• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • Cookbook
  • Meal Plan
  • Shop
  • About

Mighty Mrs

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Cookbook
  • Meal Plan
  • Shop
  • About
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Cookbook
    • Meal Plan
    • Shop
    • About
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Lunch » Cranberry-Walnut Chicken Salad

    Modified: May 22, 2025 · Published: Sep 18, 2017 by Angela G. · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Cranberry-Walnut Chicken Salad

    7.7K shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Try this tasty chicken salad on a croissant, in a wrap or over a salad. Made with rotisserie chicken and a fresh, flavorful mix of crisp celery, tangy dried cranberries, and nutty walnuts tossed in a lightly creamy dressing. Perfect for a picnic lunch, meal prep, or a light summer dinner.

    Cranberry Walnut "Waldorf" Chicken Salad
    chicken salad with cranberries sandwich recipe
    Cranberry Walnut Waldorf Chicken Salad
    Waldorf Chicken Salad with cranberries and walnuts
    Cranberry Walnut "Waldorf" Chicken Salad
    chicken salad with cranberries sandwich recipe
    Cranberry Walnut Waldorf Chicken Salad
    Waldorf Chicken Salad with cranberries and walnuts

    A chicken salad sandwich on a croissant or in a wrap is one of my favorite go-to summer meals along with grilled maple-chipotle salmon, and Cajun chicken sandwiches with aioli. This chicken salad recipe can also be enjoyed over a salad. It's perfect for picnics and lunches.

    Skim by Section
    • ★ Why You'll Love this Recipe ★
    • ★ Ingredients You'll Need ★
    • ★ How to Make this Recipe ★
    • ★ Tips ★
    • ★ FAQs ★
    • ★ More Rotisserie Chicken Recipes ★
    • Cranberry-Walnut Chicken Salad

    ★ Why You'll Love this Recipe ★

    This chicken salad is easy to make and stores well for lunches or an easy healthy dinner. It takes a total of 10 minutes max to make.

    It's super versatile.

    Spread this Waldorf chicken salad on your favorite type of bread or try it on a croissants to make a sandwich.

    It's also great over a salad or simply mixed greens with a little dressing of your choice, or in a wrap. Spinach tortillas are my favorite type of wrap — great for picnics!

    Simple Rotisserie Chicken Salad - perfect for croissants or wraps

    This tangy, sweet and nutty chicken salad is known as "Waldorf Chicken Salad" named after the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City according to Wikipedia. Now you know!

    ★ Ingredients You'll Need ★

    Just 6 Ingredients!

    All you need to whip up this tasty chicken salad is SIX ingredients main ingredients plus salt and pepper to taste.

    Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad Ingredients

    Here's everything you'll need: Rotisserie chicken, dried cranberries (craisins), walnuts, Dijon mustard, celery and Greek yogurt or mayo. Season with salt and pepper if you'd like.

    Feel free to use leftover chicken or canned chicken if you prefer.

    ★ How to Make this Recipe ★

    This chicken salad requires zero cooking! Just a little chopping and mixing.

    Here's a look at the steps:

    How to Make Chicken Salad
    1. Shred cooked rotisserie chicken.
    2. Dice up the celery.
    3. Chop the nuts. Or save time and buy these already chopped.
    4. Add mayo and Dijon mustard then stir.
    5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    6. Serve on a sandwich, over a salad, or in a wrap!

    ★ Tips ★

    This chicken salad is great for brunch, lunch, or dinner.

    Honestly, this chicken salad is so good, I usually eat it by itself. By the spoonful. However, you can eat it many different ways.

    Waldorf Chicken Salad Served 3 Ways

    Here are some ideas:

    1. Top your greens with this chicken salad. A scoop of this cranberry walnut chicken salad on top of your typical leafy green salad for a punch of protein and flavor.
    2. Wrap it up with any flavor tortilla wrap.
    3. Try it served on a croissant. You can choose a large croissant and make it a meal. Or smaller croissants for more of an appetizer.

