Cape Cod Chicken Salad
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After years of cooking with the rhythms of New England life, I’ve learned that the best recipes are the ones that are simple, flexible, and packed with a lot of flavor and textures. This homemade chicken salad is just that. My version adds a New England spin with tart cranberries and crunchy apples to keep things fresh and interesting.—perfect for lunchboxes, busy weeknights, or weekend meal prep.
Chicken salad is one of my all-time favorites—quick, easy, and incredibly versatile. While there are endless variations, I always gravitate toward chicken salad with fruit. I love a little pop of sweetness from grapes, apples, or cranberries to cut through the richness of the chicken and mayo. Not to mention the fruit adds a nice texture to the salad too.
This version is a Cape Cod-style chicken salad, named for its signature ingredient: cranberries. Since Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is known for its cranberry harvests, it only makes sense to give this classic New England twist its name!
Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad
- Fast & Easy – Made with simple, prepared ingredients, so you can throw it together in minutes.
- Great for Meal Prep – Make it ahead and enjoy it for days!
- Perfect for Quick Lunches & Dinners – A lifesaver on busy weekdays.
- Customizable – You control the ingredients. Swap out ingredients to suit your taste or what you have on hand.
- Great for Picnics & Beach Days – Pack a container in a cooler for easy, and tasty sandwiches on the go.
Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad Ingredients
- Cooked Chicken– diced chicken breast or shredded chicken works for this recipe.
- Granny Smith Apple
- Sweetened Dried Cranberries – The cranberries are what make this chicken salad distinctly Cape Cod Style
- Toasted Walnuts– chopped
- Mayonnaise
- Dijon Mustard
- Honey
- Black pepper
- Pinch of Salt – this is to taste, depending on how salty the chicken and the mayonnaise are.
How to Make Cape Cod Chicken Salad
Step 1
In a large bowl, combine the chicken, diced apples, walnuts, and cranberries.
Step 2
In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo, mustard, honey, and black pepper.
Step 3
Pour the dressing over the chicken salad ingredients
Stir until everything is evenly coated. Give the salad a quick taste and add salt if needed. Serve right away or refrigerate until ready to eat.
Tips & Tricks
- Use rotisserie chicken or already shredded chicken from the grocery store for even faster prep! You can even use leftover cooked turkey from Thanksgiving.
- Use toasted walnuts for extra crunch and the best flavor. Simply heat them in a dry skillet over medium heat for a few minutes until fragrant and browned.
- If you have time, make the chicken salad ahead. The salad tastes even better after an hour in the fridge.
- Adjust the ingredients to your taste. Add more or less mayo, mustard, or honey depending on how creamy or tangy you like it.
How to Store Chicken Salad With Cranberries
Store your homemade chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
I do not recommend freezing chicken salad.
Ways to Serve Chicken Salad
- Classic Chicken Salad Sandwich – Pile it on your favorite bread with crisp lettuce. I love chicken salad on a hearty wheat bread or chewy baguette.
- Chicken Salad Wrap – Wrap it in a soft tortilla with fresh romaine lettuce, spinach or arugula.
- Over Greens or in a lettuce wrap– Serve it as a salad topper for a light, refreshing meal, or wrap a scoop in buttery bibb lettuce for a tasty lettuce wrap.
- With Crackers or Pita Chips – Perfect for snacking or as an appetizer.
- Stuffed in a Croissant – So good!
When it comes to side dishes, you can’t go wrong with crispy French fries or kettle-cooked potato chips—they pair perfectly with any of the serving ideas above.
Substitutions and Variations
This recipe for homemade chicken salad is incredibly versatile. So have fun playing around with ingredients to suit you and your family’s tastes.
- Swap out the apples for grapes for a Sonoma style chicken salad.
- Add chopped red onion, green onion, or diced celery for a little bite and extra crunch.
- Use low-fat mayo or Greek yogurt for a lighter version.
- Try toasted pecans instead of walnuts for a nutty twist.
- Use leftover turkey instead of chicken—a great way to repurpose Thanksgiving leftovers!
- Mix in fresh herbs like parsley, fresh dill, or basil for extra flavor.
Cape Cod Chicken Salad Recipe FAQs
It depends on how you make it! Using all chicken breast keeps it lean, and swapping the full fat mayo for low fat or Greek yogurt cuts down on fat. You can also use grapes instead of cranberries to reduce the sugar.
Stored in an airtight container, this chicken salad stays fresh for up to 4 days.
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Cape Cod Chicken Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken, diced or shreds (8 ounces)
- 1/2 cup diced tart apple like a Granny Smith
- 1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 2/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken, diced apples, walnuts, and cranberries.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo, mustard, honey, and black pepper.
- Pour the dressing over the chicken salad ingredients and stir until everything is evenly coated. Give the salad a quick taste and add salt if needed. Serve right away or refrigerate until ready to eat.
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken or pre-shredded chicken from the grocery store to make prep fast.
- Taste the salad before adding salt, mayo and chicken tend to be salty.
