Chicken Pecan Salad with Dressing (Printable)
Tender chicken, toasted pecans, and fresh greens tossed in creamy dressing
# What You'll Need:
→ Salad Components
01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
02 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (romaine, arugula, baby spinach)
03 - 1 cup pecan halves, toasted
04 - 1 cup seedless red grapes, halved
05 - 1/2 cup celery, thinly sliced
06 - 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
07 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese (optional)
→ Creamy Dressing
08 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
09 - 2 tbsp Greek yogurt or sour cream
10 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
11 - 1 tbsp honey
12 - 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
13 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
14 - 1/4 tsp salt
15 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
# How To Make It:
01 - Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add pecan halves and toast for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant and lightly golden. Remove from heat immediately and set aside to cool.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine mixed greens, diced chicken, halved grapes, sliced celery, thinly sliced red onion, and cooled toasted pecans. Add crumbled cheese if desired.
03 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, and olive oil until smooth and emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
04 - Drizzle dressing evenly over salad. Toss gently to coat all ingredients without crushing greens. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The creamy homemade dressing strikes that perfect balance between tangy and sweet, making even salad skeptics ask for seconds
- Everything can be prepped ahead, which means youre always 15 minutes away from something that feels fancy but comes together on the busiest weeknights
02 -
- Toast your pecans even if you think its an extra step, because untoasted nuts taste flat and miss that crucial aromatic quality that makes this salad memorable
- Halve the grapes instead of leaving them whole, which distributes the sweetness more evenly and makes each bite easier to eat
03 -
- Pat your chicken dry with paper towels before dicing, which helps the dressing cling better and prevents the salad from becoming watery
- Let the toasted pecans cool completely before adding them to the salad, or they will wilt the greens and soften unpleasantly