This simple cranberry chicken salad with almonds is decorated with a tangy, lightly sweet poppy seed dressing. For a delicious meal, stack them up into buttery croissants with crispy lettuce.
This cranberry chicken salad has been a favorite of many years. With almonds, crunchy bits of celery, sweet tart dried cranberries and light and lovely poppy seeds dressing, it steals my heart every time I make it.
This recipe is a great spot on for Easter and Mother’s Day brunch and lunch menus. Or stack this delicious chicken salad on a croissant for a delicious lunch or light dinner anytime.
The recipes containing poppy seeds seem to be springy and perfect for serving at Easter. My recipes like my lemon almond poppy seed muffins, fruit salad with creamy poppy seed dressing, and lemon coconut poppy seed cakes have spring written on top of it!
Ingredient Notes
For chicken salads: When making chicken salads, you can’t beat the price and ease of store-bought rotisserie chicken. You will also need finely diced red onions, diced celery, dried cranberries (such as claycin), and slivered almonds. Poppy Seed Dressing: The creamy base for the dressing consists of mayonnaise (I use olive oil mayonnaise), fat-free Greek yogurt and milk. It’s lightly sweet with granulated sugar and apple vinegar. Poppy seeds, dried mustard, onion powder, garlic, powder, salt and freshly ground black pepper finish it.
How to make cranberry chicken salad
Combine all the dressing ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk to mix. Add the dressing to the chicken salad ingredients and toss until the dressing is fully incorporated. If you prefer non-creamy consistency, you can add additional chicken.
This salad is delicious immediately after mixing, covering, or refrigerating until ready. Refrigerate in an airtight container and it will remain fresh and delicious for 3-4 days.
Variations
Protein Swap: For turkey cranberry salads, use shredded or chopped turkey instead of chicken (perfect for Thanksgiving leftovers!).
Nut: Exchange almonds with toasted pecans or walnuts to give them a slightly different flavor.
Fruit: Diced apples and grapes add sweetness and texture.
Provide suggestions
Sandwiches or Wrap: It’s absolutely delicious for little croissants, but I also love it with a lightly toasted sliced sourdough or slider roll with green leaf lettuce or spring green. Alternatively, roll it up with lettuce and thinly sliced tomatoes in tortilla or low-carb wrap.
Together with Greens: Serve chicken salad on a fresh mixed green bed for a light, healthy meal. Or, scoop up into Belgian endive lettuce leaves for a crispy lettuce wrap. My favourite!
Use Crackers or Crostini: To prepare a simple party appetizer, we offer a chicken salad along with a selection of crackers or toasted baguette slices.
Chicken salad recipes you’ll love
We love the chicken salad in this house and adore all of the recipes listed below. Please give it a try!
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Cranberry Chicken Salad
This simple cranberry chicken salad with almonds is decorated with a tangy, lightly sweet poppy seed dressing. For a delicious meal, stack them up into buttery croissants with crispy lettuce.
material
Poppy seed dressing
Instructions
Combine all the dressing ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and whisk to mix.
In a large bowl, mix the chicken, onion, celery, cranberries and almonds in 2½ cups and add the dressing until fully incorporated. Add chicken if necessary for a less creamy consistency.
Wrap in croissants, lightly toasted bread, slider rolls, or lettuce leaves.
Note
Storage: This salad is delicious immediately after mixing, covering, or refrigerating until ready. Refrigerate in an airtight container and it will remain fresh and delicious for 3-4 days.
nutrition
calorie: 318 kcal ・ carbohydrates: 12 g ・ protein: 9 g ・ fat: 26 g ・ Saturated fat: 4 g ・ Polyunsaturated fat: 14 g ・ January Saturated Fat: 7 g ・ Trans Fat: 0.1 g ・ cholesterol: 30 mg ・ sodium: 307 mg ・ potassium: 181 mg ・ fiber: 2 g ・ sugar: 9 g ・ Vitamin A: 68 iu ・ Vitamin C: 1 mg ・ calcium: 71 mg ・ iron: 1 mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using common ingredients and is an estimate rather than a guarantee. See the home ingredients label for more accurate results.
This post was originally published on March 31, 2017. Updated with new text and images.
(TagStoTRASSLATE) Chicken
