Last week, my friend Rachel and I were chatting over IM during work and we decided that we needed to take advantage of the worldly culture that the great city of Chicago has to offer by bringing a picnic to a free international jazz concert in Millennium Park. It took a little bit of convincing (and the promise of a few bottles of wine) to convince her husband that a multicultural concert in the park was exactly how he wanted to spend his Thursday night, but he relented and the menu planning begun.
We had a lot of grand plans for a sun-dried tomato dip, pasta salad and cheese and crackers but we also decided that we needed some form of a main course – heartier than cheese, but easy enough to transport and eat on paper plates in the park. I had chicken in my fridge and immediately knew I wanted to make chicken salad.
Because the outing was impromptu and I needed to shower, cook and finish my work (and not in that order), I didn’t want to use anything that wasn’t already in my fridge or pantry. Celery is a perfect way to add bulk and crunch to chicken salad to offset the creaminess of the dressing and the tangy cranberries add a touch of sweetness.
Serve this on whole grain bread as a sandwich, over spinach or greens as a salad or even on top of crackers for a quick lunch or light dinner.
- 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
- ½ cup light mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ⅓ cup chopped celery
- ⅓ cup sweetened dried cranberries
- ¼ cup (about 2 ounces) coarsely chopped roasted almonds
- Poach chicken: Fill a Dutch oven two-thirds full of water; bring to a boil.
- Wrap each chicken breast half completely and tightly in heavy-duty plastic wrap. Add the chicken to boiling water. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until a thermometer registers 165°. Remove from pan, and let stand for 5 minutes. Unwrap chicken and shred; refrigerate for 30 minutes or until cold.
- Combine mayonnaise and the next 7 ingredients (through black pepper) in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk until combined. Add chicken, ⅓ cup celery, cranberries, and almonds; toss well to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Serve over salad greens.
57 Comments
How To Cook Perfect Roast Chicken Cooking Tips
October 24, 2016 at 12:06 am[…] dinner that if you’re cooking for one or two two people, will yield you leftovers for chicken salad, avgolemono chicken soup, or other quick meals all week long. It’s also hard to go wrong with […]
Spicy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Pumpkin Snack Recipes
September 14, 2016 at 8:44 pm[…] the fun things you did as a kid, but with a more sophisticated twist. Picnics in the park can mean sandwiches, but also fancy cheeses and your favorite sparkling wine. Movie and pizza nights mean fresh fig, […]
Katarzyna
February 20, 2016 at 3:47 pmAaand I’m hungry! 😀 I’m looking at your salad and craving it – too bad I have no chicken in the fridge at the moment, because I would make it right now 🙂
Aida@TheCraftingFoodie
February 20, 2016 at 10:22 amYum – I love a chicken salad with salty and sweet components. That is my favorite, and I love how packed that sandwich is with filling. I LOVE it. And I totally wish it was the summer right now because I’d love to have a picnic outside 🙂
Allison Jones
February 20, 2016 at 8:45 amI love chicken salad. It’s so good on top of Ritz crackers. This looks delicious!
LiveLifeWell,
Allison
Patricia @ Grab a Plate
February 19, 2016 at 10:57 pmSounds like a great Thursday night! I looooove chicken salad, and yours looks so good. I know I’m going to crave this until I make it, so I’m pinning it now 🙂
Kari
February 19, 2016 at 12:27 pmThis looks delicious! Chicken salad is always a winner.
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Nine Creative Office Lunches | Career Girl NetworkCareer Girl Network
July 30, 2014 at 3:00 pm[…] Creamy Crunchy Chicken Salad: When you order chicken salad out, it’s almost always full of hidden fat and calories. Make your own and pack it full of celery, grapes or dried cranberries and chopped almonds. Eat it over lettuce or on a pretzel roll. Get the recipe. […]
Summer Picnic Potluck in the Park – In Good Taste
April 16, 2014 at 12:05 pm[…] Creamy Chicken Salad with Cranberries & Almonds […]
Betty @ scrambled hen fruit
July 25, 2011 at 10:18 pmWhat a fun way to spend an evening! This chicken salad looks like a good choice too- I love cranberries and almonds in mine! 🙂
Pudding Pie Lane
July 20, 2011 at 4:47 pmI love the flavours going into this, a great mix!
