{"id":19655,"date":"2026-06-11T13:59:49","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T13:59:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quick--recipes.milaf.ma\/?p=19655"},"modified":"2026-06-11T13:59:49","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T13:59:49","slug":"cranberry-pecan-chicken-salad-a-protein-packed-meal-prep-favorite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quick--recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/2026\/06\/11\/cranberry-pecan-chicken-salad-a-protein-packed-meal-prep-favorite\/","title":{"rendered":"Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad: A Protein-Packed Meal Prep Favorite"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction<\/p>\n<p>Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad is a delicious high-protein recipe that combines tender shredded chicken, crunchy pecans, sweet dried cranberries, and crisp celery in a creamy dressing.<\/p>\n<p>Perfect for healthy meal prep, quick lunches, and easy family dinners, this satisfying chicken salad delivers a balance of protein, healthy fats, and flavor in every bite.<\/p>\n<p>Ingredients<\/p>\n<p>4 cups cooked shredded chicken<\/p>\n<p>1 cup celery, diced<\/p>\n<p>\u00be cup dried cranberries<\/p>\n<p>\u00be cup pecans, chopped<\/p>\n<p>\u00bd cup mayonnaise<\/p>\n<p>\u00bc cup Greek yogurt<\/p>\n<p>1 tablespoon lemon juice<\/p>\n<p>1 teaspoon Dijon mustard<\/p>\n<p>\u00bd teaspoon garlic powder<\/p>\n<p>\u00bd teaspoon black pepper<!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p>\u00bd teaspoon salt<\/p>\n<p>Instructions<\/p>\n<p>Place the shredded chicken in a large mixing bowl.<\/p>\n<p>Add the diced celery, dried cranberries, and chopped pecans.<\/p>\n<p>In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.<\/p>\n<p>Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture.<\/p>\n<p>Stir until all ingredients are evenly coated.<\/p>\n<p>Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.<\/p>\n<p>How to Make<\/p>\n<p>Cook and cool the chicken completely before shredding.<\/p>\n<p>Chop the celery into small, even pieces.<\/p>\n<p>Roughly chop the pecans for added texture.<\/p>\n<p>Mix the dressing until smooth and creamy.<\/p>\n<p>Combine everything gently to avoid breaking down the chicken.<\/p>\n<p>Chill before serving to allow the flavors to develop.<\/p>\n<p>Variations<\/p>\n<p>Replace pecans with walnuts or almonds.<\/p>\n<p>Use rotisserie chicken for a convenient shortcut.<\/p>\n<p>Add diced apples for extra sweetness and crunch.<\/p>\n<p>Substitute dried cherries for cranberries.<\/p>\n<p>Use avocado mayonnaise for a different flavor profile.<\/p>\n<p>Add grapes for a classic chicken salad twist.<\/p>\n<p>Tips<\/p>\n<p>Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.<\/p>\n<p>Serve over lettuce for a low-carb meal.<\/p>\n<p>Enjoy in sandwiches, wraps, or croissants.<\/p>\n<p>Prepare a batch ahead of time for weekly meal prep.<\/p>\n<p>Toast the pecans before mixing for richer flavor.<\/p>\n<p>Adjust the dressing amount to your preferred consistency.<\/p>\n<p>Nutrition<\/p>\n<p>Chicken provides high-quality protein that helps support muscle maintenance and recovery.<\/p>\n<p>Pecans contain heart-healthy fats, fiber, and important minerals.<\/p>\n<p>Dried cranberries provide carbohydrates for energy and natural antioxidants.<\/p>\n<p>Greek yogurt contributes additional protein and calcium.<\/p>\n<p>Celery adds fiber while remaining low in calories.<\/p>\n<p>This recipe offers a balanced combination of protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates.<\/p>\n<p>Healthy Benefits<\/p>\n<p>Supports muscle growth and recovery thanks to its high protein content.<\/p>\n<p>Helps promote fullness and appetite control throughout the day.<\/p>\n<p>Provides sustained energy for busy lifestyles.<\/p>\n<p>Contains antioxidants from cranberries and pecans.<\/p>\n<p>Supports heart health through healthy unsaturated fats.<\/p>\n<p>Makes a nutrient-dense meal prep option for healthy eating goals.<\/p>\n<p>Conclusion<\/p>\n<p>This Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad is a flavorful, protein-rich recipe that is perfect for meal prep, healthy lunches, and quick family meals. The combination of tender chicken, crunchy pecans, sweet cranberries, and creamy dressing creates a satisfying dish that is both nutritious and delicious.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad is a delicious high-protein recipe that combines tender shredded chicken, crunchy pecans, sweet dried cranberries,&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19656,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/quick--recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19655","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/quick--recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/quick--recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quick--recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quick--recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19655"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/quick--recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19655\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19657,"href":"https:\/\/quick--recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19655\/revisions\/19657"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quick--recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/quick--recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quick--recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quick--recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}