This easy healthy chicken salad recipe with pecans and cranberries takes just minutes to whip up and makes the perfect entree, appetizer, or snack. It’s gluten free and dairy free too. Jump to Recipe
One of the things that comes along with moving is restocking the pantry. Of course, I hauled over a cooler of snacks the very first day we had keys to the house, but since we couldn’t actually move in for a few weeks after that, I impatiently waited to do a full re-stock.
We didn’t move that far, but I’m still learning the area and what’s closest to us. First up: grocery stores.
The prices at the first one I checked out were pleasantly surprising, especially the produce section, and though not super extensive, I was impressed with the gluten-free/allergy-friendly sections. I saw one right off the bat when we walked in the door and found another mid-way through our journey. As much as I like seeing gluten-free options on the shelves right along side everything else, it’s nice and convenient to be able to go to one section and grab and go instead of hunting.
Food Lion also has a new online recipe portal that was helpful for coming up with ideas for some meals to cook in our first week in our new home. I’m used to having staples in the kitchen, so it was a good reminder of what I needed to toss in the cart for this first big shopping trip. The portal is easy to navigate, user-friendly, and has a good variety of ideas. I jotted down some gluten-free cinnamon rolls, paleo zucchini muffins, and pesto pizza rolls for the husband.
I’ve also contributed to the recipe portal with one of my favorite grocery store deli counter inspired options: cranberry pecan chicken salad.
Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe with Pecans and Cranberries {Gluten Free, Dairy Free}
Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 1 rotisserie chicken shredded
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 T minced parsley
- 1/4 tsp apple cider vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
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Combine mayonnaise, honey, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar. Set aside.
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Combine chicken, cranberries, pecans, celery, and parsley.
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Mix in mayo mixture.
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Add salt and pepper to taste.
I love using rotisserie chickens because they’re already cooked and ready to go, plus they have a ton of flavor, but feel free to use any kind of chicken you have.
This healthy chicken salad recipe is one of my favorite easy recipes for the whole family, especially because it’s on of the few “normal” entrees my three year old eats without complaining. The secret to all things toddler food: Craisins. Shh don’t tell.
So next time you’re looking for an easy chicken salad recipe, try this. I like making a big batch at the beginning of the week and snacking on it for a few days. We use it as a sandwich filler, an appetizer served with tortilla chips, and a green salad topper, although most of the time we eat it right out of the bowl with a fork.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Click here for more Gluten Free Dairy Free Recipes that won’t leave you trapped in the kitchen for hours or hunting down a million bizarre ingredients.
