This apple pecan chicken salad, is a fantastic throw together lunch or dinner. It just takes 10 minutes! Use precooked chicken, green apple, pecans, and a Greek yogurt/mayonnaise dressing for a tangy salad.
Table of contents
Meal plans are great, but we don't always make them or are able to follow them. That's why pantry meals are so important so we can eat something delish without much effort.
That's where this apple pecan chicken salad comes in, and other Pantry Meals.
If you have (or are building) a well stocked pantry, you can throw this easy recipe together. And as always, swap out ingredients for what you have.
Quickly cook a frozen chicken breast or tender, or use some precooked or rotisserie chicken. Both can be frozen, or batch cooked for the week.
For example, green apples add a wonderful crunch and tang, but another type is good, or you can add dried fruit.
Ingredients
Scroll down to the apple pecan chicken salad recipe card for the amounts of each ingredient, but here's a quick visual + description of what's in this recipe.
- Precooked chicken: Save time with precooked or rotisserie chicken, but you can quickly poach or pan fry frozen or fresh chicken. I typically pan fry frozen chicken tenders in some water to keep them from drying out.
- Celery
- Apple: I love a granny smith apple or other tart apple, but use whatever you prefer or have.
- Pecans: Chopped pecans are great in this chicken salad, but you can use any kind of nuts in it.
- Mayonnaise: My favorite chicken salad dressing is a combination of mayonnaise and plain Greek yogurt for it's sweet/tangy blend. Use what you want in this apple pecan chicken salad.
- Plain Greek yogurt
- Dijon mustard
- Garlic salt
- Something to serve it on/with: greens for a salad, bread or croissant or pita for a sandwich, etc. This apple pecan chicken salad is versatile and so tasty!
Instructions
Scroll down to the apple pecan chicken salad recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here's a quick overview + photos to see how to make this recipe in general.
1. Start making your apple pecan chicken salad by adding the dressing ingredients (Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, garlic salt, and Dijon mustard) to a medium sized bowl. Whisk together until smooth.
2. Add chopped cooked chicken, chopped pecans, apple, and celery. Mix together.
3. Taste and add salt/pepper if needed.
If you're enjoying this apple pecan chicken salad, I recommend doubling the yogurt and mayo so you have a dressing.
Storage Tips
You can easily make a few extra servings of this apple pecan chicken salad. For the crunchiest vegetables and nuts, add those prior to serving. This chicken salad should last in an airtight container for about 3-5 days or so in the fridge.
Substitutions/Tips
- Use rotisserie chicken or any type of pre-cooked chicken. You can also probably use tofu in this apple pecan chicken salad to make it vegetarian.
- I like a mix of plain Greek yogurt and mayo for a bit of tangy flavor, but you can just use yogurt or mayo if that's all you have. If you have just mayo, but want some tanginess, add a dash of white or apple cider vinegar.
- Double the yogurt/mayo if making a salad, as it'll act as a dressing, this is usually too drippy to enjoy as a sandwich or wrap.
- Make extra servings for leftovers. You can typically store leftover chicken pecan salad in an air tight container in the fridge for 5 days, but just use the sniff test (does it smell good?) to avoid wasting food as it can last longer.
- Other great add-ins: sliced green or red onion, swap the pecans for other chopped nuts, swap the apples for grapes or dried fruit, omit celery if you don't have it. This apple pecan chicken salad is delicious in many ways!
FAQ
Yes, pecans are very good in chicken salad, really all nuts are good in chicken salad. Pecans are added to this chicken pecan salad recipe, it's delicious.
My favorite added flavors to chicken salad are: mustard, Greek yogurt, and garlic salt. They add a nice flavor without overpowering the chicken. If you need more tang, add Greek yogurt or white or apple cider vinegar.
Yes, honestly it's my favorite way to make chicken salad. It's easy, doesn't take much attention, and allows you to season your chicken salad however you want, I used boiled/steamed chicken to make this chicken salad.
Other good chicken salad recipes
Repurpose this chicken salad
Serve your apple pecan chicken salad as a salad, sandwich, wrap, in a pita, with crackers, or however you want!
What to do with leftover ingredients?
When you're cooking for one, you often have leftover produce, cans of whatever ingredient, etc. Here are a couple ideas on how to use up the leftover ingredients. It'll help you save money by wasting fewer ingredients.
- Chicken: Creamy Mushroom Chicken with Rice, Watermelon Chicken Salad, Buffalo Chicken Flatbread
- Celery: dip into Jalapeno Artichoke Dip or Queso Dip, Delicata Squash Soup
- Apple: Spinach Apple Smoothie, Apple Cucumber Salad, Apple Pie Overnight Oats
- Pecans: Kale Apple Pecan Salad, Bananas Foster Pancakes
- Greek Yogurt: Overnight Oats with Yogurt, Broccoli Greek Yogurt Salad, Greek Yogurt Bowl, Triple Berry Smoothie with Granola.
Did you make this apple pecan chicken salad? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!
Apple Pecan Chicken Salad (for one)
Equipment
- cutting board
- knife
- medium mixing bowl
- small whisk
- rubber spatula
Ingredients
- 1.5-2 Tablespoon Plain Greek yogurt or regular plain yogurt
- 1.5-2 Tablespoon Mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon Garlic salt
- ½ whole Chicken breast about 2 ounces
- ½ cup Granny smith apple chopped
- ¼ cup Celery chopped
- 1 Tablespoon Pecans chopped
- Optional: lettuce, bread, pita, etc for serving
Instructions
- Add dressing ingredients to medium sized mixing bowl: 1.5-2 Tablespoon plain Greek yogurt, 1.5-2 Tablespoon mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, ¼ teaspoon garlic salt. Whisk until smooth.
- Add chopped pre-cooked chicken breast (about ½ whole breast), ½ cup chopped granny smith apple, ¼ cup chopped celery, 1 Tablespoon chopped pecans to dressing mix. Stir together with rubber spatula or spoon.
- Serve over lettuce, as a sandwich, wrap, or pita. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken or any type of pre-cooked chicken, or probably even tofu for a vegetarian version.
- Just use yogurt or mayo if that's all you have. Add a dash of white or apple cider vinegar to mayo if you want it a bit tangier.
- Double the yogurt/mayo if making a salad, it'll be your dressing, this is usually too drippy to enjoy as a sandwich or wrap.
- Make extra servings for leftovers. You can typically store leftover chicken pecan salad in an air tight container in the fridge for 5 days, but just use the sniff test (does it smell good?) to avoid wasting food as it can last longer.
- Other great add-ins: sliced green onion, swap the pecans for other chopped nuts, swap the apples for grapes or dried fruit, omit celery if you don't have it.
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Michelle says
Love the pecans in your version for some extra crunch and nuttiness.
Kim says
Delicious! Makes a great meal prep chicken salad and a great way to use leftover chicken. I am making this frequently and it always disappears!
Rebecca says
totally! it's so easy with leftover chicken
Jamie says
I love how the dressing used Greek yogurt! This salad was so satisfying and I loved the crunch of the apples.
Rebecca says
apples are the best part of it honestly!
Gina Abernathy says
Super simple and a great tasting salad. Green apples are my favorite and I love pecans in my salad.
Rebecca says
same! enjoy
Caitlin says
This is my new go to recipe for lunch prepping, so easy and delicious!
Rebecca says
great to hear! it's so easy