    The chicken salad sandwiches on croissants makes a great little brunch menu item that's perfect for baby and bridal showers.

    ★ FAQs ★

    What could I use instead of dried cranberries and walnuts in chicken salad?

    Dried cherries or raisins are great substitutions for cranberries if you prefer.
    Fresh fruit also works. Green or red grapes, apples or pears cut into cubes all all delicious swaps.
    As far as replacing the walnuts, you can use any nuts. Chopped pecans, cashews, almond slivers — you choose!

    How can I make chicken salad healthier?

    Try Greek yogurt instead of mayo. Or half mayo, half Greek yogurt.
    I got this simple recipe from my hubby's cousin after having it at her house. I normally don't like chicken salad but this was so light and refreshing compared to other chicken salads I've had, that I ended up asking her what was in it.
    The secret is using Greek yogurt instead of mayo. The Greek yogurt actually gives the chicken salad added flavor and makes it healthier too. Win-win! The cranberries and walnuts combined also give this chicken salad a nontraditional flavor and added nutrients.
    If you want a bit of that nostalgic creamy mayo flavor though, try going half Greek yogurt, half mayo. Or full mayo. Up to you!

    What's the best way to eat chicken salad?

    Chicken Salad is great on a bagel, wrap or croissant. Try my easy homemade baked bagels which are lower carb than traditional bagels and can be made gluten free.
    Love a good wrap? Go ahead and wrap this up. Again, any flavor wrap works.
    Bakery croissants are a great choice. They are easy and taste great.

    What are some ways to eat chicken salad other than a sandwich?

    Try a lettuce wrap. Just take a large leaf of lettuce, put a spoonful or two of chicken salad in the middle, fold in the side and tuck in the top and bottom. It's a little wrap that's low in carbs but big on crunch.
    Serve this chicken salad as a complete low-carb meal! Start with the chicken salad and serve with a side of steamed or raw broccoli and low-carb bread toasted with a slice of cheese.

    ★ More Rotisserie Chicken Recipes ★

    • Thai Chicken Wraps with carrot, red pepper, slaw, cilantro and lime
      Thai Chicken Spring Rolls
    • Greek Chicken Pita Pockets
      Greek Chicken Pita Pockets
    • Strawberry Chicken Spinach Salad with Bacon
      Strawberry Chicken Spinach Salad
    • Rotisserie Chicken Pesto Sliders
      Chicken Pesto Sliders

    Try my Curried Chicken Salad!

    If you love chicken salad, you have to try Mango Curry Chicken Salad — a twist on more traditional chicken salad recipes made with dried mango, cashews and honey mustard. And just 7 ingredients.

    More Lunch Ideas

    Looking for new ideas for lunch? Browse all my easy lunch recipes

    This cranberry walnut chicken salad was featured on South Your Mouth and Hearth and Soul!

    Cranberry Walnut "Waldorf" Chicken Salad

    Cranberry-Walnut Chicken Salad

    Author: Angela G.
    Try this tasty chicken salad on a croissant, in a wrap or over a salad. Made with rotisserie chicken and a fresh, flavorful mix of crisp celery, tangy dried cranberries, and nutty walnuts tossed in a lightly creamy dressing. Perfect for a picnic lunch, meal prep, or a light summer dinner.
    4.73 from 11 reviews
    Reviews
    Course: Dinner, Lunch
    Cuisine: American
    Skill Level: Easy
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 Servings
    Yield: 4 cups

    Equipment

    • large mixing bowl

    Ingredients 

    • 1 whole rotisserie chicken
    • 1 cup mayonnaise or plain Greek Yogurt
    • ⅓ cup Dijon mustard
    • ½ cup chopped walnuts
    • 12 oz dried cranberries
    • 2 ribs celery finely chopped
    • salt and pepper to taste
    Shop ingredients at Walmart.comAdd ingredients, then choose Pick Up or Delivery.

