My favourite cranberry hen salad is filled with candy cranberries, crunchy almonds, and smoky bacon tossed in a lightened-up, tangy yogurt dressing. It’s straightforward to make and filling sufficient to gas my entire day. You’re going to adore it!
This cranberry hen salad is one among my favourite straightforward hen salad variations. Largely as a result of it’s simply that good, but in addition as a result of it’s the best salad to make for any event, any time of the 12 months. It’s festive and potluck-y, too, so I took it to a celebration as soon as through the holidays and it was gone throughout the first 20 minutes. That is THE salad I crack out every time a pal or acquaintance hits me with that, “however salads are BORING” line. Creamy, crunchy, candy, and savory– this cranberry hen salad is the precise reverse of boring!
Why I Love This Rooster Salad Recipe
- First, I am keen on something and all issues salad. Whether or not it’s a basic chef salad, a fruity watermelon salad, or a leafy Mediterranean salad. The opposite day, my daughter requested me why my favourite shade isn’t inexperienced as a result of I eat so many salads. Sufficient mentioned?
- Secondly, I gravitate in the direction of the flavors and textures. This cranberry hen salad satisfies my love for all issues candy, salty, and crunchy. There are tart cranberries, juicy hen items, crunchy almonds, and crispy, salty bacon. Don’t even get me began on the creamy Dijon dressing. It’s all types of deliciousness in a single bowl.
- Thirdly, it’s simply so darn straightforward. This hen salad doesn’t require any fancy components or a ton of prepping, particularly after I make it with leftover hen! I add all the pieces to a bowl, whisk up the dressing, then toss and luxuriate in. It’s prepared for the vacations, or my subsequent BBQ.
Salad Elements
As you’ll be able to see, there are many causes to like this cranberry hen salad, together with the ingredient record! I’ve jotted down some notes right here and you’ll discover a printable record with quantities within the recipe card after the submit.
- Greens – I chop up romaine hearts as a result of I just like the crunch. You should use any salad greens your coronary heart needs, whether or not that’s iceberg lettuce, blended greens, or one thing with a bit extra taste, like peppery arugula. Massaged kale additionally works nice, right here.
- Rooster – Cube up any cooked hen you might have readily available. I normally use leftover hen tenders or hen breasts.
- Bacon – Prepare dinner the bacon utilizing your most popular methodology (for me, that’s the air fryer). Different good choices are diced pancetta or chorizo.
- Almonds – Or one other nut, like pecans or walnuts, like I exploit for a walnut hen salad.
- Cranberries – I like to recommend dried cranberries since they’re much less tart.
For the Dressing
- Yogurt – I exploit non-fat plain yogurt from Dannon. Be at liberty to make use of your favourite or plain Greek yogurt.
- Dijon Mustard – I really like the milder creaminess of Dijon, however you should use yellow mustard if that’s what you might have.
- Parmesan – Freshly grated is finest.
- Herbs – I exploit finely chopped recent rosemary and minced garlic. You should use one other herb, recent or dried, like thyme leaves or basil. If you happen to don’t have recent garlic, change the clove with ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Lemon Juice – To brighten up the flavors. You may also use pink or white wine vinegar.
Easy methods to Make a Cranberry Rooster Salad
Salads must be straightforward, and this one undoubtedly makes the reduce. It’s prepared in 20 minutes or much less in two easy steps:
- Assemble the salad. First, add your lettuce, hen, bacon, chopped nuts, and cranberries to a giant salad bowl.
- Add the dressing. In the meantime, whisk collectively the components for the short yogurt dressing. Pour that over your hen salad, give it toss, and luxuriate in!
Make-Forward Tip
Whereas inexperienced salads aren’t one of the best for making forward of time, my favourite strategy to “meal prep” this cranberry hen salad is to depart out the romaine lettuce and toss the opposite salad components along with the dressing. You find yourself with a creamy hen salad that shops nice within the fridge for 4-5 days. Once you’re able to serve, merely scoop the dressed hen over your lettuce leaves, toss, and dig in.
Simple Variations
- Swap out the hen. If you happen to’d choose one other protein, flip this hen salad right into a steak salad topped with juicy New York strip steak slices, or high it with salmon or garlicky shrimp as a substitute.
- Extra add-ins. You recognize what goes nice on this salad? Roasted Brussels sprouts! Nearly any roasted veggie will be chopped up and added in, like asparagus or butternut squash.
- Thicken or skinny out the dressing. If my yogurt salad dressing comes out a bit thick for pouring, I’ll normally simply add an additional splash of water to skinny it out. Then again, it’s high-quality so as to add extra yogurt or mustard to thicken dressing that’s too skinny.
- Totally different dressing. If creamy salad dressings aren’t your factor, this cranberry hen salad goes nice with the sunshine Dijon French dressing from my copycat La Scala chopped salad. Or, you’ll be able to strive one other of my do-it-yourself salad dressings.
Serving Ideas
Any time of the 12 months, this cranberry hen salad goes nice with a facet of cool, crisp Chardonnay and fluffy focaccia slices dunked in garlic butter. Serve it with a starter of stuffed peppers or a foremost like grilled salmon and you’ve got one heck of a meal.
I additionally love this salad as a vacation facet to roast pork or roast turkey at Christmas (cranberries = Christmas, proper?) proper up there with my favourite stuffing and creamy inexperienced bean casserole. Clearly with a yuletide daisy cocktail in hand!
Easy methods to Retailer
As soon as the dressing is added, this cranberry hen salad is finest loved inside a few hours. Sadly, as with most salads, the leftovers are inclined to go soggy after a day or two within the fridge. See the part above for a simple make-ahead hack!
Extra Rooster Salad Recipes
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Assemble the salad. In a big salad bowl mix lettuce, hen, crumbled bacon, slivered almonds, and cranberries; put aside.
Make the dressing. In a small mixing bowl mix yogurt, dijon mustard, grated parmesan cheese, rosemary, garlic, lemon juice, water, salt, and pepper. Whisk till totally integrated. If in search of a thinner consistency, add extra water, if you wish to thicken it, add extra yogurt and mustard.
Toss and serve. Add salad dressing to beforehand ready salad; toss to mix. Serve.
- I exploit 1 tablespoon of dressing per cup of salad (this recipe makes roughly 8 servings of 1 cup every).
Serving: 1cup | Energy: 257kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 16g | Fats: 15g | Saturated Fats: 3g | Ldl cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 229mg | Potassium: 402mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 4110IU | Vitamin C: 3.7mg | Calcium: 132mg | Iron: 1.5mg
Dietary information is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values could range in keeping with the components and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
