With dried cranberries and pistachios, this chicken salad is perfect for the holiday season, but it’s delicious any time of year!
I love a good chicken salad, and this Cranberry Pistachio Chicken Salad is my favorite version to serve during the holiday season.
With the addition of dried cranberries and pistachios, it has hints of red and green that make it perfect for a Thanksgiving or Christmas buffet.
And it probably goes without saying that although it’s a chicken salad, it’s a wonderful way to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey.
I like to serve this salad in sliced croissants. It’s kind of a fancy, grown up version of the usual leftover turkey sandwich. But of course, this chicken salad is delicious any time of year.
It’s also perfect for picnics, spring celebrations, and light summer dinners when it’s just to hot outside to turn on the oven.
If you don’t have leftover turkey or chicken, you can cook and chop your own chicken for this salad, but I always go the route of the supermarket rotisserie chicken to save time.
Just be sure your chicken is completely cooled before you add the mayonnaise and other ingredients.
You can definitely use other dried fruits and nuts in this recipe too. I love the red and greed for the holiday season, but dried cherries and even raisins will work, along with just about any kind of chopped nuts.
The combination of savory, sweet, salty and tart ingredients in this chicken salad make it both delicious and interesting, and it always gets rave reviews.
If you’re looking for a festive and tasty twist on chicken salad, you’ve got to try this Cranberry Pistachio Chicken Salad. It’s sure to become a favorite!
Be sure to save this Cranberry Pistachio Chicken Salad recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Here’s what you’ll need to make Cranberry Pistachio Chicken Salad
- Chicken
- Dried cranberries
- Pistachios
- Produce: celery, shallots, garlic, fresh parsley, lemons
- Mayonnaise
- Greek yogurt
- Sugar
- Milk
- Spices: ground ginger, thyme, salt and pepper
Cranberry Pistachio Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked cubed chicken
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup pistachios coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup celery finely diced
- 2 tablespoons minced shallot
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2-3 tablespoons milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
Equipment
- Wooden Spoons
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss together the chicken, cranberries, pistachios, celery, shallots and garlic.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, yogurt, sugar, lemon juice, ginger and thyme until smooth. Add milk, as needed, to reach desired consistency.
- Add mayonnaise mixture to salad and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in fresh parsley. Serve on lettuce leaves, or in croissants or sandwich buns.
Video
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Nutrition
Never miss a Let’s Dish Recipe:
Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
If you love this recipe, you might also like:
More Delicious Salad Recipes
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
All the flavors of Mexican street corn, including fresh grilled corn on the cob, come together in this colorful and delicious pasta salad.
Broccoli Bowtie Pasta Salad
Farfalle pasta is tossed in a sweet and tangy mayonnaise dressing with broccoli, grapes, bacon and chopped pecans in this unique and tasty salad.
Curry Chicken Orzo Salad
Tender chicken, orzo, apples, almonds and celery tossed in a creamy curried mayonnaise dressing. Serve on thick sliced bread or croissants.
Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad
Chicken, tomatoes and edamame are combined with shell pasta and tossed with basil pesto in this simple but delicious salad.
Greek Pasta Salad
Rotini pasta is combined with tomatoes, peppers, olive, feta and pepperoni, then tossed in an olive oil and vinegar dressing in this easy-to-make pasta salad recipe.
Broccoli Ramen Noodle Salad
Just dump all the ingredients for this unique salad into a big bowl, toss and refrigerate, and you'll have a tasty salad that's perfect for potlucks and backyard barbecues.
Best Tuna Pasta Salad
Shell pasta, hard boiled eggs, tuna, celery and peas are tossed with a dill infused mayonnaise dressing in this classic pasta salad that is always a hit at potlucks and barbecues.
Orzo Chicken Salad
Orzo pasta and tender chicken combine with grapes, celery, mayonnaise and seasonings in this unique twist on traditional chicken salad.
Italian Hoagie Pasta Salad
Everything you love about your favorite Italian sub sandwich is packed into this hearty pasta salad. Perfect for barbecues, potlucks, or a light summer meal.
Who Dished It Up First: This is an original recipe
