Description
Refreshing pioneer woman chicken salad with grapes combines tender poached chicken, crisp celery, and sweet grapes in a creamy dressing. Crunchy almonds and fresh herbs elevate this classic salad, making it perfect for summer lunches or picnic gatherings you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1.5 lbs or 680 g)
- ¾ cup (180 ml) grapes, halved
- ¾ cup (180 ml) pecans, toasted and roughly chopped
- 1 apple, chopped
- ¾ cup (180 ml) mayonnaise
- ¼ cup (60 ml) sour cream
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) lemon juice (from about ¼ lemon)
- 1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Roasting: Preheat oven to 425ºF (220ºC). Position chicken breasts on a baking sheet, generously season with salt and black pepper. Roast for 23–25 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165ºF (74ºC).
- Preparation: Let chicken rest for 5 minutes, then meticulously dice into consistent bite-sized pieces. Finely chop celery, slice apple chunks, halve grapes, and roughly chop pecans.
- Mixing: In a large mixing bowl, combine roasted chicken, prepared vegetables, grapes, and pecans. Fold in mayonnaise and sour cream, ensuring thorough and even coating of all ingredients.
- Seasoning: Drizzle freshly squeezed lemon juice over the mixture. Sprinkle additional salt and cracked black pepper. Gently toss to distribute seasonings uniformly and enhance flavor complexity.
- Chilling: Transfer chicken salad to a sealed container and refrigerate for at least 60 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and develop a rich, harmonious taste.
- Serving: Present the chilled salad elegantly over mixed greens, nestled between soft bread slices, or alongside crisp crackers for a versatile and delectable dining experience.
Notes
- Chill for Maximum Flavor: Refrigerate the salad for at least an hour to let the ingredients meld and develop a more intense, balanced taste profile.
- Precise Chicken Cooking: Ensure chicken reaches exactly 165ºF (74ºC) internal temperature to guarantee food safety while maintaining juicy texture.
- Consistent Chopping Matters: Cut chicken, celery, and apples into uniform bite-sized pieces for a balanced texture and even distribution of ingredients.
- Customize Your Crunch: Experiment with different nuts like walnuts or almonds to add personal flair and varying levels of crispness to the salad.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 25 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg