Monica's favorite gear for
making Chicken Salad
I use these for mixing, serving, and storing food in the fridge. It's great to have so many sizes and they make a small footprint in my cabinet shelf since they nest so compactly.
I've gone through numerous pepper grinders through the years, and this is my favorite. It easily adjusts from fine to coarse grind and rests flat upside down so no pepper grounds are left on the table. The stainless steel is attractive and looks nice on a table. Click below for salt & pepper grinder combo.
Also available: salt & pepper grinders

Chicken or Turkey Salad with Cranberries & Pecans

A healthy recipe made with yogurt


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Chicken or Turkey Salad with Cranberries & Pecans

By Monica              6-8 servings
This delicious, healthy recipe is a great way to use up leftover chicken or turkey.

This delicious, healthy recipe is a great way to use up leftover chicken or turkey.

Ingredients
  • 4 cups chopped, cooked chicken or turkey breast*
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans
  • 1/2 cup diced celery
  • 1/2 cup low-fat Greek yogurt**
  • 1/4 cup light mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon leaves (or 1-1/2 teaspoons dried)

Directions
In large bowl, stir together all ingredients until well combined. Serve in a sandwich or on top of a bed of lettuce. Put a dollop on crackers for an easy appetizer. MAKE AHEAD TIP: Will hold a day or two in fridge, but yogurt gets absorbed into chicken/turkey when it sits overnight. Stir in additional yogurt to restore the creamy consistency if eaten the next day.

EASY VARIATIONS:
Plain chicken salad -- omit the cranberries and pecans.
Swap out the fruit -- in place of the cranberries, try grapes or apples.
Swap out the nuts -- in place of pecans, try sliced almonds, walnuts or pine nuts.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION per 2/3 cup serving: 226 calories, 10.2g fat, 8.8g carbs, 1.1g fiber, 6.1g sugars, 25.6g protein; Weight Watchers PointsPlus: 6

*Use leftover chicken or turkey breast, a rotisserie chicken; or cook your own chicken, directions at www.theyummylife/recipes/77
**Use store bought Greek yogurt; or strain regular yogurt to make your own; directions at www.theyummylife.com/recipes/167

This delicious, healthy recipe is a great way to use up leftover chicken or turkey. With Thanksgiving less than a month away, this is a good recipe to keep on hand. 

I adapted my favorite chicken salad recipe from Ina Garten by swapping out most of the mayo with Greek yogurt to dial down the calories and increase the nutrition. A hint of honey balances the tartness of the yogurt. Cranberries and pecans are added for some flavor and crunch. Fresh tarragon is my favorite herb to add to chicken salad. It's the finishing touch in this recipe.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS:

  • Use as a sandwich filling with lettuce.
  • Serve a scoop over a bed of lettuce or mixed greens. 
  • Add a small dollop to crackers for a quick appetizer.

EASY VARIATIONS:

  • Plain chicken salad -- omit the cranberries and pecans
  • Swap out the fruit -- in place of the cranberries, try grapes or apples
  • Swap out the nuts -- in place of pecans, try sliced almonds, walnuts or pine nuts

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION per 2/3 cup serving: 226 calories, 10.2g fat, 8.8g carbs, 1.1g fiber, 6.1g sugars, 25.6g protein; Weight Watchers PointsPlus: 6 

 

Step-by-step photos for making
Chicken Salad with Cranberries and Pecans 

Step 1. Assemble the ingredients: chopped cooked chicken or turkey breast, Greek (strained) yogurt; light mayonnaise; fresh tarragon leaves, celery, dried cranberries, chopped pecans, salt, pepper, honey (not pictured)

IMG_6243.jpg

Note about the yogurt:
Strained yogurt is thicker and will prevent your chicken/turkey salad from getting watery. Greek yogurt is already strained. You can purchase Greek yogurt, or make it yourself by straining regular yogurt. 

Click to learn how to make Greek yogurt
ThumbnailIMG_4772.png

Note about the chicken or turkey:
Use leftover chicken or turkey, buy a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, or cook your own chicken. 

Click to view recipe for chopped, roasted chicken
IMG_9832-Thumbnail.png
 

Step 2. Chop the tarragon.

Step 3. Chop the celery.

IMG_6246.jpg  IMG_6249.jpg

Step 4. Add all of the ingredients to a large bowl and stir until combined.

IMG_6252.jpg  IMG_6253.jpg

Done!

IMG_6255.jpg

Serve the chicken salad on a bed of lettuce . . .

IMG_6269.jpg

. . . or use it for a sandwich filling.

IMG_6292.jpg


It tastes so rich and creamy, you wouldn't guess that it's good for you, too!

IMG_6289zoom.jpg

Make ahead tip. You can eat this right away or make it ahead. It will hold a day or two in the fridge, but I've noticed that the yogurt gets absorbed into the chicken/turkey when it sits overnight. This makes the chicken/turkey moist and flavorful, but the salad itself isn't as creamy. You may want to stir in some additional yogurt to restore the creamy consistency if it's eaten the next day.

Make it a yummy day!

Link directly to this recipe
Chicken or Turkey Salad with Cranberries & Pecans
By Monica              Servings: 6-8 servings
Ingredients
  • 4 cups chopped, cooked chicken or turkey breast*
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans
  • 1/2 cup diced celery
  • 1/2 cup low-fat Greek yogurt**
  • 1/4 cup light mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon leaves (or 1-1/2 teaspoons dried)
Directions
In large bowl, stir together all ingredients until well combined. Serve in a sandwich or on top of a bed of lettuce. Put a dollop on crackers for an easy appetizer. MAKE AHEAD TIP: Will hold a day or two in fridge, but yogurt gets absorbed into chicken/turkey when it sits overnight. Stir in additional yogurt to restore the creamy consistency if eaten the next day.

EASY VARIATIONS:
Plain chicken salad -- omit the cranberries and pecans.
Swap out the fruit -- in place of the cranberries, try grapes or apples.
Swap out the nuts -- in place of pecans, try sliced almonds, walnuts or pine nuts.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION per 2/3 cup serving: 226 calories, 10.2g fat, 8.8g carbs, 1.1g fiber, 6.1g sugars, 25.6g protein; Weight Watchers PointsPlus: 6

*Use leftover chicken or turkey breast, a rotisserie chicken; or cook your own chicken, directions at www.theyummylife/recipes/77
**Use store bought Greek yogurt; or strain regular yogurt to make your own; directions at www.theyummylife.com/recipes/167

Here's another healthy salad/sandwich you might like,
also made with yogurt:

Healthy Yogurt Egg Salad

IMG_2991 - Thumbnail - Copy.png



Posted on Monday, October 31st, 2011

Looking for holiday gifts for the foodie in your life?
Here are a few gift guides I made to help:








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