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4.91 from 22 votes
Home By Course Main Entrees No-Reheat

Winter Pecan and Cranberry Chicken Salad (No Mayo)

Dress your typical chicken salad recipe up for the holidays with this delicious Winter Pecan and Cranberry Chicken Salad. Made with sweet cranberries, crunchy pecans, creamy Greek yogurt and cottage cheese, it’s a great healthy, protein-packed meal for easy throw-together meals all week!

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By: Lauren published: Nov. 30, 2021 updated: Jun. 04, 2024 10 Comments

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Winter Pecan and Cranberry Chicken Salad on a croissant.
Winter Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad (no mayo) pin.
Contents hide
About This Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Winter Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
Ingredients and Substitutions
Optional Variations and Dietary Adaptions
How To Make
Ways To Enjoy Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
FAQ: Pecan and Cranberry Chicken Salad
More Delicious Chicken Salad
Pecan and Cranberry Chicken Salad (No Mayo)
MyFitnessPal Entry
Did You Make This?

About This Recipe

This Pecan and Cranberry Chicken Salad is one of the best chicken salad combinations I’ve tried! The sweet and savory flavors are just too perfect. I especially love this combo in in the cooler winter months but really it’s amazing any time of year!

This chicken salad recipe is creamy with Greek yogurt and cottage cheese and with just the right sweet kick! The fresh grapes especially make this chicken salad taste really fresh!

Instead of chicken, you can also use Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey leftovers. This recipe is perfect for it as it pairs so well with the sweet cranberries and pecans!

If you love sweet chicken salad, also check out my waldorf chicken salad and apple pecan chicken salad recipes! Or for a little kick, try this banging buffalo chicken salad!

Winter Pecan and Cranberry Chicken Salad on a croissant cut in half.

Why You’ll Love This Winter Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

  • It’s sweet, crunchy, savory, creamy, and absolutely delicious!
  • The flavor dimension and texture is OUT OF THIS WORLD!
  • Packed with protein and lightened up from your traditional chicken salad.
  • Great recipe for meal prep. Make once and eat all week!
  • A great way to sneak some veggies into your day.

Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Chicken – any type of cooked and shredded chicken will work! Rotisserie chicken, grilled chicken, canned chicken. Or you can make your own chicken at home to use like with this Basic Shredded Chicken.
  • Celery
  • Red onion
  • Bell pepper
  • Green onions
  • Greek yogurt – or mayo.
  • Cottage cheese – again, or mayo.
  • Ranch seasoning mix – I used this to add flavor. You can use whatever other spices you like!
  • Sweetener – sugar or a sugar substitute work. A tiny touch of sweetness pairs well with the cranberries and pecans!
  • Lemon juice – of course fresh is best!
  • Pecans – can swap for any nut you prefer! Almonds, walnuts or cashews would also be delicious! Or omit to make it nut-free.
  • Cranberries – I used dried cranberries with reduced-sugar.

Optional Variations and Dietary Adaptions

  • Switch up your veggies! I love the bright colors of the fruit and veggies in this recipe but feel free to switch it up! You can add apples, grapes, or diced avocado for additional healthy fat! 
  • Use leftover roasted turkey instead of chicken! Or use leftover grilled balsamic chicken or air fryer grilled chicken bites for an additional flavor burst! 
  • Use dates instead of cranberries! Dates taste super similar to cranberries but have a ton of health benefits like extra fiber and antioxidants! 

How To Make

The full printable recipe is below, but let me walk you through the process so you know what to expect when you’re making it!

ingredients mixed together for winter cranberry chicken salad.

1. Prepare the veggies by washing and dicing them. Then add all the ingredients to a large mixing bowl. Using a wooden spoon, fold all ingredients together.

Winter Pecan and Cranberry Chicken Salad on a croissant.

2. Taste and add salt and pepper to desired liking. Serve as a sandwich, on an open-faced piece of toast, in a lettuce wrap, or eat straight up!

Ways To Enjoy Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

  • As a sandwich: serving on a croissant makes this 20x better!
  • As open-faced sandwich 
  • In a wrap 
  • On top of a salad
  • Scoop up with some crackers 
  • Straight up: Enjoy by the forkful. It’s so delicious!
Winter Pecan and Cranberry Chicken Salad on a croissant.

FAQ: Pecan and Cranberry Chicken Salad

Can I use something other than shredded chicken?

