Best 7 Orange Pecan Chicken Salad Recipes

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**Orange Pecan Chicken Salad: A Delightful Fusion of Sweet, Savory, and Crunchy Textures**

Indulge in a culinary symphony of flavors with our tantalizing Orange Pecan Chicken Salad. This delectable dish offers a harmonious blend of sweet oranges, crunchy pecans, tender chicken, and a tangy dressing, creating a symphony of textures and tastes that will tantalize your palate. Ideal for a light lunch, a refreshing summer meal, or as a delightful addition to your next picnic, this versatile salad promises to be a hit among family and friends. With its vibrant colors and enticing aroma, the Orange Pecan Chicken Salad is not only a feast for the eyes but also a culinary journey that will leave you craving for more.

**Discover Variations to Suit Every Taste:**

This article presents a collection of Orange Pecan Chicken Salad recipes, each with its own unique twist to cater to diverse preferences. From the classic combination of oranges, pecans, and chicken, to innovative variations featuring avocado, cranberries, or bacon, there's a recipe to satisfy every palate. Whether you prefer a creamy dressing or a tangy vinaigrette, these recipes offer a range of options to suit your taste buds. Additionally, you'll find a gluten-free version for those with dietary restrictions, ensuring that everyone can enjoy this delightful salad.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

CHICKEN PECAN SALAD



Chicken Pecan Salad image

In our house, this light and tasty salad is a real summer favorite! I usually serve it with sliced tomatoes and bread and butter. It can also be used to make wonderful chicken salad sandwiches - perfect in hot weather.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 30m

Yield 6-8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

6 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup crumbled cooked bacon
1 cup pecan halves, toasted
Lettuce leaves
Tomato wedges

Steps:

  • In a bowl, combine chicken and celery. In another bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice and salt. Pour dressing over chicken; toss well to coat. Refrigerate. Just before serving, toss with bacon and pecans. Serve on lettuce with tomato garnish.

Nutrition Facts :

PECAN CHICKEN SALAD



Pecan Chicken Salad image

This chicken salad comes together fast using rotisserie chicken breasts. The herbs, along with the pecans, help to make this chicken salad flavorful. Serve on top of toasted croissants, or butter lettuce.

Provided by thedailygourmet

Categories     Salad

Time 20m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 10

½ cup mayonnaise
½ cup plain Greek yogurt
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon Park Hill maple pepper (such as Savory Spice Shop®)
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
2 stalks celery, sliced
⅓ cup chopped toasted pecans
2 tablespoons minced red onion

Steps:

  • Mix mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, vinegar, garlic powder, thyme, and maple pepper together in a bowl until well combined. Add chicken, celery, pecans, and red onion; stir well to incorporate.
  • Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 458.4 calories, Carbohydrate 4.6 g, Cholesterol 70.7 mg, Fat 40.3 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 20.2 g, SaturatedFat 7.6 g, Sodium 236 mg, Sugar 2.3 g

PECAN CRUSTED CHICKEN TENDERS AND SALAD WITH TANGY MAPLE DRESSING



Pecan Crusted Chicken Tenders and Salad with Tangy Maple Dressing image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

Vegetable oil, for frying
1 1/3 to 2 pounds chicken tenders
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs, beaten with a splash of milk or water
1 cup plain bread crumbs
1 cup pecans, processed in food processor to finely chop
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated or ground
1 orange, zested
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup tangy barbecue sauce
1 navel orange, juiced
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 hearts romaine lettuce, chopped
6 radishes, thinly sliced
6 scallions, trimmed and chopped on an angle

Steps:

  • Heat 1 1/2 to 2 inches of oil over medium high heat. Season chicken tenders with salt and pepper. Set out 3 shallow dishes. Place flour in 1 dish, eggs beaten with water or milk in a second. In the third dish, combine bread crumbs with ground pecans, nutmeg and orange zest. Coat tenders in batches in flour, then egg, then bread crumb mixture. Fry tenders in small batches 6 to 7 minutes. Drain tenders on paper towels.
  • Combine maple syrup, barbecue sauce and orange juice in a bowl. Whisk in oil and season with salt and pepper.
  • Combine romaine, radishes and scallions in a large salad bowl or on a serving platter. Toss with 3/4 of the dressing. Season with salt and pepper, to your taste. Top salad with pecan crusted chicken tenders and drizzle remaining dressing over top.
  • Beverage suggestion: serve cran-raspberry apple juice over ice and top with a splash of soda water.

ORANGE CHICKEN SALAD



Orange Chicken Salad image

The refreshing taste of orange makes this chicken salad quite different from all the others I've tried over the years. I enjoy garnishing this salad with orange slices...it's an attractive, colorful look for spring. -Stephanie Bishop, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 10m

Yield 2 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced green pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon orange juice
1/8 teaspoon grated orange zest
1/8 teaspoon salt
Lettuce leaves, optional

Steps:

  • In a bowl, combine the chicken, celery, green pepper and onion. Add mayonnaise, orange juice and zest and salt; mix well. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Serve on lettuce if desired.

