This fall chicken salad recipe is a super easy, healthy meal. It’s delicious and perfect for any day!
You’ll need just a few simple ingredients. These include cooked rotisserie chicken, shredded apple, pecans, dried cranberries and a tangy dressing made with yogurt and mayo.
Ingredients
This delicious fall chicken salad recipe is ready in just 15 minutes and makes a perfect light meal or lunch. It’s filled with fruits and veggies and has a tasty tangy dressing that is great on its own or as a sandwich!
You can use rotisserie chicken or cooked grilled or baked chicken breasts to save time in the kitchen. Just make sure to remove the skin and cut the meat into smaller pieces to ensure it’s tender and not dry.
A quick and easy way to dress up this chicken salad is with an apple cider vinaigrette. It is a light, thin dressing made with apple cider vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, orange juice, Dijon mustard, and salt. It’s great on all sorts of salads and can be used as a marinade for chicken or turkey.
For a little more flavor, try adding some chopped celery or fresh herbs such as basil or chives. You could also use sliced almonds or pecans to add some crunch and a hint of smoky flavor.
You could even try a combination of dried cranberries and golden raisins. They go well with the apple and nut combination in this chicken salad.
This salad is very versatile and can be eaten on its own, or piled high on dinner rolls or croissants. You can also serve it with a side of sliced tomatoes and lettuce for a delicious picnic or brunch.
I like to keep a batch of this fall chicken salad in the refrigerator so that it can be served on different days. It’s very quick to assemble, has minimal cooking and prep work, doesn’t need to be reheated, and lasts in the fridge for up to 3 days!
This recipe is also a wonderful way to use leftover chicken from the holidays or other meals. Just be sure to remove the skin and cut the meat up into bite sized pieces before using it in this salad. It will add a lot of extra flavor and nutrition to the recipe. This is a recipe that you’ll want to make again and again!
Prep Time
Fall is the perfect time to whip up a delicious salad that captures the flavors of this season. This salad is full of autumnal goodness, including tender chicken, crunchy apple, dried cranberries, creamy goat cheese, and a sweet-hot maple ginger dressing!
The best part about this fall chicken salad recipe is that it can be made ahead of time. This makes it an easy meal prep option for lunches throughout the week.
You can marinate your chicken and make the harvest salad dressing ahead of time. This makes it easy to assemble your salad at the last minute and it keeps well in the fridge for a few days.
To start, you need to chop and dry your lettuce. This is super simple and can be done in a matter of minutes using a salad spinner.
While you are waiting for your lettuce to dry, prepare the rest of your ingredients. This includes a few ingredients that you may not have on hand but will add to the flavor and texture of your salad.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar – You will need to use apple cider vinegar because it is what gives the dressing its apple flavor! You can also substitute red wine vinegar if you like.
2. Dried Cranberries – You can also use dried cherries, raisins or golden raisins.
3. Pecans – You can replace walnuts in this recipe with pecans for a different flavor and more crunch.
4. Green Onions – You can use sliced green onions instead of celery in this recipe.
5. Dressing – You will need to whisk together all of the ingredients in a large bowl. You will need to let this sit in the fridge for about an hour before you serve your salad.
The dressing takes just 10 minutes to whip up! You can serve this salad as is or add more veggies and toppings to the mix. This salad is also great served on top of a toasted baguette or croissant for a sandwich or as a wrap! This is a perfect dish to bring to parties and picnics or as a meal prep for your family.
Cook Time
Fall is a time for cozy meals, and this healthy, filling chicken salad is a perfect fit. It’s light and fresh with ingredients like apples, dried cranberries and goat cheese. It’s easy to make and makes a hearty lunch or dinner.
The apple cider vinegar in the dressing adds a subtle autumn flavor to this dish. You can also substitute red wine vinegar if you like.
I prefer to use Granny Smith apples for this recipe, but you can choose any kind that works well. They’re crisp and tart, so they balance out the sweetness of the chicken and cranberries perfectly.
Chopped celery is a great addition to this salad, too. It gives it a bit of crunch and freshness that’s so important in a salad. If you don’t have celery, halved seedless grapes will work just as well.
You can eat this salad on its own, or you can pile it high onto a ciabatta roll for a Panera-style sandwich. A few slices of butter lettuce on top is a perfect complement to this salad.
This is a quick and simple meal, but it does require a little planning. You’ll want to prep all of the ingredients the day before, so they’re all ready to go when you need them.
Shredded rotisserie chicken is mixed with fresh apples, pecans, celery, dried cranberries and a few other tasty ingredients in this delicious fall salad. It’s then tossed with a sweet and tangy maple-mustard vinaigrette for a salad that tastes like autumn!
It’s a super healthy, gluten-free and low-calorie salad that’s perfect for lunches or dinners. It’s also a good choice for meal prep, since you can make it ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator.
For a more spicy version of this fall chicken salad, try adding chili powder and crushed red pepper flakes to the dressing. You can also add paprika for a smoky kick.
This salad is delicious served as a main course or a side dish and is packed with protein, fiber and healthy fats. It’s a satisfying meal that will keep you full for hours!
Servings
A tasty combination of sweet and savory, this easy fall chicken salad is sure to please everyone. It’s great as a side dish for Thanksgiving or as a delicious lunch!
It’s also super versatile and can be tossed on a bed of greens, served in a wrap, or made into a sandwich between two slices of bread. If you’re looking to cut back on calories and fat, try a lighter version of this recipe or use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise.
You can add some smoky warmth to this chicken salad by adding paprika, garlic powder, or ancho chili powder. Crushed red pepper flakes add just the right amount of kick as well.
If you’re looking to make this a little healthier, swap out the mayonnaise for Greek yogurt or sour cream. You can also use a light vinaigrette to dress this salad and reduce the fat content.
To make this easy and delicious chicken salad, start by making the dressing. Mix together mayonnaise, honey mustard, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir in cooked chicken, chopped apple, pecans, and dried cherries or cranberries until coated.
This recipe will serve approximately 4 people. If you want to make a larger batch, multiply the ingredients accordingly.
A rotisserie chicken or leftover roast chicken works great here. You can also use boiled, shredded, or canned chicken if you’re in the mood to simplify this recipe.
While chicken is a good source of lean protein, it can be high in calories and saturated fat. That’s why it’s best to limit the amount of chicken you eat in one sitting, and to consume it as part of a balanced diet.
You can find a wide variety of chicken that is low in calories and fat, such as boneless skinless chicken breasts and boneless thighs. However, it’s important to make sure the meat has been properly prepared and stored before eating.
You can also store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you’re storing it for a longer time, make sure the salad is at 40 degrees F or below and keep it away from other foods to avoid foodborne illnesses.