Skip to Content

Cranberry Chicken Pecan Salad Recipe

We adore classic Spanish recipes like the Spanish vegetable salad and the chicken salad with tostadas, but we also like to experiment with new flavors.

The cranberry chicken pecan salad features a creative and modern option to the world of Spanish salad recipes, bringing a fresh and exciting option to the table.

In this article, we will teach you how to make our recipe from scratch, with expert tips for serving, storing, and ingredient substitutions that you can follow if needed.

a pin with a Cranberry Chicken Pecan Salad on a plate

You, dear reader, support this blog. If you purchase through a link, we earn a small commission. As an Amazon Affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Pssst…!!?? You can’t get enough of Spanish salad recipes? Have a look at my other posts: 

Background of the Dish

cranberry chicken pecan salad in a bowl on a wooden board.

There are other fruity Spanish salad recipes, such as the chicken mango salad and the apple salad with chicken, but this one stands out for its delightful fall flavors. 

The cranberry chicken pecan salad is made with dried cranberries as one of the star ingredients, it brings a wonderful blend of sweetness and tanginess that perfectly complements the savory chicken and crunchy pecans, making it a seasonal favorite.

This delicious chicken salad with cranberry and pecans can be served as a refreshing side or appetizer, or you can even turn it into a main dish by plating it with your favorite bread or stuffing it into a wrap. 

a pin with a Cranberry Chicken Pecan Salad

Pin for later!

Things You’ll Need for Cranberry Chicken Pecan Salad

To make one of the best traditional Spanish salads you will need dried cranberries, pecans, chicken breasts, mayonnaise, apple, and celery stalks as the main ingredients.

Thankfully, you don’t need any equipment or kitchen tools to prepare this fantastic cranberry pecan chicken salad recipe.

cutting an apple for the Cranberry Chicken Pecan Salad

Ingredients

  • 2 chicken breasts
  • 1/2 cup (70gr) dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup (60gr) pecans
  • 1 green apple
  • 2 celery stalks
  • 1 white onion
  • 3/4 cup (180gr) mayonnaise
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)

How to Make Cranberry Chicken Pecan Salad – Step by Step Guide

Cook with a spoon removes the foam from the boiling water where chicken breast is prepared for cranberry chicken pecan salad
  1. Start by cooking the chicken breasts. For that, fill a pot with water, season with salt and pepper, add the chicken, and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Then, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes or until fully cooked. Remove from the pot and let it cool.
  1. After that, chop the celery stalks into thin pieces (you can play with the size if you prefer an extra crunch). Peel and dice the onion. 
  1. To continue with this pecan cranberry chicken salad recipe, wash the green apple and chop it into small pieces (if you keep the peel on be sure to remove all of the dirt). Also, chop the pecans in half so that you can feel them. 
  1. Then, once the chicken is cold, shred it with the help of two forks or your fingers to create bite-sized pieces.
  1. Now, grab a large bowl, and mix the shredded chicken, cranberries, pecans, celery, and onion, with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Pour the mayonnaise and gently mix the Spanish salad with a wooden spoon until everything gets combined.
  1. After that, cover the cranberry chicken pecan salad bowl with plastic wrap or a clean plastic bag and store it in the fridge to cool for 30 minutes.
  1. For the final step in this Spanish salad recipe, do a taste test and adjust the seasoning or amount of mayonnaise if needed. Serve the cranberry chicken pecan salad cold as a side, with toasted bread, or in a wrap, and enjoy.

Substitution of Ingredients

cranberry chicken pecan salad on a plate

We wanted to create a cranberry chicken pecan salad that is both simple and accessible, using ingredients that are easy to find, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t make changes to the ingredients.

For example, like other cranberry pecan chicken salad recipes, you can replace the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for a tangier alternative, or mix the mayonnaise with cream cheese to make it lighter.

You can choose your favorite cooking method for the chicken, and if you have some leftovers from other Spanish salads recipes, like the hot chicken salad recipe or the ensalada de pollo, then feel free to use them here.

