CRANBERRY AND PECAN CHICKEN salad

ByAdmin

Why This Recipe Is Dietitian Approved

  1. Great source of protein. One serving of this cranberry pecan chicken salad has 21g of protein, which is important for keeping you full and satisfied.
  2. Meal prep. Chicken salads are among my favorite meal prep recipes because they are super easy to batch prep and add to meals throughout the week.
  3. Versatile. I do my best to meal prep recipes that I can enjoy in multiple variations throughout the week. You can have chicken salad in sandwiches, wraps, and salads, so it’s hard to get sick of.

Chicken. I like using boneless, skinless chicken breast when making chicken salad. However chicken thighs or rotisserie chicken are also great options.

Celery. For freshness and crunch. This is a classic chicken salad ingredient that in my opinion is non-negotiable! 

Red onion. This helps provide a mild spice to this chicken salad. Even though I am not normally a huge fan of red onion, I find it is the perfect compliment to the sweetness of the cranberries in this recipe. My tip is dicing it up nice and small so the flavour isn’t too overpowering.

Dried cranberries. For a light hit of sweetness! Using dried cranberries in this recipe creates a sweet flavour that really pairs well with the creaminess of the mayonnaise and spice of the red onion. Other options include dried cherries or even raisins.

Pecans. For crunch! My number one thing I always need in any type of salad is texture. If something is one consistent texture, it tastes almost mushy to me and isn’t as satisfying! Adding chopped pecans helps add additional healthy fats and a necessary crunchy.

Greek yogurt. My secret ingredient in ALL my chicken salads! Substituting some of the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt helps increase the protein while keeping the same creamy texture. I recommend 2% Greke yogurt for the perfect balance of creamy texture and minimal added fat.

Lemon juice. Fresh lemon juice helps bring freshness and flavor to this chicken salad.

Servings: 6
WW Points: approximately 3–4 Points per serving

Ingredients

  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cooked and shredded
  • ½ cup plain 0% Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons light mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ¾ cup celery, finely diced
  • ½ cup red onion, finely diced
  • ¼ cup dried cranberries
  • 2 tablespoons pecans, finely chopped
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, light mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
  2. Add the shredded chicken, celery, red onion, dried cranberries, and chopped pecans.
  3. Stir gently until everything is well coated.
  4. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
  5. Serve over lettuce, in a low-point wrap, or on whole-grain toast.

Tip: Using only 2 tablespoons of pecans and ¼ cup of cranberries keeps the classic cranberry-pecan flavor while cutting a lot of Points.

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