Apple Walnut Chicken Salad

This apple walnut chicken salad is a delicious, refreshing, and satisfying dish that combines juicy chicken, crisp apples, and crunchy walnuts in a creamy, tangy dressing. It’s the perfect blend of sweet, nutty, and savory flavors, making it a go-to recipe for quick lunches, light dinners, and even meal prep. It’s also naturally gluten-free.

There’s something special about the combination of textures in this salad. The apples provide a crisp bite, the walnuts add a toasty crunch, and the tender chicken brings everything together with the creamy dressing.

It’s a great way to use up leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken, and with just a few simple ingredients, you can have a delicious meal ready in minutes. Whether you serve it in a sandwich, as a wrap, on a bed of greens, or simply enjoy it on its own, this salad is incredibly versatile.

Plus, it’s easy to make ahead and keeps well in the fridge, making it ideal for busy days when you need a quick and nutritious meal. If you love classic chicken salad but want to switch things up with a bit of crunch and natural sweetness, this chicken apple and walnut salad is the perfect choice.

Ingredient Notes

Please scroll down for the full recipe! These are just notes on select ingredients.

• Chicken – you can use rotisserie chicken, grilled chicken, or even poached chicken for this salad. If you’re in a pinch, canned chicken can work, but freshly cooked chicken offers the best texture and flavor.
• Apples – Fuji apples are a great choice because they’re crisp and slightly sweet, but Honeycrisp, Gala, or Granny Smith apples also work. If using a tart apple like Granny Smith, you’ll probably want to reduce the amount of vinegar slightly to balance the acidity.
• Walnuts – toasting the walnuts for a few minutes in a dry pan enhances their nuttiness and adds a delicious depth of flavor. If you prefer, you can swap them for pecans, almonds, or cashews.
• Sour cream – this adds a tangy creaminess to the dressing. Greek yogurt is a great substitute for a slightly healthier alternative. Don’t only use mayonnaise (if you’re looking for a homemade version, this Easy Keto Mayonnaise looks great!), as it lacks acidity. If you do, add a bit more vinegar to compensate.
• Apple cider vinegar – this gives the dressing a subtle fruity tang. You can substitute it with lemon juice or distilled white vinegar if needed.

How to Make It

Making this walnut apple chicken salad is incredibly simple! Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, salt, and black pepper.

Step 2: Dice or shred the cooked chicken, chop the apple and walnuts, and finely dice the celery and red onion. Add everything to a large mixing bowl.

Step 3: Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and mix everything until well combined.

Step 4: Let the salad chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve and enjoy!

How to Make Ahead and Store

This salad is an excellent make-ahead dish (as is this Costco Chicken Salad!), and it stays good in the fridge for up to three days. Here are a few tips to keep it fresh:

• If you’re making it in advance, add the apples and walnuts right before serving to keep them crisp.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Don’t freeze! The dressing will separate and become watery if frozen, so it’s best to enjoy it fresh.

Serving Suggestions

There are so many delicious ways to enjoy this apple walnut salad with chicken! Here are a few ideas.

5 from 1 vote

Apple Walnut Chicken Salad

Author Erin Dooner

Course Main

Cuisine American

Servings 8

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

A creamy and refreshing Apple Walnut Chicken Salad with crunchy apples, toasted walnuts, and a tangy dressing - perfect for sandwiches, wraps, or enjoying on its own!

Ingredients

Dressing:

• ▢ 1/2 cup (118 ml) mayonnaise
• ▢ 1/4 cup (59 ml) sour cream or Greek yogurt
• ▢ 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or lemon juice or white vinegar
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper

Salad:

• ▢ 2/3 cup (78 grams) walnuts roughly chopped
• ▢ 3 cups (420 grams) cooked chicken diced or shredded
• ▢ 1/2 cup (50 grams) celery diced
• ▢ 1/3 cup (33 grams) red onion or green onion or white onion, diced
• ▢ 1 1/4 cups (246 grams) diced apple about 1 medium Fuji

Instructions

• Toast chopped 2/3 cup (78 grams) walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and fragrant. Or spread chopped walnuts on a baking sheet and toast in a 350 °F (175 °C) oven for 5-10 minutes, stirring once or twice, until golden and fragrant. Cool while you prepare the rest of the recipe.
• In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup (118 ml) mayonnaise, 1/4 cup (59 ml) sour cream, 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper until smooth and well blended.
• In a large mixing bowl, mix together 3 cups (420 grams) cooked chicken, cooled 2/3 cup (78 grams) walnuts, 1/2 cup (50 grams) celery, 1/3 cup (33 grams) red onion, 1 1/4 cups (246 grams) diced apple and stir in the dressing.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld before serving.
• Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Do not freeze!

Notes

• Using only mayonnaise in the dressing can make it too rich without enough acidity to balance the flavors. If sour cream or Greek yogurt isn’t available and you need to use just mayonnaise, consider adding extra vinegar to enhance the tanginess.
• If you don't want to use walnuts, you can use pecans, cashews or almonds.
• Fuji apples are my go-to for this salad, but any firm and crunchy variety will work well. Honeycrisp, Gala, and Granny Smith are excellent alternatives. If using Granny Smith, consider cutting back the vinegar by ½ tablespoon to balance the extra tartness.
• I prefer keeping the apple skin on for a pop of color and extra fiber, but if you’d rather have a smoother texture, feel free to peel them.
• Nutritional info is just for the chicken apple walnut salad - not the croissant.

Nutrition

Calories: 277kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 15gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 12gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 209mgPotassium: 228mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 118IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 1mg

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