Ingredients:
For the Salad:
2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded (grilled or roasted)
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup pecans, roughly chopped (toasted for extra flavor)
1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup apples, diced (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work well)
4-6 cups mixed salad greens or baby spinach
For the Poppy Seed Dressing:
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.
Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, combine the diced chicken, dried cranberries, pecans, celery, red onion, and apple. Toss to mix.
Mix in the Dressing: Pour the poppy seed dressing over the chicken salad mixture. Stir well to coat all the ingredients evenly.
Serve: Place a generous scoop of the chicken salad on top of a bed of mixed salad greens or baby spinach. You can also serve it in a sandwich, wrap, or with crackers.
Optional: Garnish with extra pecans, cranberries, or a sprinkle of poppy seeds for presentation.
This dish offers a great balance of flavors—sweet, savory, and tangy, with a nice crunch from the pecans and celery. Perfect for lunch or a light dinner!