If you are a classic chicken salad lover Cranberry Chicken Salad is a must make! Tender chicken, sweet cranberries, crunchy celery and almonds, tart apple make a creamy Cranberry Chicken Salad you’ll love.
Delicious cranberry chicken salad is a great variation on regular chicken salad. Using simple ingredients it takes chicken up a notch adding sweet and tangy flavors.
It’s a great recipe for what we think is the best chicken salad. It has sweetness, crunch, some tang and tartness too. It’s a simple recipe that’s perfect for making chicken salad sandwiches, a quick snack or easy dinners in the summer.
I discovered this chicken salad at an upscale grocery store in Northern California decades ago and it was love at first bite. The store has since gone under but the Cranberry Chicken Salad lives on in our house.
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Recipe Ingredients Notes
Cooked chicken. The recipe requires 2 cups of chilled chopped pre-cooked chicken. I use cooked chicken breast but chicken thighs (or a mix of white and dark meat) could be used too.
Rotisserie chicken, leftover roast chicken, poached chicken or homemade chicken can be used. Our shredded chicken recipe is perfect; just do the first step of cooking the boneless skinless chicken breasts then cube it, do not shred.
Dried cranberries. You’ll need sweetened dried cranberries. Unsweetened dried cranberries are too tart for this recipe.
Slivered almonds. These will be rough chopped before starting the recipe.
Granny Smith apple. This adds some sweet and tart flavors to the chicken salad.
Celery. Chopped celery is a classic ingredient adding some crunch.
Mayonnaise. We use full fat mayonnaise though light mayonnaise can also be used.
Variations
- Add some onion. Chopped red onion or sliced green onions can be added for some zesty onion flavors.
- Change the nuts. You can change up the nuts for crunchy pecans or walnuts for cranberry walnut chicken salad or cranberry pecan chicken salad!
- Add some curry powder. For curry chicken salad stir in some curry powder.
- Make it creamier. The amount of mayonnaise used binds the ingredients well however if you love a super creamy easy chicken salad stir in an additional 1/4 cup.
- Substitute leftover turkey. A perfect way to use up holiday turkey!
How to Make it
Printable recipe card at the end of the post.
Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl (except the salt and pepper).
Mix to fully combine. Salt and pepper to taste.
Pro Tips
Keep it cold. This easy cranberry chicken salad recipe should be kept cold. Any salad with mayonnaise should not be left out more than two hours and less if it’s hot outside. Keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
How to serve it
Sandwich. Serve on your favorite bread or a croissant for a delicious sandwich. You can add some lettuce too.
Lettuce wrap. It’s completely refreshing in summer as a wrap. Swap the slices of bread for lettuce leaves, roll it up or fold and enjoy for a quick lunch.
On greens. A large scoop on a bed of fresh lettuce leaves is a great way to enjoy a satisfying light meal.
How to store it
Store any leftover chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! This healthy chicken salad recipe is meant to be eaten cold.
Unfortunately no, freezing is not recommended.
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Recipe
Cranberry Chicken Salad with almonds and apple
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked chilled chicken preferably roasted and cooled to room temperature or chilled, chopped into bite size chunks
- 1/2 cup dried sweetened cranberries
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds rough chopped
- 1/2 cup Granny Smith apple peeled, cored and finely chopped
- 1/2 cup celery finely chopped
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a large bowl (except salt and pepper).3 cups cooked chilled chicken, 1/2 cup dried sweetened cranberries, 1/2 cup slivered almonds, 1/2 cup Granny Smith apple, 1/2 cup celery, 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- Salt and pepper to your personal taste. Pile on slices of your favorite sandwich bread or on fresh lettuce and dig in!Salt and pepper to taste
Notes
- Add some onion. Chopped red onion or sliced green onions can be added for some zesty onion flavors.
- Change the nuts. You can change up the nuts for crunchy pecans or walnuts for cranberry walnut chicken salad or cranberry pecan chicken salad!
- Add some curry powder. For curry chicken salad stir in some curry powder.
- Make it creamier. The amount of mayonnaise used binds the ingredients well however if you love a super creamy easy chicken salad stir in an additional 1/4 cup.
- Substitute leftover turkey. A perfect way to use up holiday turkey!
Nutrition
Originally published: June 19, 2012
Cindy says
I used to eat American cheese, green pepper and ketchup sandwiches. I think I'd rather have some of your chicken salad now! Cindy's Recipes and Writings
Boulder Locavore says
Another sandwich I've never heard of! I'm sticking with you on the Chicken Salad now! Despite adoring my sandwich as a child, not sure I could stomach it now!
Beach House Living says
I like the chicken and cranberry salad not so sure about that other one you described.
Boulder Locavore says
I think this post has offered a number of flashback sandwiches that sound perfect for a 'culinary dare'!
Sweet Poppy Cat says
My favorite sandwich as a kid was peanut butter, mayonnaise and bologna. I was a totally picky kid too and wouldn't try much but for some reason I tried it and loved it, not sure why my mother would have ever made it for me in the first place. Although her favorite sandwich was liverwurst and raspberry jam so I guess I just figured it out 🙂
Boulder Locavore says
Very funny! I can't imagine combining bologna and PB either but clearly from the sandwich confessions it was a time with a different palate! I have not thought of liverwurst for more years than I care to admit!
