Chicken Salad with Grapes & Pecans

This chicken salad with grapes and pecans is one of those recipes you’ll want to make over and over again. It’s creamy, crunchy, and has just the right amount of sweetness from the grapes.

What I love about it is how easy it comes together. You basically mix a simple dressing, toss everything in, and let it chill in the fridge.

The combination of flavors here really works. The pecans add a nice toasty crunch, and the tarragon gives it a fresh, slightly herby taste that ties everything together.

You can eat it on its own, stuff it into a croissant, or serve it over some greens. It works great for lunch, meal prep, or even when you have people coming over.

If you’ve been looking for a good chicken salad recipe that’s a step above the basic version, this is it.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

Every Bite Has Something Different – The juicy grapes and crunchy pecans give you a new burst of flavor and texture with every single forkful.

Creamy but Not Heavy – The mix of mayo and Greek yogurt makes a dressing that feels rich and smooth without weighing you down.

Tastes Even Better the Next Day – After sitting in the fridge the flavors blend together and get even more delicious for easy leftovers.

Ingredients

• 3 cups Cooked Chicken Breast, diced
• 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
• 3 tbsp Greek Yogurt
• 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
• 1 tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1 cup Red Grapes, halved
• 3/4 cup Toasted Pecans, roughly chopped
• 1/3 cup Celery, finely diced
• 2 tbsp Fresh Tarragon, chopped
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1/4 tsp Black Pepper

Directions

Step 1

In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, greek yogurt, dijon mustard, and fresh lemon juice until completely smooth.

Step 2

Season the dressing with salt and black pepper. Give it a taste and adjust to your liking.

Step 3

Add the diced cooked chicken breast to the bowl and toss until every piece is evenly coated in the dressing.

Step 4

Fold in the halved red grapes, diced celery, and chopped fresh tarragon. Mix gently so the grapes stay intact.

Step 5

Sprinkle in the toasted pecans and fold them through the salad just until combined.

Step 6

Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld together. Serve chilled on its own, in a croissant, or over a bed of greens.

Pro Tips

Poach the Chicken for the Best Texture

If you don’t already have cooked chicken ready, poaching is the way to go here. Place chicken breasts in a pot, cover them with water, add a pinch of salt, and bring it to a gentle simmer for about 15-20 minutes until cooked through.

Poached chicken stays tender and moist, which is exactly what you want for chicken salad. Baked or grilled chicken can work, but it tends to be drier and chewier once it’s diced and mixed in.

After poaching, let the chicken cool completely before you dice it. Warm chicken will thin out the dressing and make the whole salad watery.

Toast the Pecans Yourself

Pre-toasted pecans from the store are fine in a pinch, but toasting them yourself makes a big difference. Spread them on a baking sheet and put them in the oven at 350°F for about 5-7 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through.

They go from perfectly toasted to burned really fast, so keep an eye on them. You’ll smell a warm, nutty aroma right when they’re done.

Freshly toasted pecans have way more flavor and a better crunch. That crunch is one of the best parts of this salad, so it’s worth the extra few minutes.

Add the Pecans Right Before Serving

The recipe says to fold in the pecans at the end, and there’s a good reason for that. If you add them too early and let them sit in the fridge with everything else, they soak up moisture and go soft.

For the best results, keep the pecans separate and fold them in right before you serve. That way every bite has that nice crunch against the creamy dressing and juicy grapes.

Related Recipes

• High Protein Chicken Caesar Wrap
• High Protein Chicken Lettuce Wraps
• High Protein Greek Chicken Bowl
• High Protein Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
• High Protein Chicken Burrito Bowl

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use rotisserie chicken for this salad?

Absolutely, and it is actually one of the easiest shortcuts you can take. Just pull the meat off a store-bought rotisserie chicken, dice it up, and you are good to go.

You will get about 3 cups of diced meat from one medium rotisserie chicken. The slightly richer flavor from rotisserie chicken works really well with the creamy dressing and sweet grapes.