Besides that, you can enhance the sweet flavor of this pecan and cranberry chicken salad by mixing the mayonnaise (or creamy dressing) with a tablespoon of honey.

Tips on Serving Cranberry Chicken Pecan Salad

cranberry chicken pecan salad in a wooden bowl

This cranberry chicken pecan salad can be served as a fresh side or appetizer as it is, or you can incorporate other ingredients to turn it into a light lunch or dinner.

To do that, simply place the pecan cranberry chicken salad between two slices of your favorite bread for a delicious sandwich, or scoop it into a whole-grain wrap for a satisfying meal on the go. 

Apart from that, you can add more volume to this traditional Spanish salad by serving it on top of clean romaine or butter lettuce leaves, providing a refreshing meal.

You can also top the chicken pecan cranberry salad with grated or cubed parmesan or manchego cheese, adding a rich flavor and a new layer of texture.

Ready to explore more delicious Spanish salads? Don’t miss out on our flavorful chicken salad with carrots, savory chicken bacon salad, and zesty fajita chicken salad.

How to Store Cranberry Chicken Pecan Salad

How to Store Cranberry Chicken Pecan Salad. An open fridge with various vegetables and fruits in plastic containers.

The cranberry chicken salad with pecans is one of the most refreshing Spanish salads that you can find, and for that reason, it’s ideal for enjoying immediately. 

However, you can store it for up to 3 days in the fridge, if you avoid adding the mayonnaise and pecans until a few minutes before serving.

This will help maintain the crispness of the pecans and the freshness of the cranberry pecan chicken salad, ensuring the best texture and flavor when you’re ready to enjoy it.

We have more Spanish recipes that can be stored for a longer amount of time, such as the savory Spanish grilled chicken and the hearty Spanish chicken stew.

Recipe Card: Cranberry Chicken Pecan Salad

Yield: 4

Cranberry Chicken Pecan Salad Recipe

cranberry chicken pecan salad in a wooden bowl

We adore classic Spanish recipes like the Spanish vegetable salad and the chicken salad with tostadas, but we also like to experiment with new flavors.

The cranberry chicken pecan salad features a creative and modern option to the world of Spanish salad recipes, bringing a fresh and exciting option to the table.

In this article, we will teach you how to make our recipe from scratch, with expert tips for serving, storing, and ingredient substitutions that you can follow if needed.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 chicken breasts
  • 1/2 cup (70gr) dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup (60gr) pecans
  • 1 green apple
  • 2 celery stalks
  • 1 white onion
  • 3/4 cup (180gr) mayonnaise
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)

Instructions

  1. Fill a pot with enough water to cover the chicken breasts, season with salt and pepper. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for 15-20 minutes or until fully cooked. Remove from the pot and let them cool.
  2. Chop the celery stalks into thin pieces. Peel and dice the onion. 
  3. Wash the green apple and chop it into small pieces (if you keep the peel on be sure to remove all of the dirt). Chop the pecans. 
  4. Once the chicken is cold, shred it with the help of two forks or your fingers to create bite-sized pieces.
  5. In a large bowl, mix the shredded chicken, cranberries, pecans, celery, and onion, with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Pour the mayonnaise and gently mix with a wooden spoon until everything gets combined.
  6. Cover the chicken cranberry pecan salad bowl with plastic wrap or a clean plastic bag and store it in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  7. To finish this chicken cranberry pecan salad recipe, do a taste test and adjust the seasoning or amount of mayonnaise if needed. Serve it cold as a side, with toasted bread, or in a wrap, and enjoy.

Notes

The cranberries and apple bring a nice sweet flavor to the Spanish chicken salad, and you can enhance it by mixing in a tablespoon of honey with the mayonnaise.

For an extra fresh flavor, serve the cranberry and pecan chicken salad on top of mixed greens, such as lettuce and arugula.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 411Total Fat 27.9gSaturated Fat 4.1gCholesterol 56mgSodium 443mgCarbohydrates 25.2gFiber 4.5gSugar 11.3gProtein 17g

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @visit.southernspain on Instagram and hashtag it #visitsouthernspain



Skip to Recipe