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Fresh Classic Chicken Salad with Grapes & Pecans

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A fresh, crunchy, and slightly sweet chicken salad featuring juicy grapes and toasted pecans, perfect for a light yet filling summer meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or chopped
  • 1 cup red seedless grapes, halved
  • 1/2 cup pecans, toasted and roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup celery, finely diced
  • 2 tablespoons green onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup cottage cheese, blended smooth
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken by poaching gently in simmering water with a pinch of salt for about 15 minutes until fully cooked and tender. Once cooled, shred or dice into bite-sized pieces.
  2. Toast the pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant and slightly darker in color. Remove from heat and let cool.
  3. Rinse and halve the grapes, dice the celery finely, and thinly slice the green onions.
  4. In a mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, blended cottage cheese, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and honey. Whisk together until creamy and well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Add the shredded chicken, grapes, celery, green onions, and toasted pecans to the bowl with the dressing. Gently fold everything together until evenly coated, being careful not to overmix.
  6. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

Poach chicken gently to keep it tender. Toast pecans carefully to avoid burning. Blend cottage cheese and mayo first for extra smooth dressing. Chill salad before serving to let flavors meld. For dairy-free, substitute cottage cheese with mashed avocado or vegan mayo. Pecans can be swapped with walnuts or almonds.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken salad, grapes, pecans, summer recipe, easy chicken salad, healthy chicken salad, creamy chicken salad, quick lunch

Find it online: https://zorbmeal.com/fresh-classic-chicken-salad-with-grapes-and-pecans-easy-homemade-recipe-for-summer/