Chicken Pecan Salad (Printable)
Tender chicken, crunchy pecans, crisp celery, and a creamy dressing combine for a fresh, satisfying dish.
# What You Need:
→ Protein
01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
→ Nuts
02 - 1/2 cup pecan halves, toasted and roughly chopped
→ Vegetables & Fruit
03 - 1 cup celery, finely diced
04 - 1/2 cup red grapes, halved
05 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
→ Dressing
06 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
07 - 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt (optional, can substitute with additional mayonnaise)
08 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
09 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
10 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Garnish
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
# How-To Steps:
01 - In a large mixing bowl, mix together the cooked chicken, toasted pecans, celery, grapes, and red onion.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until smooth.
03 - Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Taste the salad and add additional salt or pepper as desired.
05 - Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the salad before serving. Chill and enjoy as a main dish or alongside lettuce leaves, croissants, or bread.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- It comes together in thirty-five minutes and tastes like you spent all morning in the kitchen.
- The toasted pecans give you that satisfying crunch that makes eating salad feel like a real meal, not a sacrifice.
- It's flexible enough to throw in apples if you have them, or grab rotisserie chicken when you're tired.
02 -
- Toasting your own pecans instead of using raw ones changes the entire character of the salad; it's not optional, and it takes only two minutes in a dry skillet.
- Don't dress the salad too far in advance if you're using fresh vegetables—it'll wilt if it sits in the dressing longer than an hour, but it's still delicious, just softer.
03 -
- Toast your pecans while you're chopping vegetables, and the smell alone will make you excited to eat what you're making.
- Use a rotisserie chicken to cut your hands-on time in half, and nobody will notice the difference—convenience never meant you cared less.