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen
July 20, 2011 at 1:21 pmThis is my kind of sandwich. I would pile it high and not look back!
claire
July 19, 2011 at 12:13 pmMMMMMMMM. I love chicken salad esp. with almonds and cranberries!!!
Heavenly Housewife
July 19, 2011 at 9:58 amI just adore a nice chicken salad, and this one sounds amazing. I love how you’ve got sweet and savoury and crunchy all together. I can tell this would be delicious.
*kisses* HH
NancyC
July 18, 2011 at 9:54 pmYum! It’s been awhile since I made chicken salad–I’m going to have to try this out!
Reeni
July 18, 2011 at 7:07 pmI love the sweet chewiness of the cranberries with the crunch of the almonds! I use lots of these same ingredients in my tuna salad so I know this is some good stuff!
alyssa - fashion fitness foodie
July 18, 2011 at 6:31 pmthis reminds me of the chicken salad at trader joes! im in love with it 🙂
The Harried Cook
July 18, 2011 at 1:29 pmI love all the ingredients in this salad! So yummy… Thanks for the recipe, Maris!
Erin @ The Speckled Palate
July 18, 2011 at 1:03 pmThis chicken salad sounds perfect for any outdoorsy activity, and it sounds a lot lighter than a lot of other chicken salad recipes that I have found online recently. I’m going to have to give this a shot, as I’m a huge chicken salad fan. And I love not using a TON of mayo in it. Thanks, Maris!
The Teenage Taste
July 18, 2011 at 11:49 amThis sandwich looks like the epitome of Summer! I love that you added cranberries. I bet they add the perfect amount of sweetness to the salad.
Nicole@HeatOvenTo350
July 18, 2011 at 10:57 amWhat a delicious and light chicken salad! And a perfect venue to enjoy it, I might add.
Christina @ Sweet Pea's Kitchen
July 18, 2011 at 10:55 amSuch a delicious looking chicken salad! So simple and delicious! 😀
Rachel W.
July 18, 2011 at 10:43 amWould we call the Cuban group a jazz group? Haha.
Susan
July 18, 2011 at 10:43 amI love a good chicken salad! The addition of the dried cranberries and almonds sounds delicious. We have those Jazz in the Park concerts downtown on Thursdays here also. Not as grand as Chicago’s I’m sure but fun to pack wine, food and chairs for a fun night of music and people watching 😉
Kate
July 18, 2011 at 10:41 amYummy! This looks so simple and delicious. I might just have to make this for lunch 🙂
shannon
July 18, 2011 at 9:44 amlove throwing something sweet like dried cranberries or cherries in chicken salad!!
Aggie
July 18, 2011 at 8:21 amI love adding celery to my creamy salads! This is a great way to change up chicken salad, looks great! I’m a little jealous of your Chicago culture 🙂 We don’t have an abundance of that in my little suburban town…or maybe I need to open my eyes a little more 🙂
Kitchen Belleicious
July 18, 2011 at 7:02 amYour killing me. I can’t keep up with you and your posts! I have missed like 3 since last friday? Anyway, I love love me some chicken salad. It is all I craved with my first son and it is all I am craving now while begin prego with this little one. Your version sounds perfect with the almonds and cranberries. I like a little crunch to my chicken salad too!
Angie@Angiesrecipes
July 18, 2011 at 6:46 amA very delicious combination of flavours. I love chicken salad..but never tried a creamy one…the addition of nuts and cranberries must have added so much more flavours and textures to the sandwich.
Joanne
July 18, 2011 at 6:36 amYou just turned chicken salad from some boring thing that my mom used to make to something delicious and craveable!
Blond Duck
July 18, 2011 at 6:10 amThis looks much better than the typical chicken salad!
