Chicken Salad with Cranberries and Walnuts

Level up your chicken salad game with this easy-to-make yet delicious chicken salad recipe studded with fruits and nuts. It’s a glorious combination of tender chicken, creamy dressing, crunchy walnuts, celery, and plenty of cranberries. It’s excellent in a sandwich or a wrap, and it can transform a simple salad into a stellar entree.

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What makes cranberry walnut chicken salad so good? 

Stop messing around with basic chicken salad. This cranberry walnut chicken salad recipe strikes the ideal balance between sweet and tangy flavors while offering a bit of crunch for a sophisticated sandwich option.

The addition of bouillon powder cranks up the chicken flavor, so there is plenty of savory goodness, while the mayo brings everything together. Chicken Salad with Cranberries and Walnuts is sure to become your go-to chicken salad recipe.  

Why you’ll love this recipe 

This chicken salad is perfect for any occasion. It’s not too fussy to take along with you for lunch, but it’s fancy enough to serve to guests. With everyday ingredients and simple prep, it comes together in minutes.

Since you can use any leftover chicken, it is a great way to avoid throwing out food. Save time and money with this chicken salad with Craisins without sacrificing style or flavor. 

Chicken Salad with Cranberries and Walnuts ingredients

For this cranberry walnut chicken salad recipe, you’ll need

• Raw chicken tenders, leftover cooked chicken, or rotisserie chicken
• Celery
• Walnuts, chopped 
• Dried cranberries
• Mayonnaise
• Chicken bouillon powder 
• Freshly ground black pepper 
• Salt 

How to make chicken salad with Craisins

To prepare this cranberry walnut chicken salad recipe:

1. If you are starting with raw chicken tenders, simmer them in chicken stock over medium heat in a covered pot for 30 minutes. Cool the chicken fully before continuing to make the recipe. 
2. Shred the cooked chicken and place it in a large mixing bowl. 
3. Thinly slice the celery and add to the mixing bowl with the cooked chicken.
4. Stir in the chopped walnuts, dried cranberries, mayonnaise, and chicken bouillon powder. 
5. Taste the chicken salad and adjust the seasoning with freshly ground black pepper and salt.
6. Transfer to an airtight container and chill in the fridge before using. 

How to serve this chicken salad with fruit and nuts

With a bowl of chicken salad in the fridge, you can make a variety of meals and have a ton of snacking options. Spread the chicken salad onto a lightly toasted buttery croissant and top with slices of tomato and shredded lettuce for a decadent sandwich.

Wrap it in lettuce leaves and enjoy yummy lettuce wraps for a quick lunch.

Or add a scoop or two to a lightly dressed mesclun salad for a quick and healthy dinner.

Want a quick bite? Top toasted bread rounds or crackers with the chicken salad for an easy and satisfying snack. 

Recipe variations 

Chicken salad is pretty flexible. Here are a few options you can use to switch things up. Feel free to comment with your favorite chicken salad add-ins. 

• Make Chicken Salad with Cranberries and Pecans instead. Pecans give the chicken salad an even more luxurious flavor with their buttery taste. Or substitute the walnuts with almonds.
• Swap the dried cranberries for dried cherries. Roughly chop pitted dried cherries and replace the cranberries with them for a bit of sweetness. 
• Add some fresh herbs. A tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley or a teaspoon of minced fresh tarragon will add a lot to the recipe. 

What to serve with chicken salad with cranberries

Tomato Soup. A bowl of tangy tomato soup contrasts nicely with the creaminess of a chicken salad. This Tomato Soup goes beyond typical recipes by roasting the tomatoes for a richer and sweeter flavor.

Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion Salad. Although this is an upscale version of chicken salad, it is still simple. That’s a good thing. And sometimes sticking to simple sides is a good thing, too. There is nothing easier to prepare than this Cracker Barrel Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion Salad, but the taste is super fresh and bright.  

Loaded Baked Potato Tots. Forget chips or fries. These from-scratch Cheesecake Factory Loaded Baked Potato Tots are where it’s at. Mashed potatoes are mixed with cheese, bacon bits, and minced green onions before being breaded and fried until crispy. You’ll never want to go back to bagged tots again!

How to store the chicken salad

You can keep chicken salad inside an airtight container in the fridge. While it is possible to freeze chicken salad, it is not recommended because mayonnaise does not freeze well. 

How long does chicken salad last?

Try to use up the last of the chicken salad within three days of making it. 

Need more ideas for chicken salad? Try these recipes!

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Check out more of my easy recipes for salads and the best chicken recipes on CopyKat!

Chicken Salad with Cranberries and Walnuts

Homemade Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad is great for sandwiches or served on top of lettuce.