Creamy Cranberry-Walnut Chicken Salad

Creamy Cranberry-Walnut Chicken Salad will be your new favorite healthy, high-protein lunch! Layered with dried cranberries, red onion, celery, walnuts, Greek yogurt, and mayo, this quick and easy recipe is perfect for meal prep. Serve it with crackers, lettuce wraps, or piled on top of whole grain bread.

If you love chicken salad as much as I do, you must make this Creamy Cranberry-Walnut Chicken Salad. It’s a fun and flavorful play on a classic chicken salad that offers a delicious balance of sweet and savory flavors.

Simple, nutritious, high-protein lunch ideas are a must when you want to create healthy eating habits. I love that this chicken salad packs 25 grams of protein per serving (thanks to the chicken and Greek yogurt!) and takes just 10 minutes to make. It’s such a total win-win!

ARE YOU OBSESSED WITH CHICKEN SALAD? SAME! That’s why I have so many Clean & Delicious chicken salad recipes for you! Here are a few of my absolute favorites: Avocado Chicken Salad, Sonoma Chicken Salad, Waldorf Chicken Salad, and Chicken Tabouli Salad. I also make a delightful tuna salad, lol – in case you are wondering.😉

Ingredients needed

Simple and fresh, this chicken salad recipe is made with wholesome ingredients, many of which you may have on hand. Cook your shredded chicken beforehand, or purchase a rotisserie chicken for convenience. Here is everything you’ll need:

• Greek yogurt: To dress the salad, use plain Greek yogurt. This will keep the salad lower in fat and calories while adding an extra protein boost. I like 2% Greek yogurt – but no-fat and full-fat would also work.
• Mayonnaise: I love real mayo, and just two tablespoons combined with the Greek yogurt creates a great balance of flavor and nutritional balance.
• Lemon juice: Use freshly squeezed lemon juice to lift the flavors.
• Honey: Adds just a hint of sweetness and rounds out the flavors.
• Sea salt and black pepper: Always!
• Chicken breast: You’ll need 2 cups (340 grams) of either chopped or shredded chicken breast (skin and bones removed!). Canned chicken can work if needed!
• Dried cranberries: Adds a bit of chewy sweetness – creating a sweet and savory salad.
• Red onion: I love it for its color, texture, and balance. White onion or scallions would also work, so use what you have.
• Celery: Crunchy and refreshing.
• Walnuts: Many people opt for pecans, but I love the combination of walnuts and cranberries – they are a match made in heaven.
• For serving: Serve with your choice of lettuce leaves, sandwich bread, or crackers. Butter lettuce is my personal favorite.

How to make this recipe

Mix this cranberry chicken salad up in less than 10 minutes! There’s minimal chopping needed, so it is a really quick and easy recipe – promise.

Helpful tips

• Chicken: I like using my slow cooker shredded chicken breast for the chicken, but you can also use baked chicken breasts or shredded rotisserie chicken to save time.
• Mayo/Greek yogurt: Use as much or as little of the mayo and Greek yogurt as you’d like. Sometimes, I make this with all Greek yogurt or all mayo. All the varieties work, so choose which aligns with your personal health and wellness goals.
• Toast the nuts: For extra flavor, toast the walnuts. Add them to a pan and place over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 2-5 minutes until they are slightly golden and fragrant. Remove from heat and allow them to cool before adding them to the salad.
• Chill in the fridge: Letting it chill for at least 30 minutes before serving will allow the flavors to meld and intensify – but have no doubt – it’s also delicious when eaten immediately.

Variations

One of my favorite things about cranberry-walnut chicken salad is how many ways you can change up the recipe to fit your preference! Here are some ideas:

• Fruit: Try something new by replacing the dried cranberries with chopped grapes or apples.
• Nuts: Walnuts are great, but pecans, almonds, or cashews would be good swaps.
• Greek yogurt: Full-fat yogurt will create a richer dressing, but low-fat or non-fat varieties work great too.
• Serving: There are so many different ways to serve chicken salad, from straight out of the bowl to spooning it onto a whole grain wrap or sandwich bread. It’s also really good on sliced cucumber!

WATCH MY CRANBERRY CHICKEN RECIPE VIDEO

More healthy lunch recipes

• Canned Salmon Salad
• Easy Broccoli and Chicken Quesadillas
• Buffalo Chicken Brown Rice Bowls
• Tuna Pasta Salad