Many holiday celebrations happen at dinner time. Many recipes therefor are for dinner meals. What about lunchtime recipes? This festive cranberry pecan chicken salad is a perfect choice for your lunchtime festivities!
I love to add different ingredients into chicken salad. Sweet and salty combos are the best! This particular recipe is perfect for the holidays not only because of the flavor, but also the colors.
Most of our family holiday celebrations happen at dinner time. Rarely are we together for lunch. On Christmas Day we are usually driving around lunchtime between my hubby’s parent’s home and my parent’s home. We eat breakfast so late at my in-law’s house there is no way lunch is going to be consumed. But what if you have a gathering at lunchtime and want salads and sandwiches instead of hot food?
Combining the flavors of the holiday and winter season is a great option. What says Fall/Winter more than cranberries and pecans? These ingredients also add an interesting texture and flavor combination to chicken salad. The colors are pretty too, which is a bonus.
Tips to make cranberry pecan chicken salad.
- You can easily make chicken salad with a store-made rotisserie chicken or cook your own chicken.
- I cook chicken breast in chicken broth over the stove top.
- This batch only used two large chicken breasts, but you can get about 8-10 1/2 cup servings out of the recipe.
- You can use Greek yogurt in place of half the mayonnaise in order to decrease the fat content.
For other Holiday recipe suggestions check out my Christmas Cheer Pinterest board.
Here are a few other lunchtime suggestions:

This cranberry pecan chicken salad is perfect for a holiday lunch.
- 2 large chicken breasts cooked and shredded
- 2 stalks of celery diced
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 3/4 cup low calorie mayonnaise or mayonnaise of your choice
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper.
- In a large bowl combine chicken, celery, onion, cranberries, and pecans.
- Stir to combine.
- Add into chicken salad mayonnaise, salt, and pepper.
- Mix well.
- Serve on a bed of lettuce or small club rolls.
I prefer chicken salad served on a bed of lettuce, but don’t mind a good roll or toasted wheat bread either. How do you enjoy chicken salad? Let me know in the comments below.
Similar recipes you may enjoy!
Protein-packed leftover turkey salad
Apple Harvest Salad with Apple Dijon Vinaigrette
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Yum! I would do this with avocado mayo!
Love the festive take on a classic!
I love this twist on chicken salad! The cranberries add fun color!
I love the crunch and sweet with this savory chicken salad!! I would love it. 🙂
I love pecans in my chicken salad to I would be all over this. Plus cranberries…oh yes!
I love any kind of chicken salad with chicken, nuts and fruit! This is a winner for me!
I LOVE cranberries in chicken salad! Yum!!
HAVE ALREADY MADE THIS FOUR TIMES,!
I had never made chicken salad but this looked delicious so I bravely made it doubting very much my husband would like it! Well, he LOVES IT!!! He has requested it a couple times now. We just eat about half cup to a cup out of a little bowl or with ritz crackers. I also add a half an apple. I slice it about 1/8 inch thick, cut slices in half lengthwise then finely chop it and mix in! It’s better if it sits all day or overnight!
So glad you like the recipe, Julie. Thanks for the comment.
Chicken salad is my fav! I love adding fruit and nuts to it – such a great combo. I can’t wait to try your version!