Apple Pecan And Rosemary Chicken Salad Cooking Classy

Autumn Apple Pecan Chicken Salad

A crisp, apple studded, protein rich chicken salad that’s perfect for a hearty autumn lunch or even a simple weeknight dinner that won’t weigh you down. It’s made healthier with a combination of Greek yogurt and a little mayo, and it pairs beautifully with a hearty whole grain bread. Or you can serve it lower carb over lettuce leaves for another nutritious option. This version is made with rotisserie chicken but you can use leftover cooked chicken breasts as well. I just recommend that you avoid canned chicken for a better chicken salad. It’s simple to make and worthy of your recipe collection! Try serving it with baked sweet potato fries or sweet potato chips for a colorful fall pairing.

Chicken Apple Salad Recipe Ingredients

Cooked rotisserie chicken Apples (gala are my favorite here) Pecans Green onions Dried cranberries Plain Greek yogurt Mayonnaise Apple cider vinegar Maple syrup or honey Rosemary Dijon mustard Nutmeg (optional) Salt and pepper Lettuce leaves or bread for serving

How to Cook Chicken for Chicken Salad

If you want to cook chicken from raw use 20 oz. boneless skinless chicken breasts. Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness then brush lightly with olive oil and season both sides with salt and pepper. Place on a foil lined half baking sheet and roasted at 425 degrees until it was 165 in center (which will take about 16 – 23 minutes, time will vary based on thickness of chicken breasts). Then I let it cool completely (can be speed cooled in the freezer) and cut into pieces.

How to Make Chicken Salad with Apples

Possible Substitutes and Variations for Apple Chicken Salad

No mayo: To make it even healthier you can use all Greek yogurt no mayo. If going that route I recommend using full fat Greek yogurt to give it a little more richness. Nuts: Swap other nuts for those here. You can use walnuts, slivered or sliced almonds, or even peanuts (they go well with apples). Onions: Red onion is a good addition here in place of green onions. Though they are stronger so you’ll only want to use 1/3 cup. Leftover chicken: Instead of using a rotisserie chicken you can use leftover cooked chicken breasts. Turkey: This chicken salad is a perfect way to use leftover turkey during the holidays to make a turkey salad. Herbs: Fresh parsley is a delicious alternative to the rosemary, use 3 Tbsp.

Helpful Tips

Be sure to let chicken cool completely in the fridge before using. This type of chicken salad is best when chicken is cold vs. hot. Add dressing shortly after chopping apples so they don’t turn brown. As chicken salad rests a few hours the chicken tends to absorb some of the moisture making it seem like there’s less dressing. You can add a few more tablespoons of Greek yogurt or mayo, or even a little water to thin it back out.