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Apple cranberry salad in a pretty brown ceramic bowl.
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5 from 2 votes

Apple Cranberry salad with Chicken Recipe

This Apple Cranberry Salad with Chicken holds its own as a main course. Loaded with sweet and savory flavors, plus a touch of heat, it'll keep you and your guests coming back for more.
Prep Time15 minutes
vinaigrette and pecans (can be made ahead)35 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Main Course, Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: salad for party, main course salads
Servings: 4
Calories: 435kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • ½ pound boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken tenders
  • olive oil for the pan
  • ¾ cup caramelized spiced pecans
  • about ⅓ cup Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette*
  • 1 large Granny Smith apple (or other crisp apple variety)
  • 4 cups roughly chopped iceberg lettuce (about ½ large head) washed and dried
  • 1 cup finely chopped scallions (green onions)
  • ¾ cup dried cranberries
  • 4 ounces diced Gouda cheese (about ¾ cup)
  • salt and fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Make the vinaigrette. Here's the recipe. Pour about ⅓ cup of the vinaigrette into a small to medium-sized bowl and set it aside.
  • Make the pecans. Here's the recipe.
  • Sauté chicken. Coat the bottom of a medium-sized sauté pan with olive oil and place it over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper and then place them in the pan. Sauté just until they’re cooked through, about 7 minutes, depending on the thickness. (Less time for tenders.) Flip them halfway through the cooking process. Once they're completely cool, cut them into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
  • Prepare the apples. Wash and dry the apple. Cut it in half lengthwise, and use a melon baler to remove the seeds. Place the halves on a cutting board, round side up and thinly slice them. Add the slices to the vinaigrette as you go, gently mix to coat them and set aside. (There should be about 2 cups.)
  • Combine ingredients. In a very large mixing or serving bowl, toss the lettuce with the apples and vinaigrette, scallions, cranberries, Gouda chicken and pecans.

Notes

Nutritional information is only an estimate.
* You might want more or less of the vinaigrette, that's your call.

Nutrition

Calories: 435kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 310mg | Potassium: 719mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 1644IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 282mg | Iron: 2mg