Aimee @ clever muffin
July 18, 2011 at 3:18 amThis looks so mouth watering! I’m hungry for lunch now and it’s only 9am…what have you done …. 🙂
Sophia
July 18, 2011 at 1:46 amAn outdoor picnic with multicultural notes?! That’s exactly how I would LOVE to spend a Thursday night! It sounds so perfect.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
July 18, 2011 at 12:58 amMaris, you’re reading my mind! I have lots of turkey and cranberries and was wondering what to do with them 🙂
kankana
July 18, 2011 at 12:56 amThis would be a dream picnic for me. Music, wine and sandwich with friends in the park. I like the addition of cranberries in the sandwich .. it will add that refreshing sweet taste in every bite.
Little Inbox
July 17, 2011 at 11:42 pmYou have so much goodies sandwiched in between. 🙂
Ali Grace
July 17, 2011 at 11:42 pmI’m a chicken salad freak! Seriously a freak… I love all kinds. I just made some with cranberries and almonds for the 4th of July, but I’ve never thought to use white wine vinegar. Great idea! Also – I’ve never cooked my chicken that way but I’m definitely going to give it a try. Thanks so much!
Maria @ Scandifoodie
July 17, 2011 at 11:33 pmOh I love those flavours and this could easily be made into a full veggie meal as well!
Tara @ Chip Chip Hooray
July 17, 2011 at 10:03 pmSounds like a great Thursday night! I hope the concert was good–I have only been to Chicago once, but Millennium Park was one of my favorite stops (along with deep dish pizza and the art museum, haha). 🙂
Gina
July 17, 2011 at 9:15 pmSounds great to me, I love the punch the cranberries add. Hope you had a nice weekend.
-Gina-
mandy
July 17, 2011 at 9:05 pmI have been craving chicken salad lately so this post is quite timely. I really love the idea of using dried cranberries and almonds to make the chicken salad different. I know what I’m making tomorrow.
Junia @ Mis Pensamientos
July 17, 2011 at 8:56 pmahh i love picnics in the park! chicken salad is a fabulous choice to bring. i am having a picnic with the ladies from my church and we are calling it “bring the ultimate picnic salad”! 😀
BakerbyNature
July 17, 2011 at 7:10 pmWhat a wonderfully gourmet twist on the usual mayo central chicken salad! I love dried cranberries and almonds in everything; looking forward to all Chicago offers when I visit in August!
Daryl (Mom)
July 17, 2011 at 6:56 pmWish I had this (and you!) in front of me right this very minute.
Greg
July 17, 2011 at 6:36 pmJust wanna say YUM!
Maureen
July 17, 2011 at 6:36 pmThis could very well replace my favorite sandwich of all time. Yum!
Lynne @ 365 Days of Baking
July 17, 2011 at 6:33 pmI’m not waiting for a picnic, this needs to be made now!
Shari @ Chicago Cuisine Critique
July 17, 2011 at 6:09 pmLooks delicious! 🙂
Divya Yadava
July 17, 2011 at 4:46 pmNeat idea – would never have thought of adding cranberries and almonds!
yummychunklet
July 17, 2011 at 4:44 pmThis looks really delicious! I may substitute the cranberries for green grapes, just to see if it tastes like the stuff in the grocery stores!
sarah
July 17, 2011 at 4:26 pmChicken salad sandwich is one of my favorites! Love the addition of cranberries AND roasted almonds. That sounds fantastic together.
Three-Cookies
July 17, 2011 at 4:05 pmWow, creative and very interesting, salted nuts and dried fruits is an awesome combination, even on its own as a snack. I wonder how well celery fitted in?
marci
July 17, 2011 at 3:54 pmone of my favorites, yum! i haven’t made it at home though!
rebecca
July 17, 2011 at 3:15 pmwonderful chicken salad recipe and what a cool city to be in especially in the summer
Lisa of Lisa's Yarns
July 17, 2011 at 1:04 pmThis sounds delicious. I have been eating the same things for lunch week after week, I should mix it up and make this!!
Laura @ SweetSavoryPlanet
July 17, 2011 at 1:02 pmChicken salad on crackers in a park with music and wine! Why would anyone have to be convinced? This is one of my favorite things about summer is music festivals/events and picnics in the park. Great picnic menu.
Simply Life
July 17, 2011 at 12:41 pmlooks like the perfect sandwich for an outdoor picnic!