Classic Apple Pecan Chicken salad will become one of your favorite go-to chicken salad recipes. Loaded with must-have crunchies like apples, buttery pecans, shallots, and celery; then lightly dressed in a bright lemon, tarragon mayonnaise dressing.
Start by melting butter in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add chopped pecans and stir around until toasted and fragrant, don't walk away they can burn fast. Will take 4-5 minutes. Set aside and allow to cool while assembling the rest of the chicken salad.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, lemon zest, lemon juice, tarragon until smooth.
Toss in chopped apples and chopped celery. Add chopped or shredded chicken (if just baked, cool for 10-15 minutes until just warm to touch), and ½ cup of the pecans (reserving the balance for serving).
Stir in shallots with chicken mixing all ingredients until combined.
Cover and chill a few hours before serving -- though I have certainly rushed this and eaten it straight out of the bowl! The flavors have time to marry when you let it chill together. Toss remaining pecans on top of salad for serving.
Notes
Serving suggestions:Serve on top of a bed of lettuce, on a croissant, crackers or between slices of bread. See post for more 9 unique ways to serve as an appetizer, meal, lunch or meal prep.Take the Bite out of red onions, shallots or raw onions, by soaking in ice water for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain and enjoy. GLUTEN FREE & DAIRY FREE CHICKEN SALAD Replace butter with favorite plant based butter or toast dry in pan.Make sure your rotisserie chicken, pre-baked chicken and mayo are all gluten and dairy free.Substitute for celery in chicken salad? I get it, it took me years to like celery. You can omit if you don't like it at all, or if you want to replace that crunch try these below.
more chopped apples, or try pears too
chopped carrots, radishes, zucchini or cucumbers
Finely dice bell peppers, tomatoes
Try dried fruit, like dates, craisins, apricots chopped
Finally, add more nuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, sunflower seeds.