Description
Holiday Chicken Salad is a creamy and satisfying dish made with tender cooked chicken, crunchy vegetables, sweet dried cranberries, and toasted pecans. Everything is brought together with a smooth, lightly spiced mayonnaise dressing that delivers comfort and balance in every bite. This recipe is easy to prepare, ideal for make ahead meals, and works well for lunches, light dinners, or gatherings. The flavors improve as it chills, making it both convenient and delicious.
Ingredients
Cooked chicken breast, cubed into bite size pieces
Full fat mayonnaise
Paprika
Seasoning salt
Dried cranberries
Celery, finely chopped
Green onions, thinly sliced
Green bell pepper, minced
Pecans, roughly chopped
Ground black pepper
Instructions
1. Prepare the cooked chicken by cutting it into evenly sized cubes and set it aside
2. In a medium bowl, mix the mayonnaise with paprika and seasoning salt until smooth and evenly blended
3. Stir the dried cranberries into the dressing so they become lightly coated
4. Add the chopped celery, green bell pepper, and green onions and mix gently to distribute evenly
5. Fold in the chopped pecans, keeping them chunky for texture
6. Add the cubed chicken and gently fold until all pieces are well coated with the dressing
7. Season with ground black pepper to taste and adjust seasoning if needed
8. Cover the salad and refrigerate until chilled and flavors are well combined
9. Stir gently before serving to refresh the texture
Notes
Use fully cooled chicken before mixing to maintain a thick and creamy dressing
Chilling the salad improves flavor and texture, so do not skip this step
Ingredient amounts can be adjusted based on personal taste preferences
If the salad thickens too much after refrigeration, stir in a small amount of mayonnaise to loosen it
This recipe is best enjoyed fresh and should be kept refrigerated when not serving
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American