Creamy Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad (Meal Prep)

Description:
This Creamy Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad is the perfect high-protein meal prep recipe that’s creamy, crunchy, and packed with flavor. Tender shredded chicken is combined with crisp celery, sweet dried cranberries, buttery pecans, and a creamy homemade dressing seasoned with garlic, onion, and black pepper. It’s ideal for busy weekdays because it stays fresh in the refrigerator for several days and can be enjoyed in sandwiches, wraps, lettuce cups, croissants, or straight from the container. The balance of savory chicken, sweet cranberries, crunchy pecans, and creamy dressing creates a satisfying salad that’s great for lunch, dinner, or a healthy snack. Easy to make and loaded with protein, this recipe is perfect for meal prepping several portions at once.

Ingredients

For the Chicken Salad

• 4 cups cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie or poached)
• 1 cup celery, diced
• ¾ cup dried cranberries
• ¾ cup chopped pecans, toasted
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Creamy Dressing

• ¾ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp honey
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp dried parsley
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Cook and cool the chicken completely before shredding it into bite-sized pieces.
2. Toast the pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3–4 minutes until fragrant, then let them cool.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, diced celery, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and parsley.
4. In another bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, honey, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
5. Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture.
6. Mix gently until all of the ingredients are evenly coated.
7. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30–60 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
8. Divide the salad into meal prep containers for easy grab-and-go lunches.

Tips & Notes

• Use rotisserie chicken for a quick and easy shortcut.
• Greek yogurt adds extra protein while keeping the salad lighter.
• Add diced apples or grapes for extra sweetness and crunch.
• Store in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Serve with crackers, lettuce wraps, whole-grain bread, croissants, or enjoy it on its own.

Servings

Serves: 6

Approximate Nutrition (Per Serving)

• Calories: 390
• Protein: 32g
• Carbohydrates: 12g
• Fat: 24g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 8g
• Sodium: 420mg