Print

5-Minute Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans

5-minute chicken salad with grapes and pecans - featured image
Print Recipe

This quick and easy chicken salad comes together in just five minutes with rotisserie chicken, sweet red grapes, and crunchy pecans. It’s the perfect no-fuss lunch or meal prep option that tastes like you spent hours on it.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or chopped (rotisserie chicken recommended)
  • 1 cup red grapes, halved
  • ½ cup pecans, chopped and toasted
  • ⅓ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or chives, chopped (optional)
  • ¼ cup celery, finely diced (optional)

Instructions

  1. Make the dressing: In a mixing bowl, combine ⅓ cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon honey, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Whisk until smooth and creamy. Add a pinch of salt and pepper.
  2. Prep the chicken: If using rotisserie chicken, remove the skin and shred or chop the meat into bite-sized pieces. You want about 2 cups. If using leftover cooked chicken, chop it into small cubes.
  3. Halve the grapes: Rinse the red grapes and pat them dry. Cut each grape in half lengthwise. If using larger grapes, quarter them. You should have about 1 cup of halved grapes.
  4. Toast the pecans (optional but recommended): Heat a small dry skillet over medium heat. Add ½ cup chopped pecans and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until they smell nutty and are lightly browned. Let them cool for a minute.
  5. Combine everything: Add the chopped chicken, halved grapes, toasted pecans, and optional celery or fresh herbs to the bowl with the dressing. Use a rubber spatula or large spoon to fold everything together gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
  6. Season and adjust: Taste the chicken salad. Add more salt, pepper, or a squeeze of lemon if needed. If it seems dry, add another tablespoon of mayo or yogurt. If too tangy, add a tiny bit more honey.
  7. Serve or store: Eat right away, spoon onto bread for a sandwich, or scoop over a bed of greens. For meal prep, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate.

Notes

Toast the pecans for extra flavor. Taste the dressing before adding mix-ins to avoid over-tanginess. Let the salad rest for 10 minutes in the fridge if time allows for better flavor melding. Use cold ingredients if short on time.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken salad, quick chicken salad, 5-minute chicken salad, chicken salad with grapes, chicken salad with pecans, easy lunch, meal prep, rotisserie chicken salad

Find it online: https://platebelle.com/5-minute-chicken-salad-with-grapes-and-pecans/