. Store the poached chicken breasts, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, ready for your salad.
Make-Ahead Tips for Enhanced Flavor:
This Cranberry Chicken Salad is an excellent choice for meal prep as it can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days from the date the chicken was cooked. Over time, the chicken will continue to absorb the delicious flavors of the dressing, often tasting even better the next day. If you plan to serve the salad after it has sat overnight or longer, you might notice it has become a bit less creamy. In such cases, I like to prepare a small amount of extra dressing to keep on the side, which can be tossed with the chicken salad just before serving to refresh its creaminess and flavor as needed.
Nutrition Estimate
Calories: 274 kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 307mg | Potassium: 290mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 290IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 0.6mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Please note that our recipes have been developed using the US Customary measurement system and have not been tested for high altitude/elevation cooking and baking.
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