Description

A refreshing and flavorful Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad combining tender shredded chicken, crisp celery, sweet green apple, tart dried cranberries, and toasted walnuts all brought together with a zesty lemon mayonnaise dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or party appetizer served on toast or crackers.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

3 cups shredded chicken (rotisserie or cooked and diced)
1 cup diced celery
1 green apple, diced
1/2 cup dried cranberries (such as Craisins)
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Dressing

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Instructions

Toast Walnuts: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread the chopped walnuts on a baking sheet and bake for 5-8 minutes until they become toasty and start to brown slightly on the edges, enhancing their flavor and crunch.
Prepare Dressing: While the walnuts toast, whisk together the mayonnaise and freshly squeezed lemon juice in a small bowl. Add salt, pepper, and onion powder, mixing well to create a smooth, tangy dressing. Set this aside.
Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, diced celery, diced green apple, dried cranberries, and toasted walnuts. Pour the prepared dressing over the mixture and toss thoroughly until everything is evenly coated with the dressing.
Chill and Serve: The salad can be served immediately or chilled in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour to allow the flavors to meld beautifully. Serve atop toast or with crackers for a delicious and satisfying meal or snack.

Notes

For added flavor, you can toast the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat if you prefer not to use the oven.
Using rotisserie chicken saves time and adds great flavor, but cooked shredded chicken breast works well too.
Chilling the salad before serving helps the dressing and flavors meld better.
This salad is great for meal prepping—store it in an airtight container up to 3 days in the fridge.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: cranberry walnut chicken salad, chicken salad, cranberry chicken salad, walnut chicken salad, easy chicken salad, rotisserie chicken salad, healthy chicken salad