Healthy Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad

Name: Healthy Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt; 1/4 cup mayonnaise; 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar; 1 tablespoon honey; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder; 2 cups diced cooked chicken; 2 stalks celery (diced); 1/3 cup dried cranberries; 1/3 cup chopped walnuts; 1/4 cup sliced green onion

Make the most of your leftover chicken with this easy and healthy cranberry walnut chicken salad! It’s perfectly sweet and crunchy and made with Greek yogurt for a creamy high protein quick lunch or dinner option. Can be made in less than 15 minutes and great for meal prep! {Gluten-free}

Cranberry walnut chicken salad served in a seeded bun.

Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe – So Light & Easy!

If lunch is usually a bit of an afterthought for you, then this cranberry walnut chicken salad recipe will be a total game changer! I love making up a batch on the weekend, and having it ready to enjoy throughout the week for fuss free lunches (or dinners) that the whole family enjoys.

Not to mention, this chicken salad is super easy to make and full of texture and flavour from the crunchy walnuts and sweet cranberries.

It also has a deliciously creamy dressing, but is lower in saturated fat and calories compared to your traditional chicken salad.

Pile it onto sandwiches or lettuce wraps for the ultimate yummy and satisfying meal!

For more healthy chicken salad recipes, be sure to try my Chicken Salad with Grapes and Almonds and Thai Mango Chicken Salad too!

Overhead shot of cranberry chicken salad served on a bun on a white plate..

Why We Love This Recipe

Quick and easy: Made from scratch with a few simple pantry staple ingredients, this salad can be prepped in less than 15 minutes. Makes for such an easy meal!

Versatile: I love this simple chicken salad recipe because there are so many different ways to enjoy it. Serve it up on sandwiches, wraps or with crackers for a quick and satisfying meal!

Make ahead: This cranberry chicken salad is perfect for meal prep! Make up a big batch and enjoy it for easy lunches or dinners when you’re short on time.

Ingredients

Greek yogurt and mayonnaise: I like to use a mix of yogurt and mayo for the salad dressing. It’s still really creamy, but the yogurt helps to lower the amount of fat and calories, while adding a nice tanginess. Use plain 0% or 2% plain Greek yogurt and reduced or full-fat mayo.
Apple cider vinegar: The acid helps to cut through the richness of the mayo. Rice wine or white wine vinegar can also be used.
Honey: To add some additional sweetness to the dressing.
Seasonings: Salt, pepper and garlic powder provide extra flavour to the chicken salad.
Chicken: Use cooked chicken for this recipe. You can use leftover, or quickly cook some up to use. Thighs and breasts both work great.
Celery: Diced celery adds a fresh and crunchy texture.
Cranberries: Dried cranberries incorporate a nice sweet tanginess to each bite. Look for naturally sweetened or unsweetened cranberries if possible.
Walnuts: Chopped walnuts add a great flavour and texture, while incorporating some healthy fats.
Green onion: I love to add green onions to this chicken salad. You can skip it if you prefer, or add diced red onion for a sharper taste.

How to Cook Chicken for Chicken Salad

If you don’t have leftover chicken to use, you can quickly cook up some chicken breasts or thighs for the salad.

I prefer to oven bake them for ease and also find that it results in more juicy and tender chicken.

Chicken breasts should be tossed in some oil, salt and pepper, then baked in a dish at 350F for around 25 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 165F when a meat thermometer is inserted into the thickest part. Thighs will take about 5 minutes longer to cook through.

You can also grill or poach the chicken, or cook it in the slow cooker or pressure cooker if preferred.

How to Make Healthy Chicken Salad – Step-by-Step Instructions

Ingredients for the chicken salad in a bowl.

In a small bowl, whisk the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, vinegar, honey, salt, pepper and garlic powder together until well blended.
Add the diced chicken, celery, dried cranberries, walnuts and green onion to a large bowl.
Add the dressing to chicken mixture and toss gently to combine.
If you have time, cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Tips for the Best Chicken Salad

Allow it to sit: This salad tastes best once it’s had a chance to sit for a few hours and absorb all of the flavours. It tastes even better the next day!

Preparing chicken: You can use diced or shredded chicken for the purpose of this recipe. It’s a great way to use up that leftover chicken. If you’re really short on time, you can also use a store-bought rotisserie chicken.

Allow chicken to cool: If cooking chicken to make this recipe, allow it to fully cool before mixing with the other ingredients.

Store in refrigerator: Once made, the salad should be refrigerated. It shouldn’t sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

Cranberry chicken salad served in a bread roll with lettuce.

Storage Guidelines

Refrigerator: Once made, store the salad covered in the fridge or in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.

Chicken Salad Nutrition Facts

If you’re curious about the nutritional information for this chicken salad, you can see the values per serving below:

Calories: 250 calories
Protein: 21 grams
Fat: 12 grams
Carbohydrates: 18 grams
Fibre: 2 grams
Sugar: 14 grams
Vitamin A: 184 IU
Vitamin C: 2mg
Calcium 47mug
Iron: 1mg

Recipe FAQs

Is chicken salad healthy?

Not all chicken salads are created equally as some can contain high amounts of saturated fat, sodium and calories. This chicken salad is lighter than most recipes as it swaps half of the mayonnaise (or sour cream) for Greek yogurt which is lower in saturated fat and calories. It’s also a good source of protein and healthy fats, while being rich in fibre from the veggies, cranberries and walnuts. A healthier alternative to lunch meats!

Can you freeze chicken salad?

This chicken salad recipe is not suitable for freezing. It contains dairy which can become grainy in texture when frozen and thawed.

Why is my chicken salad watery?

For best results, your chicken should be cold when you add it in with the other ingredients. If it’s still warm after cooking, it can split the mayonnaise which can cause it to become oily. Hot chicken will also steam creating more moisture.

A spoon in a bowl of cranberry walnut chicken salad.

Serving Suggestions

There are a number of ways to serve up this easy chicken salad.

Serve it:

On a bed of romaine lettuce
In lettuce cups
On a croissant
On a bun or between two slices of bread for chicken salad sandwiches
On toast
In pita pockets or on pita bread
On a bagel (try this low carb bagel!)
With crackers
In a wrap

What Goes Well with Chicken Salad

This healthy cranberry walnut chicken salad is great in sandwiches, but you can also serve it alongside your favourite salads and sides for a bigger feast. It’s a great option for potlucks and gatherings!

Try serving it with:

Recipe Ideas & Variations

Switch up the meat: Try subbing in diced leftover turkey instead of the chicken breast.
Try different nuts: Use pecans or sliced or slivered almonds instead of walnuts.
For toasted flavour: Use toasted walnuts for more depth of flavour.
Add fruit: Try adding in some diced apple or halved grapes.
Add extra veggies: Diced bell peppers, red onion, or finely diced carrot would also work well.
Make it vegetarian: Swap out the cooked chicken for hard-boiled eggs.
Make it dairy-free: Use a plant-based Greek yogurt and mayonnaise.

Cranberry chicken salad served on a whole grain bun on a white plate.

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