Tiff @ Love Sweat and Beers says
I don't know about pb&mayo or lettuce & sugar, but I'm all about that chicken salad. Yum!
Boulder Locavore says
The lettuce with sugar sandwich reminded me of my mom putting butter and sugar on white rice when I was a kid. Not as a dessert but as a dinner side dish. A memory blocked from my consciousness (with good reason). Glad times have changed and you won't be disappointed with the Chicken Salad!
Cucina49 says
Wow, that chicken salad is gorgeous and not overly mayonaisey. I swam as a teenager in the summer too–your post is making me nostalgic!
Boulder Locavore says
On the swimmming I will say it does bring back alot of memories to watch children do it! I recall trying out for our neighborhood pool team between 3rd and 5th grade; diving straight into the outdoor pool early in the morning and it was completely freezing leaving me seizing for breath! Also at that time people ate jello mix (unmade) for 'energy'. Well of course we now know it was colored sugar basically. Always at a meet some kid would dump their jello into the pool leaving a colored, gelatinous glob floating underwater like an alien!
Luscious Delights says
All of these elements look so refreshing, I can't wait to try them for myself
Boulder Locavore says
Your hit the nail on the head; they ARE all completely refreshing. Hope you'll enjoy them too!
Elisabeth says
Toni, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your memorable childhood story in your post. Takes me back to my childhood days, of “schmalz” sandwich…actually just on one piece of bread. My mom used to render chicken fat and saved it in a jar in the fridge, and re-use to cook with it. I loved it on a piece of fresh home baked bread slice. If that isn't strange, I don't know what is!
Your photos, are lovely, as always, I love your chicken salad…I haven't made it like this in ages; although I did have a very similar recipe, and it called for curry powder, as well! The lemonade cocktail is awesome, and refreshing…love the pretty glasses!
Boulder Locavore says
I love knowing about YOUR favorite sandwich Elisabeth! Do you ever make them now? I'm not sure why we loved them so but never make them for ourselves as adults?! I just flashed on my mother keeping bacon fat in an empty tin can to add back into other dishes. Funny how the tides have turned out of favor of those practices too.
I think I've had a similar chicken salad as you describe and it was delicious. We in Colorado DO get temps in the 90's but usually more of a handful of days in August. This heat is making me want simple, cool food with little seasoning. Hope you are beating the heat as a heat-veteran in Florida! This cocktail would definitely help out! Thanks for popping by Elisabeth. Always love hearing from you!
Anna G says
Why yes … it's a bit warm here in Boulder! We just moved here but I grew up on the Monterey Peninsula — we absolutely love it here but your post made me a little homesick. 🙂
The local markets were wonderful back then — I miss Troia's …
Chicken salad sounds perfect for tonight … with the Lemon vodka straight up!
Boulder Locavore says
Welcome to Boulder! I must admit this is by far the hottest June I've experienced in the 10+ years we've been here. It's beastly and frankly makes me wonder what to expect for August temps when it is in the mid 90's several times this week!
I love the Monterey Penninsula. In the 60's my grandparents built a house in Pebble Beach before it had the prestige it does now. We'd visit in the summer and I have so many memories of the beach and the surroundings. Little restaurants in Carmel. Monarch butterflies in Pacfic Grove. It's endless. When my grandmother passed away, the latest of the two of them I recall feeling that broke a tie I'd had to that area for years. It was like losing a friend to know I would not have a regular need to visit. I'm thinking this is probably really helping out your homesickness! Sorry!
I miss all the little markets that have gone by the wayside though that interest seems back so maybe new ones will pop up. I'm pleased to shop at a darling small market in North Boulder that features lots of organics (without feeling like a health food store, now having a farm that supplies them, real butchers you can consult with, great high end and novelty products as well as fabulous customer service (Lucky's Market if you are interested). It's close to my neighborhood so it has a bit of that nostalgic feeling to 'shop small and local'.
Please enjoy a lemony cocktail with lots of ice tonight!
Anna G says
Toni — Yes! … We've been to Lucky's — love it! 🙂
Brooks says
Toni, It's been a long while since I've visited here…the makeover of your place is lovely! I can't say, however, which looks more refreshing — the swim, the chicken salad, or the summer lemonade cocktail. The best bet is all three, and the bright, sunny imagery of this post will leave positively indelible memories on your readers AND your children. Brava!
Boulder Locavore says
Brooks! So great to have a visit from you! Funny you'd pop in on a post talking about my G'parents again sharing your locality. You must be psychic. I popped onto your website and it's spectacular! I'm so delighted you pursued taking your craft 'public' in a different way. I'm sure you have elevated so many people's events with your incredible cakes! Please don't be a stranger.
adventuresomekitchen says
Love seeing the pics of your little swimmers! I remember eating peanutbutter and pickle sandwiches with my grandma when I was little.
I think the chix salad will have to make an appearance in our picnic basket next weekend when we hit the KC Shakespeare festival- a yearly tradition for us out here..It looks perfect!
Boulder Locavore says
Aww, thanks Jennifer. I also ate Peanut Butter and Raisin sandwiches and someone told me about PB and Bacon. Funny those sandwiches we ate!
I think you'd love the Chicken Salad. I love the moistness of the chicken chunks, the sweet cranberries and the texture. The festival sound like great fun. Hope you'll post about it!