    Mighty Mrs. is a #WalmartPartner.

    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Pick and shred rotisserie chicken.
    • Stir in Greek yogurt, dijon mustard, craisins, celery, walnuts and salt & pepper.
    • Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to up to 5 days.

    Video

    Notes

    • Fresh fruit can be used in place of died cranberries. Try grapes, pears or apples. Dried raisins or cherries could also be used.
    • Feel free to use any nut you prefer in place of walnuts.

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 504kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 22g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 407mg | Potassium: 127mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 96IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg
    Follow Mighty Mrs. for more easy recipes!Find @MightyMrs on Pinterest

    Related:

    • Cajun Chicken Sandwich with Aioli Sauce
      Cajun Chicken Sandwich with Aioli
    • Air Fryer Asian Salmon Salad with Peanut Dressing
      Asian Salmon Salad with Peanut Dressing
    • Grilled Veggie Sandwich with Feta
      Grilled Vegetable Sandwich
    • Spicy Salmon Patties with Aioli Sauce
      Spicy Salmon Patties with Aioli Sauce
    7.7K shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Esmé Slabbert says

      August 18, 2023 at 3:39 pm

      5 stars
      Super delicious and you can use leftover chicken. This is perfect to not waste any chicken. I usually freeze leftover chicken and now I know what to do with it!

      Reply
    2. Julie says

      October 12, 2021 at 11:01 am

      5 stars
      Easy and delicous! This will be a permanent staple in my go to recipes!

      Reply
      • Angela G. says

        October 13, 2021 at 7:13 am

        Hi Julie, So glad you are enjoying it! Thanks for the feedback. 🙂

        Reply
    4.73 from 11 votes (9 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Leave A Comment

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Tried this recipe? Leave a review!




    The maximum upload file size: 1 MB. You can upload: image. Drop file here

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi! Welcome.

    Gast Family Summer

    Hi there! I'm Angela, a working mom of three. Life is crazy! But it's organized chaos — and I want to help you get and stay organized as you manage your own household.

    Be sure to grab my FREE cookbook and subscribe to receive my meal planner and printable chore chart for free, too!

    Reader Favorites

    • Sprouted Onion
      How to Plant a Sprouted Onion (7 Steps)
    • Cinnamon Roll Casserole
    • American Goulash - Delicious and easy pasta dinner
      American Goulash
    • Yule Log Cake made with Cake Mix
      Easy Cake Mix Yule Log
    • Sprouted Potato - How to plant and regrow
      How to Plant a Sprouted Potato (6 Steps)
    • Printable Meal Planner with Grocery List
      Printable Meal Planner

    Grilled Recipes

    • Sesame-Ginger Pork Bowl with Lime Rice
      Thai Ginger-Lime Pork Bowl
    • Carne Asada Tacos
      Carne Asada Street Tacos
    • Cajun Chicken Sandwich with Aioli Sauce
      Cajun Chicken Sandwich with Aioli
    • Honey Barbecue Grilled Chicken
      Honey Barbecue Grilled Chicken
    • Grilled Margherita Chicken
      Grilled Chicken Margherita
    • Chicken Caprese Sandwich
      Chicken Caprese Sandwich

    Footer

    Subscribe

    Stay inspired with seasonal recipe ideas, plus get my cookbook and meal planner, FREE.



    Cookbook

    Summer Cookbook Cover

    Meal Planner

    Shop | Subscribe | About | Become a Sponsor | Privacy Policy | Terms | Accessibility

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram

    FEATURED ON:

    Buzzfeed | Parade
    Country Living | Good Housekeeping

    ©2025 Mighty Mrs. All Rights Reserved. Some links on this site may be affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Mighty Mrs. is a #WalmartPartner.

    Exclusive Member of Mediavine Food

    Need Groceries? Use Walmart Pick Up or Delivery. #WalmartPartner
    Shop Now

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings

    Something went wrong. Please try again.