Creamy Pecan Chicken Salad

Creamy Pecan Chicken Salad

Creamy Pecan Chicken Salad is a fresh and satisfying recipe filled with tender chicken, crisp celery, red onion, and crunchy pecans in a rich, flavorful dressing. This kitchen favorite from deesviral is easy to prepare at home and works beautifully for lunch, meal prep, sandwiches, or a light family dinner.

Ingredients

For the Chicken Salad

4 cups cooked chicken breast, cooled and diced
1 cup celery, finely diced
1/3 cup red onion, finely chopped
3/4 cup pecans, toasted and roughly chopped
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
4 cups fresh greens or watercress, for serving

For the Creamy Dressing

3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Preparation Steps

1. Prepare the Chicken

Cook the chicken breasts until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Allow them to cool completely, then cut the chicken into small bite-sized cubes. You can also use leftover roasted or rotisserie chicken for an easier preparation.

2. Toast the Pecans

Place the pecans in a dry skillet over medium-low heat. Toast for 3–5 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly golden. Remove from the heat and allow them to cool before roughly chopping.

3. Make the Dressing

In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Whisk until smooth and creamy.

4. Combine the Salad

Add the diced chicken, celery, red onion, chopped pecans, and parsley to a large mixing bowl. Pour the creamy dressing over the ingredients and gently fold everything together until the chicken is evenly coated.

5. Chill

Cover the bowl and refrigerate the chicken salad for at least 30 minutes. This resting time allows the flavors to blend and gives the salad a refreshing, creamy texture.

6. Serve

Arrange fresh greens or watercress on a serving platter and spoon the chicken salad generously over the top. Garnish with a few additional toasted pecans and a little freshly ground black pepper.

Serving Ideas

This chicken salad is delicious served over fresh greens, tucked into croissants, piled onto toasted bread, wrapped in tortillas, or served with crackers. For a lighter meal, serve it inside lettuce cups with fresh fruit on the side.

Storage

Keep leftover chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. For the best texture, keep any extra pecans separate and add them just before serving so they remain crunchy.

Creamy, crunchy, and full of savory flavor, this Pecan Chicken Salad from deesviral is a versatile homemade recipe that’s just as suitable for an everyday lunch as it is for a special gathering.