This crunchy and delectable yogurt pecan chicken salad takes less than 10 minutes to assemble, is keto, wholesome with vegetables added, and mouthwatering good! Top this satisfying meal over fresh greens or turn it into a chicken salad wrap with butter lettuce or tortillas.
You can also make my slow cooker chicken and use some of it for this recipe. Have leftover holiday turkey? It works here too, just like my leftover turkey salad sandwich.
Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: none
- ⏳ Total Time: 10 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 2 to 4
- ⚡ Calories: 514kcal per serving for 2 servings without grapes, per the recipe card
- 🥣 Ingredients: mayonnaise or Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, red onion, dried thyme, fresh parsley or basil, canned white chicken or rotisserie chicken, shredded carrot, celery, pecans, salt and pepper, romaine and green grapes
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Creamy and tangy with crunchy pecans and sweet grapes
- ✋ Difficulty: Chop, stir, serve
Quick Answer
In a large bowl mix ½ cup mayonnaise or Greek yogurt (or a combo), 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons finely diced red onion, ½ cup finely chopped celery, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 tablespoon fresh parsley or basil, a drained 12.5 ounce can of white chicken (or 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken) and ¼ cup shredded carrot. Fold in ¼ cup chopped pecans and season with salt and pepper. Serve over 4 to 6 cups chopped romaine with halved green grapes and fresh basil. It serves 2 to 4.
Jump to:
- Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Chicken Salad Stays Crunchy and Creamy
- Why You'll Love This Pecan Chicken Salad
- Pecan Chicken Salad Ingredients
- Ways to Use This Chicken Salad
- How to Make Pecan Chicken Salad
- Expert Tips
- More Healthy Salads and Lunches
- Pecan Chicken Salad FAQs
- More Easy Chicken Recipes
- Pecan Chicken Salad
We have been using up pantry items and canned chicken is on the list when I want a hearty protein-packed lunch. Instead of mayonnaise I like to use nondairy yogurt or Greek yogurt in recipes that call for mayonnaise. So, in this recipe I provide options to make this pecan chicken salad with either yogurt or mayo, for a lower fat option.
Why This Chicken Salad Stays Crunchy and Creamy
Click to see why it works
- Drain the chicken well. Pressing out the liquid keeps the dressing thick.
- Chop fine. Very finely chopped celery and onion and finely grated carrot blend nicely with the chicken.
- Fold the pecans in last so they stay crunchy.
- Yogurt, mayo or both. Yogurt is a bit tart, mayo is creamier, and a combo gives the best of both.
- Grapes on top, not mixed in, so fruit-free eaters can skip them.
Why You'll Love This Pecan Chicken Salad
- Ready in less than 10 minutes with pantry staples.
- Keto friendly when made with full fat mayonnaise or full fat Greek yogurt.
- Like a Waldorf chicken salad, with the grapes sprinkled on top after.
- So many ways to serve it, from salads to wraps to sandwiches.
- Great for leftovers like rotisserie chicken or holiday turkey.
Pecan Chicken Salad Ingredients
- Canned chicken in water - make sure to drain out as much of the liquid as possible. You can substitute a 12.5 ounce can of white chicken meat with 2 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken.
- Yogurt or mayonnaise or both! Yogurt has a different flavor than mayo's cream-like flavor. It is a bit tart, but still delicious.
- Vegetables such as carrots, celery and onion - chop the celery and onion very fine and use a fine grater for the carrots.
- Dijon mustard and herbs - provide flavor and complement the chicken and vegetables.
- Pecans and grapes - the grapes add delicious sweetness, but leave them out for a low carb salad.
See recipe card for quantities.
Ways to Use This Chicken Salad
- Over greens. Serve it over a bed of romaine lettuce, baby kale, spinach, or arugula.
- As a wrap. Turn it into a tortilla wrap, or keep it keto wrapped in butter lettuce leaves.
- As a pot pie. Scoop it into a gluten-free pie crust, bake the crust according to package directions and heat with the chicken filling at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes, covered, until warmed through.
