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Mandarin Orange Cranberry Chicken Salad

A creamy and refreshing chicken salad featuring tender chicken, juicy mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, crunchy vegetables, and a sweet and tangy honey Dijon dressing. Perfect for lunches, wraps, sandwiches, and gatherings. Makes 6 servings in 35–45 minutes, including chilling.
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Course: Dinner, Lunch, Salad
Cuisine: American
Calories: 370
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups cooked chicken breast, chopped or shredded
  • 15 ounces canned mandarin orange segments, thoroughly drained
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
  • 1/3 cup red onion, finely diced
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans or almonds
  • 2 whole green onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Equipment

  • large mixing bowl
  • Medium mixing bowl
  • cutting board
  • sharp knife
  • Colander
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons
  • whisk
  • silicone spatula
  • Airtight storage container

Method
 

  1. Chop or shred the cooked and completely cooled chicken breast into bite-sized pieces. Place in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Drain the mandarin orange segments thoroughly in a colander. Gently blot away excess moisture.
  3. Finely chop the celery, red onion, parsley, and nuts. Thinly slice the green onions.
  4. Add the dried cranberries, celery, red onion, green onions, and parsley to the chicken. Reserve the mandarin oranges and nuts.
  5. In a separate bowl, whisk the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, honey, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt until creamy and smooth.
  6. Pour the honey Dijon dressing over the chicken mixture and gently stir until everything has an even coating.
  7. Carefully fold in the drained mandarin orange segments without breaking them apart.
  8. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
  9. Gently stir in the chopped pecans or almonds. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Serve chilled over lettuce, in sandwiches, wraps, croissants, or with crackers.

Nutrition

Calories: 370kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 28gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 340mgPotassium: 390mgFiber: 3gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 600IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 1.3mg

Notes

Preparation time: 15 minutes. Chilling time: 20–30 minutes. Total time: 35–45 minutes. Servings: 6. Drain mandarin oranges thoroughly to prevent a watery dressing. Use completely cooled chicken. Add nuts just before serving for maximum crunch. Refrigerate promptly at 40°F or below. Enjoy within 3 days when using freshly cooked chicken, accounting for any earlier chicken storage time. Do not freeze. Nutrition values are approximate estimates per serving and vary by ingredient brands and portion sizes.

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