Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans

This healthy chicken salad with grapes and pecans is dotted with plenty of plump, juicy red grapes, crunchy toasted pecans, green onions, rotisserie chicken, and creamy Greek yogurt. Super quick to make, this is a simple, savory, healthy, and delicious recipe you can make ahead for lunches and dinners all week!

this recipe

Growing up, my mom used to make a version of this chicken salad recipe that was SO delicious that it barely lasted days in our house. Today, I make a similar recipe with a few modifications to make it super simple, healthy, and quick. And when it's fall and red grapes are in season, we're just gonna go ahead and pop some of those juicy gems right into our chicken salad as well.

The recipe from my childhood used Hidden Valley Ranch dressing or mayonnaise as the main creaminess factor, but my recipe uses Greek yogurt for a creamy, rich texture. And, instead of baking the chicken ourselves, we'll take the easy road with one of the most delicious convenience items of all time: rotisserie chicken. Though if you're feeling up for it, you could roast a whole chicken yourself, and it'd be delightful. Finally, we'll nix the celery and instead double down on the green onions.

Key Ingredients & Notes

• Rotisserie chicken - In most grocery stores you can find a prepared rotisserie chicken, and they are life-saving when you need convenience! We get at least one per week to get us through busy nights, or to include in recipes such as chicken salad, soups, or enchiladas. Best. Shortcut. Ever.
• Greek yogurt - Greek yogurt is a key ingredient that makes chicken salad ultra creamy and protein-packed, without using all mayo. 2% or whole milk Greek yogurt is key for the best flavor!
• Red grapes - Red grapes add a plump, juicy, sweetness and play so well with the savory elements of this chicken salad.
• Pecans - For delicious crunch, healthy fats, and flavor. You could also replace these with some cayenne maple toasted walnuts for some spicy-sweet action!

Substitutions & Variations

• Nuts - Almonds, pistachios, cayenne maple toasted walnuts, or even these roasted rosemary nuts would be delicious swaps for pecans, depending on what flavor profile you're going for. If you're allergic to nuts, sunflower seeds or pepitas will work perfectly.
• Spicy - Add fresh jalapeños to this or any chicken salad recipe.
• Crunchy - If serving on a sandwich or salad, I love a sprinkle of Terra Chips. Potato chips or your favorite would be delicious - have fun with flavor here!
• Lemon & Parsley - Add a squeeze of lemon and some very finely chopped parsley for extra incredible flavor!

Let's Make This Chicken Salad

Step 1: Toast the pecans. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and add the pecans in a flat layer (spread out) on a sheet pan. Toast at 375 degrees for ten minutes in the oven while you prepare the rest of the salad.

Step 2: If you haven't already, cut rotisserie chicken up into ~½-inch chunks, halve grapes, and slice green onions. Combine everything together in a large bowl. Once pecans are toasted, roughly chop them and add to the bowl along with Greek yogurt, salt, and pepper.

Step 3: Stir ingredients together until fully coated in yogurt. Taste and adjust spices if desired. Place in the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes before enjoying.

Hint: To avoid burning the pecans, pay attention to when the become fragrant and pull them out even if it's before the 10-minute mark. Everyone's oven is different, so sometimes it's best to use sensory guidelines!

Storage

You can store chicken salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week!

I don't recommend freezing chicken salad, but if you want to pre-chop and freeze rotisserie chicken, you can do so in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months. This isn't a bad idea for soups, dips, enchiladas, or other chicken uses!

Serving Ideas

Due to its versatility, there are numerous delicious ways to service chicken salad. We can't really pick among them, so we change it up to get the best of all worlds. Below are the ways on our regular rotation (oh, you can bet we frequent chicken salad land):

• On toasted sourdough or whole wheat sandwich bread
• A giant scoop on salads with tons of mixed greens and crunchy veggies galore
• In whole grain wraps
• On croissants
• Let's be real, on any possible carby vehicle with toasting potential
• On crackers (Triscuits and Mary's Gone Crackers are faves right now!)

Did you make this healthy chicken salad? Don't forget to leave a star rating 🌟 and comment below, and tag me on Instagram and Pinterest so I can see what you made!