My favourite cranberry hen salad is full of candy cranberries, crunchy almonds, and smoky bacon tossed in a lightened-up, tangy yogurt dressing. It’s simple to make and filling sufficient to gasoline my complete day. You’re going to find it irresistible!
This cranberry hen salad is considered one of my favourite simple hen salad variations. Principally as a result of it’s simply that good, but in addition as a result of it’s the simplest salad to make for any event, any time of the yr. It’s festive and potluck-y, too, so I took it to a celebration as soon as throughout the holidays and it was gone inside the first 20 minutes. That is THE salad I crack out every time a good friend 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 like something and all issues salad. Whether or not it’s a traditional 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 stated?
- 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 kinds of deliciousness in a single bowl.
- Thirdly, it’s simply so darn simple. This hen salad doesn’t require any fancy substances or a ton of prepping, particularly once I make it with leftover hen! I add every part to a bowl, whisk up the dressing, then toss and revel in. It’s prepared for the vacations, or my subsequent BBQ.
Salad Components
As you’ll be able to see, there are many causes to like this cranberry hen salad, together with the ingredient listing! I’ve jotted down some notes right here and you’ll discover a printable listing with quantities within the recipe card after the put up.
- Greens – I chop up romaine hearts as a result of I just like the crunch. You should use any salad greens your coronary heart wishes, whether or not that’s iceberg lettuce, combined 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’ve gotten available. I often use leftover hen tenders or hen breasts.
- Bacon – Prepare dinner the bacon utilizing your most well-liked 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 take advantage of for a walnut hen salad.
- Cranberries – I like to recommend dried cranberries since they’re much less tart.
For the Dressing
- Yogurt – I take advantage of non-fat plain yogurt from Dannon. Be happy 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’ve gotten.
- Parmesan – Freshly grated is greatest.
- Herbs – I take advantage of finely chopped recent rosemary and minced garlic. You should use one other herb, recent or dried, like thyme leaves or basil. When you don’t have recent garlic, exchange the clove with ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Lemon Juice – To brighten up the flavors. You may also use purple or white wine vinegar.
The best way to Make a Cranberry Rooster Salad
Salads must be simple, and this one positively 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 an enormous salad bowl.
- Add the dressing. In the meantime, whisk collectively the substances for the short yogurt dressing. Pour that over your hen salad, give it toss, and revel in!
Make-Forward Tip
Whereas inexperienced salads aren’t the most effective for making forward of time, my favourite option to “meal prep” this cranberry hen salad is to depart out the romaine lettuce and toss the opposite salad substances 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. When you’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 an alternative.
- Extra add-ins. You recognize what goes nice on this salad? Roasted Brussels sprouts! Nearly any roasted veggie might 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 often simply add an additional splash of water to skinny it out. However, it’s wonderful 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 home made salad dressings.
Serving Options
Any time of the yr, 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 primary 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!
The best way to Retailer
As soon as the dressing is added, this cranberry hen salad is greatest 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.
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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 completely included. If searching for a thinner consistency, add extra water, if you wish to thicken it, add extra yogurt and mustard.
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Toss and serve. Add salad dressing to beforehand ready salad; toss to mix. Serve.
- I take advantage of 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 offered as courtesy. Values could fluctuate based on the substances and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