Sure! You can use shredded turkey if you want. It’s a great way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers. If you just don’t want to prepare the chicken yourself, you can always use canned chicken, pre-bought shredded chicken, or shred your own rotisserie chicken.

Can I use mayonnaise for this recipe if I don’t like cottage cheese?

You can easily sub for the Greek yogurt or cottage cheese (or both) for mayo. Do so in equal amounts.

Can I freeze this chicken salad?

I haven’t tried it, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Creamy things don’t freeze well so I don’t think the texture would remain the same. Definitely think this salad is best eaten fresh!

What is the best way to chop all the veggies for this recipe?

My favorite (and the quickest) way to chop all the veggies for this recipe is with a veggie chopper/dicer! This kitchen tool is such a major time saver plus I love how it cuts everything up in small, uniform pieces! If you don’t have one of these (even though I highly recommend) you can simply chip everything with a cutting board and sharp knife (or buy precut from the grocery store!).

More Delicious Chicken Salad

Apple pecan chicken salad on a bun with lettuce on a plate.

Easy Apple Pecan Chicken Salad Recipe

Rainbow chicken salad on two pieces of toast and greens.

Rainbow Chicken Salad (Lightened-Up)

Avocado greek yogurt chicken salad in bowl with spoon.

Easy Avocado Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad (No Mayo)

Healthy Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure leave a review, tag me on Instagram or TikTok at @LaurenFitFoodie or hashtag #LaurenFitFoodie so I can see your creations!

Winter Pecan and Cranberry Chicken Salad on a croissant.
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4.91 from 22 votes

Pecan and Cranberry Chicken Salad (No Mayo)

? Gluten-Free ? High Protein ? Low Carb ? Macro-friendly
Dress your typical chicken salad recipe up for the holidays with this delicious Winter Pecan and Cranberry Chicken Salad. Made with sweet cranberries, crunchy pecans, creamy Greek yogurt and cottage cheese, it’s a great healthy, protein-packed meal for easy throw-together meals all week!
Yield: 8
Prep: 20 minutes mins
Total: 20 minutes mins
Calories: 207kcal
Protein: 39.1g
Fat: 8.2g
Carbs: 15.6g

Ingredients

  • 8 cups shredded chicken (900g) can use rotisserie, canned, grilled, Basic Shredded Chicken, etc.
  • 5 celery stalks (230g) diced
  • 1/2 medium red onion (115g) diced
  • 1/2 red bell pepper (75g) diced
  • 2 green onions (16g) diced
  • 1 cup cottage cheese (226g) 2%
  • 3/4 cup Greek yogurt (170g) 0%, or 2%, whole, can also use mayo
  • 2 Tbsp ranch seasoning mix (12g) or garlic and onion powder
  • 2 Tbsp sugar (24g) or substitute
  • 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (15g)
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans (64g)
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries (60g)
  • salt & freshly cracked pepper

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes. Scroll for macros and MyFitnessPal code.

Instructions

  • Prepare the veggies by washing and dicing them.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add all the ingredients. Fold using a wooden spoon until all ingredients are mixed thoroughly.
  • Taste and add salt and pepper to your liking. 
  • Serve as a sandwich, on an open-faced piece of toast, in a lettuce wrap or eat straight up!

Equipment

  • Vegetable chopper optional

Notes

To make dairy-free: use dairy-free Greek yogurt and sub cottage cheese for dairy-free Greek yogurt or lite mayo.
How to store: store your Winter Cranberry and Pecan Chicken Salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-6 days.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1/8 of recipe (236g), Calories: 207kcal (10%), Carbohydrates: 15.6g (5%), Protein: 39.1g (78%), Fat: 8.2g (13%), Saturated Fat: 1.8g (11%), Cholesterol: 66mg (22%), Fiber: 2.1g (9%), Sugar: 10.6g (12%)

Nutrition is hand-calculated and accurate. No autocalulations! However, note that values can vary based on the brands you use and if you substitute ingredients.

MyFitnessPal Entry

LFF Pecan and Cranberry Chicken Salad 

© Author: Lauren

Winter Pecan and Cranberry Chicken Salad on a croissant.

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Lauren

Lauren

Lauren lives with her husband, Simon and two dogs, Finley and Cookie, in the Carolina’s. She has college degrees in Nursing and Exercise Science, is a NASM certified trainer and spent many years as a macro coach before transitioning to full time blogging. She loves staying active, being creative and recreating her favorite comfort food dishes into healthier, lightened up versions. Desserts are her speciality!

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