There’s just something about the perfect balance of sweet, crunchy, and creamy that makes the Cranberry Chicken Salad with Walnuts Recipe a total winner in my kitchen. Every bite feels fresh and festive, making it great for a quick lunch or a crowd-pleasing potluck dish.

The image shows a white sandwich with three layers. The bottom layer is soft white bread. Above it, there is a fresh green lettuce leaf that covers the bread fully. On top of the lettuce is a thick layer of chicken salad mixed with chopped celery, dark red dried cranberries, and small bits of fresh herbs, all coated in a creamy dressing that makes the ingredients stick together. The salad layer is chunky and spreads out past the edges of the bread slightly. The sandwich is finished with another slice of soft white bread placed at an angle on top. The whole sandwich is on a white plate with subtle stripes, set against a white marbled surface, with a glimpse of a striped cloth in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Cranberry Chicken Salad with Walnuts Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Cranberry Chicken Salad with Walnuts Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Cranberry Chicken Salad with Walnuts Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I have to admit, when I first tried this Cranberry Chicken Salad with Walnuts Recipe, I wasn’t expecting how well the flavors would come together. It’s not your average chicken salad — the cranberries add a lovely sweet tang, the walnuts bring crunch, and the dill brightens everything up.

Perfect blend of textures: The crunch of walnuts and celery contrasts beautifully with tender chicken and creamy mayo.
Fresh and bright flavors: The orange zest and dill elevate the salad with zesty, herbal notes.
Quick and versatile: You can whip this up in 20 minutes and enjoy it in sandwiches, wraps, or over greens.
Great use for leftovers: Use whatever cooked chicken you have on hand, making it a practical meal saver.

The image shows a sandwich and a bowl of chicken salad on a white marbled surface. The sandwich is on a green textured round plate and has three layers: a base slice of light brown soft bread, a layer of green lettuce leaf on the bread, and a thick creamy chicken salad mixed with small pieces of celery, dark red dried cranberries, and green herbs piled on top, finished with another slice of light brown soft bread on top. Above the plate, there is a white bowl with a black rim filled with the chicken salad. A green and yellow striped cloth is placed near the top right corner. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Cranberry Chicken Salad with Walnuts Recipe brings something important to the table, creating a balanced and flavorful dish. Choosing fresh, quality components really helps pull it all together.

Flat lay of chopped cooked chicken breast pieces, a small white bowl of chopped scallions with green and white ends, a small white bowl of sliced celery stalks, a small white bowl filled with dried cranberries, a small white bowl containing chopped walnuts, a small white bowl of fresh chopped dill, a small white bowl with bright orange zest, a small white bowl holding creamy mayonnaise, plus a white ceramic dish with whole uncracked salt and peppercorns placed separately, all arranged symmetrically on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Chopped cooked chicken: Using tender, cooked chicken is key — leftover roast chicken or poached chicken works perfectly for moist, flavorful bites.
Chopped scallions: They add a mild onion flavor without overpowering the salad.
Sliced celery: Crunchy celery brings fresh texture and balance.
Dried cranberries: Sweet and tart, these give the salad a bright pop of flavor and chewy texture.
Chopped walnuts (or pecans): Nuts create satisfying crunch and a buttery note that complements the fruitiness.
Fresh chopped dill: Dill adds a vibrant herbal kick that keeps this salad fresh and lively.
Orange zest: Zest provides citrusy brightness that lifts the entire salad.
Mayonnaise: The creamy base ties all the flavors together and coats everything in delicious richness.
Salt and pepper: Essential to enhance and balance all the flavors.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the things I love about this Cranberry Chicken Salad with Walnuts Recipe is how easy it is to tweak to your liking. Whether you want it lighter, nuttier, or with a touch more sweetness, it’s totally flexible.

Variation: I sometimes swap the walnuts for toasted pecans or almonds — it gives a slightly different crunch but keeps that rich, nutty flavor.
Dietary tweaks: For a lighter option, you can replace some or all of the mayo with Greek yogurt; it still stays creamy and tangy.
Seasonal additions: Adding diced apple or pear gives a fresh twist that's fantastic in fall and winter.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Cranberry Chicken Salad with Walnuts Recipe

Step 1: Gather and Prep Your Ingredients

The first thing I do is chop the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces; make sure it’s not too chunky so it mixes well. Next, I chop scallions, celery, walnuts, and dill, zest the orange, and have my dried cranberries ready—everything should be prepped before mixing to make the process smooth and quick.

