The Best Chicken Salad Recipe with Cranberries

If you're looking for the best chicken salad recipe, you've come to the right place.

Chicken salad is one of our favorite meal-prep staples because it's simple to make, packed with protein, and incredibly versatile. Unfortunately, many deli and store-bought versions are made with mayonnaise containing highly processed seed oils and unnecessary additives.

That's why we make our own.

We believe the best chicken salad recipe starts with simple, real-food ingredients. Using our Homemade Seed Oil-Free Mayonnaise gives this recipe a rich, creamy texture while keeping the ingredient list clean. Combined with tender seasoned chicken, crisp celery, sweet dried cranberries, and fresh scallions, it's perfect for sandwiches, wraps, crackers, or served over fresh greens.

Whether you're meal prepping lunches for the week or looking for an easy family favorite, this homemade chicken salad is one you'll find yourself making again and again.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Made with simple, real-food ingredients
  • High in protein
  • Great for meal prep
  • Sweet, crunchy, and creamy
  • Perfect for sandwiches, wraps, crackers, or lettuce cups
  • Made with our Homemade Seed Oil-Free Mayonnaise

Affiliate Disclosure & Ingredients We Love for The Best Chicken Salad Recipe

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Some of our favorite products for this recipe:

Why We Make Our Own Mayonnaise

One of the things that makes this recipe stand out is the mayonnaise.

Instead of using conventional store-bought mayo, we use our Homemade Seed Oil-Free Mayonnaise made with avocado oil and simple ingredients. It's an easy swap that lets you control exactly what goes into your food while avoiding highly processed seed oils.

If you're curious about why we choose to avoid vegetable and seed oils, be sure to read our blog post, The Hidden Dangers of Vegetable and Seed Oils.

Serving Ideas

Serve this homemade chicken salad on toasted sourdough, in a buttery croissant, wrapped in lettuce, with crackers, stuffed into a pita, or over a fresh green salad.

It tastes even better after chilling for a few hours, making it one of our favorite make-ahead lunches. We hope this becomes your go-to best chicken salad recipe for years to come.  
Servings: 8 yield(s)
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 35 mins
Ingredients
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 cup celery, diced
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 4 tbsp scallions, finely diced
Instructions
  1. Prepare the Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into 2–3 large pieces and place them in a mixing bowl. Season generously with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and a pinch of chili powder. Toss until the chicken is evenly coated.
  2. Cook the Chicken: Arrange the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 400°F until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, about 15–20 minutes. Let the chicken cool slightly.
  3. Shred the Chicken: Place the cooked chicken in the bowl of a KitchenAid stand mixer fitted with the flat beater attachment. Mix on low speed for 15–30 seconds, or until the chicken is shredded. If you don't have a stand mixer, simply dice or shred the chicken by hand.
  4. Mix the Chicken Salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, diced celery, finely diced scallions, dried cranberries, and mayonnaise. Stir until everything is evenly coated.
  5. Chill and Serve: Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve on toasted sourdough, croissants, wraps, crackers, or over a bed of fresh greens.
Recipe Notes

For the best flavor, refrigerate the chicken salad for at least 30 minutes before serving. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. No stand mixer? Simply shred the chicken with two forks or dice it into bite-sized pieces.