Nutrition Facts :

CHICKEN PECAN SALAD



Chicken Pecan Salad image

The combination of sweet and spicy pecans and sweet berries in this chicken salad makes it a taste sensation! I have given tins of the pecans alone as gifts at Christmas time; they are delicious. The berries listed are suggestions; substitute whatever kinds you fancy, in whatever quantities! Makes a beautiful summer dinner.

Provided by JRW8

Categories     Salad

Time 45m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 17

2 tablespoons hot red pepper sauce
½ cup margarine, melted
⅔ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 pinch salt
1 pound coarsely chopped pecans
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon Greek seasoning
1 pound romaine lettuce, torn
1 cup cherry tomato halves
½ cup fresh strawberries
½ cup seedless grapes
¼ cup fresh raspberries
¼ cup fresh blueberries
½ cup honey mustard salad dressing

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • In a bowl, mix the hot red pepper sauce, margarine, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and salt. Mix pecans into the bowl, tossing to coat evenly. Spread pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes in the preheated oven, stirring often and watching carefully, until lightly browned. Remove from heat, and set aside.
  • Rub chicken with the olive oil, place on a baking sheet, and sprinkle with Greek seasoning. Bake 20 minutes or until juices run clear. Slice into strips.
  • In a salad bowl, toss together romaine lettuce, chicken strips, cherry tomato halves, strawberries, grapes, raspberries, and blueberries. Sprinkle with pecans, and drizzle with dressing.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 983.5 calories, Carbohydrate 39.9 g, Cholesterol 68.4 mg, Fat 80.4 g, Fiber 10.2 g, Protein 35.9 g, SaturatedFat 9.1 g, Sodium 681.3 mg, Sugar 26.2 g

ORANGE PECAN HONEYED CHICKEN



Orange Pecan Honeyed Chicken image

Originally from the "Pecan Lovers Cookbook" by Mark Blazek from Golden West Publishers this is one incredible recipe for a chicken dinner.

Provided by Mark Kovach

Categories     Chicken Breast

Time 45m

Yield 3 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

3 whole incl skin and bones chicken breasts
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup orange juice, with pulp (fresh or not from concentrate)
4 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons minced onions
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
salt
cooked rice (any type)
3 tablespoons white wine (or broth)
1 tablespoon flour
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
2 sectioned oranges
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Steps:

  • CHICKEN:.
  • In a large skillet brown both sides of chicken (skin side down first) in the butter.
  • Add orange juice, honey, onion, pepper, and salt.
  • Cover pan allowing steam to vent and simmer for 30 minutes (or just untill chicken is tender).
  • Remove chicken from pan and arrange over rice. Keep warm. Return pan to range top.
  • SAUCE:.
  • Stir wine into flour until well blended. Add to reserved pan drippings stirring constantly untill flour has a chance to cook.
  • Add orange peel and sections and pecans and heat thoroughly.
  • Serve immediately over chicken and rice.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 871.6, Fat 47.8, SaturatedFat 13.7, Cholesterol 205.9, Sodium 240, Carbohydrate 45.6, Fiber 4.3, Sugar 37.5, Protein 63.9

ORANGE PECAN SALAD



Orange Pecan Salad image

This recipe, suprisingly easy, is a great hit for those who like fruit and nuts in a salad. It's wonderfully light, slightly tangy, and a flexible recipe -- you can easily add cooked chicken to it and make it a dinner salad.

Provided by quikgourmet

Categories     Fruit

Time 20m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 head romaine lettuce
4 green onions, chopped
1 cup chopped celery
1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges
1/8 teaspoon dried parsley flakes or 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
1 cup chopped pecans
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 -4 teaspoons Tabasco sauce

Steps:

  • Mix together in a salad bowl the lettuce, onions, celery, oranges, and parsley.
  • Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat; combine nuts and sugar in the skillet and toss quickly.
  • Continue stirring until the sugar is melted; remove from heat and add to the salad.
  • Mix the dressing with a whisk and pour over the salad; mix and serve.
  • In a salad bowl, mix together the lettuce, onions, celery, oranges, and parsley.
  • Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat; combine nuts and sugar in the skillet and toss quickly.
  • Continue stirring until the sugar is melted; remove from heat and add to the salad.
  • Mix the dressing with a whisk and pour over the salad; toss and serve.

Tips:

  • Mise en Place: Before you start cooking, gather and measure all of your ingredients. This will help you stay organized and prevent any scrambling.
  • Choose the Right Orange: For the best flavor, use a navel orange. Navel oranges are sweet and juicy, with a thin rind that is easy to peel.
  • Toast the Pecans: Toasting the pecans will enhance their flavor and make them more fragrant. You can toast them in a skillet over medium heat or in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-7 minutes.
  • Shred the Chicken Ahead of Time: If you're short on time, you can shred the chicken ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Chill the Salad Before Serving: Chilling the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving will help the flavors to meld and develop.

Conclusion:

Orange pecan chicken salad is a delicious and refreshing salad that is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. It is also a great way to use up leftover chicken. The combination of sweet oranges, crunchy pecans, and creamy mayonnaise is sure to please everyone at your table. This salad is also very versatile. You can add other ingredients to it, such as celery, grapes, or cranberries. You can also adjust the amount of mayonnaise to suit your taste. Whether you are looking for a quick and easy meal or a more sophisticated dish, orange pecan chicken salad is a great option. It is sure to become a favorite in your household.

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