- As a sandwich between two slices of gluten-free bread (or your favorite bread).
This pecan chicken salad is pretty much a Waldorf chicken salad recipe, made without grapes or apples mixed in (green grapes are sprinkled on the salad after). If you are like my hubby and don't like to mix fruit in savory dishes, feel free to leave them out.
How to Make Pecan Chicken Salad
1Mix the dressing and chicken. In a large bowl, add the mayonnaise (or yogurt or a combo of both), mustard, onion, celery, thyme, parsley (or basil), chicken, and carrots and mix well.
2Fold in the pecans. Fold in the pecans and season with salt and pepper to taste.
3Serve. Divide the lettuce between 2-4 bowls. Top with the chicken salad, the optional grapes and fresh basil leaves.
As always, be sure to check out the full recipe details in the recipe card below.
Expert Tips
- Rotisserie or canned? I have made it both ways. Rotisserie is more flavorful and canned is more convenient.
- Too tangy? Some yogurts can make chicken salad slightly tangy. Add 1 tablespoon mayo or melted butter for a creamier flavor.
- Make it keto with full fat mayonnaise or full fat Greek yogurt and no grapes.
- Eat it within 1-2 days, otherwise the pecans lose their crunch.
- Grate the carrots fine so they blend in.
More Healthy Salads and Lunches
More salads: Spinach Salad Recipe Made with Honey Mustard Dressing, Chicken Spinach Strawberry Salad with Turmeric Almond Dressing, Cucumber Tomato Salad and Broccoli Grape Salad With Pecans.
More easy lunches: Crostini Tuna Melt Appetizers, Broccoli Tots and Easy Chicken Breast Recipe with Delicata Squash Sauce.
Cooking chicken ahead? Try my Crockpot Chicken, or turn leftovers into Gluten-Free Chicken Pot Pie.
Pecan Chicken Salad FAQs
Yes. Use 2 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken in place of a 12.5 ounce can of white chicken meat. Rotisserie is more flavorful and canned is more convenient.
It is best eaten within 1 to 2 days. After that the pecans lose their crunch and can become soft.
Use full fat mayonnaise or full fat Greek yogurt and leave out the grapes.
Yes. Use nondairy yogurt or 2% or higher plain Greek yogurt, or a combo of yogurt and mayo. Add 1 tablespoon mayo or melted butter if it tastes too tangy.
It is very close to a Waldorf chicken salad, made without grapes or apples mixed in. The green grapes go on top instead.
Over romaine, baby kale, spinach or arugula, in a tortilla or butter lettuce wrap, in a pie crust as a pot pie, or as a sandwich.
More Easy Chicken Recipes
Keep lunch easy with Crockpot Chicken, Chicken Spinach Strawberry Salad, Chicken Pot Pie and Leftover Turkey Salad Sandwich. I hope you enjoy this pecan chicken salad! Follow along with me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter for a feature and more recipe inspiration! And don't forget to leave a comment below!
Pecan Chicken Salad
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Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise preferably olive oil or lite mayo, or use nondairy yogurt or 2% or higher plain Greek yogurt *see notes below
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons red onion diced very fine or minced
- 1 teaspoon thyme dry
- 1 tablespoon parsley or basil fresh and chopped
- 1 12.5 ounce can of white chicken meat drained, or 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- ¼ cup shredded carrot
- ½ cup celery stalks, finely chopped
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh basil leaves for garnish
- 4-6 cups romaine lettuce chopped, or other lettuce
- ½ cup green grapes halved
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the mayonnaise (or yogurt or a combo of both), mustard, onion, celery, thyme, parsley (or basil), chicken, and carrots. Mix well then fold in the pecans and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Divide the lettuce between 2-4 bowls. Top with the chicken salad, (optional grapes) and garnish with fresh basil leaves (small leaves or chop them).
Judie says
Very , very good. I didn’t change one thing. So easy, so good
Danielle Fahrenkrug, Certified Health & Nutrition Life Coach says
Thank you Judie, so glad you love this salad and thank you for writing in:)!