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Creamy Homemade Chicken Salad with Grapes and Toasted Pecans

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A creamy, light chicken salad featuring sweet grapes and crunchy toasted pecans, perfect for quick lunches or casual dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced (rotisserie chicken works great)
  • 1 cup red or green grapes, halved (seedless preferred)
  • 3/4 cup toasted pecans, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise (full-fat recommended)
  • 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 stalk celery, finely diced
  • 2 tablespoons green onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • Salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Toast the pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant and lightly browned. Remove from heat and let cool.
  2. If not using pre-cooked chicken, poach chicken breasts in simmering water for 15 minutes or until fully cooked. Let rest, then shred or dice into bite-sized pieces.
  3. Halve the grapes, finely dice the celery, and thinly slice the green onions.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth and creamy.
  5. Add the chicken, grapes, celery, green onions, and toasted pecans to the dressing. Fold gently to combine without mashing the grapes.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice as desired.
  7. Optional: Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to let flavors meld.

Notes

Toast pecans to enhance their flavor and crunch. Fold grapes in just before serving or chilling to prevent the salad from becoming watery. Adjust moisture with a splash of milk or extra yogurt if needed. Use rotisserie chicken for convenience. For vegan or dairy-free versions, substitute chicken with chickpeas, use vegan mayo and dairy-free yogurt, and replace pecans with toasted walnuts.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken salad, creamy chicken salad, grapes, toasted pecans, easy chicken salad, healthy chicken salad, quick lunch, homemade chicken salad

Find it online: https://siennaspoon.com/creamy-homemade-chicken-salad-with-grapes-and-toasted-pecans-recipe/