Chicken Salad With Fruit

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A Nostalgic Dish That Saves the Day

You probably have those meals that instantly transport you back to your childhood. Well, for me, this chicken fruit salad is one of them. I can vividly recall my mom preparing this delightful dish every weekend, and I thought it was the greatest thing ever! Looking back now, I understand why she made it so frequently. We didn’t have much growing up, always struggling to make ends meet. That’s why this chicken salad became my mom’s saving grace for several reasons. First, it made an abundance of food, ensuring leftovers for days. Second, the ingredients were incredibly affordable. And lastly, it required minimal cooking, sparing us from sweating bullets in the kitchen during the scorching summer heat! This one’s for you, Mom!

Ingredients for Your Delectable Chicken Fruit Salad

Chicken breasts: Opt for store-bought rotisserie chicken if you’re short on time!
Red & green grapes: I love the combination of both in this chicken salad. The sweetness of red grapes beautifully balances the tartness of green grapes. (Remember to use seedless ones!)
Apples: I highly recommend honeycrisp apples for their slight sweetness and crisp texture. (Fuji apples work well too!)
Canned pineapple: It’s quick, easy, and adds a tropical twist to your salad. (Fresh pineapple can be used if you have the time to cut it.)
Celery: This ingredient brings a fun and crunchy texture to your chicken salad.
Mayo: Used as the dressing for your salad. (Don’t worry, non-mayo lovers, we won’t go overboard. A little goes a long way in this chicken salad!)
Cracked garlic salt & pepper: Perfect for seasoning your chicken breasts. Opt for cracked versions as they have more flavor than the pre-ground options.

How to Create Your Amazing Chicken Fruit Salad

Bake your chicken. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and grease a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Place your chicken in the dish and season both sides with cracked garlic salt and pepper. Bake for 20-22 minutes. Once done, cut your chicken into bite-size pieces and let them cool completely.
Prepare your ingredients. While the chicken cools, cut the rest of your fruit and celery, and add them to a large bowl.
Mix your salad. Add the cooled chicken pieces to the bowl and mix. Then, incorporate the mayo and mix again until everything is thoroughly coated.
Chill and serve! Place your chicken salad in the fridge to chill until you’re ready to indulge.

Note: This salad is best served cold. I usually make it the night before so that it’s perfectly chilled for the next day!

Ideas for Serving Your Exquisite Chicken Fruit Salad

While we usually enjoy this salad by the bowl alongside some cheesy garlic bread (which is absolutely amazing!), you can also try these fun serving suggestions:

Chicken salad lettuce cups: Grab some butter lettuce, fill the leaves with your chicken salad, and enjoy them as wraps! This is an excellent low-carb option for lunch.
Chicken salad wraps: Spread a thin layer of mayo over a flour tortilla or whole wheat wrap. Add your chicken fruit salad, roll it up, cut it in half, and savor the flavors.
Green salad with chicken and fruit: Spoon your chicken salad over a bed of mixed greens or spinach. Sprinkle sliced almonds or even candied walnuts on top. It’s a delightful twist on the classic chicken Waldorf salad!

Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Chicken Salad Recipe

A great bulk meal for the week! We always make a substantial amount of this salad, enjoying it for dinner two nights in a row and sometimes even for lunch.
Light and refreshing! Loaded with fruit, this chicken salad recipe is the perfect dish to cool you down during the sweltering summer.
Easy to customize! Don’t like pineapple? Simply omit it! Not a fan of honeycrisp apples? Substitute them with your preferred sweet apple variety. Love grapes? Feel free to add more than the recipe suggests. The amounts provided are just guidelines. Adjust the ingredients to your liking!
Gluten-free? Dairy-free? No problem! This chicken fruit salad is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free.

For more mouthwatering chicken recipes, check these out: