If you love your chicken salad creamy, crunchy, and just a little bit sweet, this cranberry walnut version is about to become your new favorite. Juicy shredded chicken gets tossed with plump dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, crisp apple, and celery in a light Greek yogurt dressing. It’s quick to prep, meal-prep friendly, and satisfying every time!

A large bowl of creamy chicken salad topped with diced apples, celery, dried cranberries, and walnuts.

5 star review

“Shredding the chicken with a hand mixer is life changing. What an easy hack! And the recipe is delicious and easy. Just made my second batch. ”

– Lisa
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The Ultimate In Simple: Chicken Salad with Cranberries is IT!

Okay, let’s talk about this simple chicken salad. Honestly, I have been loving this creamy chicken salad with Greek yogurt for my workday lunches. Annnnnd my whole family has been asking for it again and again as a chicken salad sandwich on sourdough bread (lightly toasted please), slathered with extra mayo; or topping greens for the ultimate chicken salad dinner. Just don’t forget the chips on the side!

Now, are you ready for my hot take? Chicken salads are so underrated for dinner! I currently have this recipe and my grape & almond chicken salad on rotation! They’re much easier to make than you’d think, and while they make the absolute best meal-prep lunch, when piled high on your favorite bread it makes the best short-cut dinner or busy weeknights. I truly can’t wait for you to try this version that I’m absolutely obsessing over. Pssst: the whole chicken + fruit combo is truly a winner, and one of the most delicious sweet-and-savory combos in the whole world, so if you love it too, you’ve gotta try my apple chicken skillet after you make this chicken salad.

Bowls of shredded chicken, nuts, salt, pepper, mayonnaise, yogurt, and cranberries, next to celery, and apple, and half an onion.
Ingredients You’ll Need: Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, shredded chicken, celery, apple, onion, dried cranberries, walnuts.

Welcome to My Kitchen! Let’s Make Chicken Salad with Cranberries

Jump to Recipe Instructions
Cooked chicken being shredded in a stand mixer.
Optional: shred the chicken in a stand mixer
A hand whisking apple cider vinegar, Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and mustard in a mixing bowl.
Mix the yogurt, mayo, mustard, salt, pepper & vinegar.
A hand whisking a light, creamy yogurt and mayonnaise mixture in a glass mixing bowl.
Whisk until it’s creamy.
A hand mixing apples, onion, celery, dried cranberries, walnuts, and shredded chicken in a mixing bowl with a large spoon.
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.
Creamy chicken salad with apples, celery, and cranberries in a glass bowl with a large spoon.
Mix until it’s well-combined.
A shallow pink bowl filled with creamy chicken salad topped with cranberries and walnuts.
Top with additional cranberries + walnuts.
Leafy greens in a shallow bowl topped with a creamy shredded chicken salad.
Serve over greens for chicken salad.
A hand lifting one half of a chicken salad sandwich off a wood cutting board.
Spread onto bread with lettuce for a sandwich.

How I Simplified It

Chicken salad really can’t get any simpler with a max of 10 minutes to prep and 5 minutes to put together! I’m telling you, this is such a delicious and easy no-cook dinner that you can turn into sandwiches for lunch the next day. That’s right, we’re making dinner AND lunch all in one go! And with the help of rotisserie chicken, this salad comes together in under 15 minutes (thank you, store bought rotisserie chicken!) If you only have raw chicken though, my slow cooker chicken is perfect in this dish.

A creamy chicken salad topped with cranberries and walnuts on a few handfuls of small leafy greens.

Testing Tips to Make the Best Chicken Salad

  • I recommend the celery and apples really finely.
  • Finely mince the onion as small as you can get it – you don’t want a big bite of raw onion!
  • Coarsely chop the nuts to add a wonderful crunchy texture in each bite.
  • How fine you shred your chicken will make ALL the difference. Finely shredded chicken makes this salad extra elevated. I tested multiple ways to shred the meat, and I found that if you have an extra moment, beating it with a stand mixer or hand mixer really elevates it. It’ll soak up more sauce and the other ingredients will shine through.
Two thick sandwiches filled with leafy greens and creamy chicken salad stack on top of each other.
A large bowl of creamy chicken salad topped with diced apples, celery, dried cranberries, and walnuts.
5 stars (1 rating)

Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad (Creamy, Crunchy & Make-Ahead!)

Developed and tested by A woman with long blonde hair, smiling, holds and pours a bottle of oil in a modern kitchen setting.Robyn Conley Downs
Servings: 4 servings
Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Creamy cranberry walnut chicken salad with Greek yogurt, crisp apple, and toasted nuts is fresh, crunchy, and perfect for a quick make-ahead lunch or easy light dinner.
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Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup low-fat Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons whole grain mustard
  • 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon fresh black pepper
  • 3 cups cooked shredded chicken, such as from a rotisserie chicken
  • 1 cup finely diced celery
  • 1 small sweet crisp apple, finely diced
  • 3 tablespoons minced white onion
  • ⅓ cup roughly chopped sweetened dried cranberries
  • 3 heaping tablespoons roughly chopped toasted walnuts

Instructions 

  • In a large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper until smooth.
  • Add the chicken, celery, apple, onion, cranberries, and walnuts, stirring to combine.
  • Taste, adjust seasoning if necessary, and serve immediately or refrigerate, covered, for up to 3-4 days.

Notes

  • How fine you shred your chicken will make ALL the difference. Finely shredded chicken makes this salad extra elevated. I tested multiple ways to shred the meat, and I found that if you have an extra moment, beating it with a stand mixer or hand mixer really elevates it. It’ll soak up more sauce and the other ingredients will shine through.
Course: Lunch, Salad
Cuisine: American

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1 (of 4), Calories: 301kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 35g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 93mg, Sodium: 409mg, Potassium: 400mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 13g, Vitamin A: 178IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 55mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition disclaimer
Did you make this recipe?If you do, be sure to share it on Instagram and tag me at @realfoodwholelife so I can see!

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