Easy Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans
Easy Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans is a vibrant, flavorful, and satisfying dish combining tender chicken, juicy grapes, and crunchy pecans with a creamy dressing. Perfect for quick lunches, light dinners, or meal prepping, this salad blends sweet, savory, and nutty flavors for a wholesome, textured meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes (if cooking chicken fresh)
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Boiling or Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
Produce
- 1 cup red or green grapes, halved
- 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
- Optional: 1-2 tbsp fresh parsley or dill, chopped
Nuts
- 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
Dressing
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise or Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Cook chicken breasts by boiling or baking until fully done, then let them cool. Shred or dice the cooled chicken into bite-sized pieces to ensure tender, juicy chunks for the salad.
- Chop the Fresh Ingredients: While the chicken cools, halve the grapes, finely chop the celery, and roughly chop the pecans. Halving grapes preserves their juicy texture without overpowering the salad.
- Mix the Dressing: In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt), Dijon mustard, and fresh lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then whisk until smooth and creamy for a balanced dressing.
- Combine Everything: Add the shredded chicken, grapes, celery, and pecans to the bowl with the dressing. Gently toss everything to coat all ingredients evenly while keeping the salad light.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve cold, garnished with fresh parsley or dill if desired, and enjoy.
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken for a time-saving option.
- Toast pecans lightly to deepen their flavor.
- Pat grapes dry before adding to prevent watering down the dressing.
- Chop ingredients uniformly for balanced texture.
- Make the salad a day ahead for better flavor development.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezing is not recommended due to texture changes.
- Best served cold or at room temperature; avoid reheating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: chicken salad, grape salad, pecans, easy chicken salad, healthy lunch, light dinner, meal prep, gluten free