Chicken Apple Winter Salad (Printable)

Juicy chicken, crisp apples, pecans, and tangy cider dressing come together in a fresh winter salad.

# Ingredient list:

→ Salad

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
02 - 2 crisp apples (Honeycrisp or Gala), cored and sliced
03 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, or romaine)
04 - 1/2 cup celery, thinly sliced
05 - 1/2 cup pecans, roughly chopped
06 - 1/4 cup dried cranberries
07 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
08 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)

→ Apple Cider Dressing

09 - 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
10 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
11 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
12 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
13 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How to Make It:

01 - Whisk together apple cider vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, sea salt, and black pepper in a small bowl or jar until emulsified. Set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, mix salad greens, cooked chicken, sliced apples, celery, pecans, dried cranberries, red onion, and feta cheese if using.
03 - Drizzle the prepared dressing evenly over the salad and toss gently to coat all components thoroughly.
04 - Plate immediately, garnishing with additional pecans or feta cheese if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes bright and crisp when everything outside feels frozen and heavy.
  • You can pull it together in minutes using whatever chicken you already cooked earlier in the week.
  • The apple cider dressing has this tangy sweetness that makes you want to lick the bowl.
02 -
  • If you dress the salad too early, the greens will get soggy and sad, so wait until the last possible moment.
  • Tasting the dressing before you pour it on is the only way to know if it needs more sweetness or salt.
03 -
  • Toast the pecans in a dry skillet for three minutes until they smell nutty and warm, it makes the whole salad taste richer.
  • Slice the apples just before serving so they don't brown and lose their snap.
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