Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad - melissassouthernstylekitchen.com (2024)

This Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad recipe is filled with toasted sliced almonds, chewy dried cranberries and fresh celery for a little crunch. It’s dressed with a creamy poppy seed dressing and seasoned to perfection. Serve it for light meals and snacking or as an appetizer with crackers.

Easy Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad Recipe

Chicken salads recipes are as plentiful as there are cook’s to create them. We all have our own little something we bring to the table personalized to our own taste. This cranberry almond chicken salad is made with a creamy and flavorful dressing. One of the ingredients is prepared poppy seed dressing that adds a nice twist in flavor. You can serve this chicken salad on warm buttered croissants, your favorite slider roll or scoop it onto a fresh lettuce leaf. I love serving it on fresh Maui Onion Rolls that were over the top filled with this delightful chicken salad and dressed simply with lettuce for a little extra crunch. How to make Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

• Almonds – Spread almonds on a sheet pan. Roast in a preheated 350°F oven for 4-6 minutes or just until lightly golden and fragrant. Set aside to cool.
• Dressing – In a medium bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, poppy seed dressing, chives, salt, onion powder, black pepper and granulated garlic until fully combined.
• Mix-ins – To the bowl add chopped chicken, celery, toasted almond slices and dried cranberries. Mix gently until combined.
• Place into an airtight container and chill for at least 4 hours.
• Serve on onion rolls, croissants or slider rolls dressed with green leaf or bibb lettuce.

How to Make the Best Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad Recipe

Made in advance, this chicken salad can be chilling in the fridge and ready for sandwiches and snacking on busy days. There are so many variations of chicken salad and I think I enjoy each and every one equally. I particularly love this fruit and nut laced version for the added texture of the chewy dried cranberries, and the nutty flavor from the toasted almonds.

• Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad: Toasted almonds, chopped rotisserie chicken, diced celery and dried cranberries.
• For the homemade dressing you’ll need: Mayonnaise, prepared poppy seed dressing, fresh chives, onion, powder, salt, black pepper and garlic powder.
• Kitchen tools you’ll need: A large mixing bowl, a sheet pan to toast the almonds, a whisk, measuring cups and spoons, a sharp knife and chopping board.
• You can use poached chicken, roasted chicken or grilled chicken in this recipe.
• It’s well worth the small amount of effort that it takes to toast the almonds for the depth of flavor it lends to the nuts and the chicken salad overall.
• You could swap out the almonds using chopped pecans or walnuts in the same amount.
• You can make this chicken salad one day in advance and chill in the refrigerator until serving.
• You can serve this salad on rolls, on a bed of lettuce, stuffed into mini croissants as an appetizer in filo cups or turn it into a wrap.
• Store leftover Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

More Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipes to Make

• For game day or appetizer options we enjoyHot Chicken Salad with chips or crackers for dipping.
• Southern Style Chicken Salad on a bed of lettuce or stuffed into a Kaiser roll makes for a light meal or between meal snacking.
• Waldorf Chicken Salad is a fusion of two classics.
• Chicken Bacon Ranch Layer Salad is dressed with homemade Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing. (Better than Chick fil A!)
• Add some spice to the menu with this Curried Chicken Salad.
• You may alsolove a lighter take on chicken salad with this Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad with Grapesfrom a Dish of Daily Life.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Mixing Bowls
• Knife and Chopping Board
• Measuring Set
• Colander