Step 2: Mix the Salad Base

In a large bowl, combine the chicken, scallions, celery, cranberries, walnuts, dill, and orange zest. I like to mix these dry ingredients first to evenly distribute the zest and dill instead of letting them clump in one spot. This little step makes a huge difference in flavor consistency.

Step 3: Add the Mayonnaise and Season

Now, stir in the mayonnaise until everything is well coated. Don’t skip tasting at this stage—I usually add salt and pepper in small amounts and adjust to taste until it feels just right. Trust me, seasoning is where many chicken salads fall short, so taking the time pays off.

Step 4: Chill and Serve

Cover the bowl and chill the salad for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors marry. When it's served chilled, the textures and flavors really shine. This step can’t be rushed — patience yields the most delicious results!

Top Tip

Over the years, I’ve realized that little tweaks and attention to ingredient prep are what make this Cranberry Chicken Salad with Walnuts Recipe truly stand out. Here are a few key tricks I've learned:

Evenly distribute herbs and zest: Mixing dill and orange zest into dry ingredients first helps avoid uneven bursts of flavor.
Use quality mayo or substitutes: When I tried using a lower-fat option at first, the texture wasn’t as creamy — but a good-quality mayo or half mayo/half yogurt blend keeps it luscious.
Fresh celery for crunch: Don’t skip rinsing and drying celery — it keeps the salad crisp instead of soggy.
Adjust seasoning last: Salting and peppering after mixing mayo ensures the seasoning is just right since mayo tends to mellow flavors.

How to Serve Cranberry Chicken Salad with Walnuts Recipe

cranberry chicken salad - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love adding a sprinkle of fresh dill on top when serving to add a pop of green and a fresh aroma. Sometimes, I throw in an extra few walnut halves for eye appeal and crunch. A light dusting of cracked black pepper finishes it off beautifully.

Side Dishes

This chicken salad pairs wonderfully with simple sides like crisp lettuce leaves, crunchy cucumber slices, or a scoop of quinoa salad. For something heartier, I like serving it alongside roasted sweet potatoes or a warm vegetable soup.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I’ve served this cranberry chicken salad in buttery croissant sliders or stuffed inside avocado halves for a colorful, elegant appetizer. It’s also great scooped onto endive leaves for a pretty finger-food option.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I always store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. The salad keeps well for about 3 to 4 days, though I recommend giving it a quick stir before serving again to redistribute the dressing and flavors.

Freezing

In my experience, this salad doesn’t freeze well because mayonnaise can separate and celery loses its crunch when thawed. So I advise making just enough to enjoy fresh and storing leftovers in the fridge.

Reheating

This salad is best served cold or at room temperature. If you have leftover chicken without the salad mixed in, you can warm that separately. Mixing the salad with warm chicken isn’t as tasty because you lose that refreshing crispness.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this Cranberry Chicken Salad with Walnuts Recipe with rotisserie chicken?

Absolutely! Rotisserie chicken is a fantastic shortcut and adds lots of flavor. Just remove the skin and bones before chopping it up for the salad.

Can I substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt?

Yes, you can! Using Greek yogurt or a mixture of Greek yogurt and mayo makes a lighter, tangier chicken salad. Just keep an eye on the moisture so it doesn’t get too dry.

How far in advance can I prepare this salad?

You can make this salad the day before you plan to serve it. Chilling it overnight actually helps develop the flavors even more. Just give it a good stir before serving.

What can I serve this salad with for a light meal?

Serve the cranberry chicken salad over mixed greens, in a whole-grain wrap, or inside a pita pocket with some crunchy lettuce and tomatoes for a satisfying and light lunch.

Final Thoughts

This Cranberry Chicken Salad with Walnuts Recipe has become one of my go-to dishes whenever I want something quick, tasty, and a little bit special. It hits all the right notes — creamy, crunchy, sweet, and fresh — and it’s a recipe I’m excited to share with friends. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do!