Best 4 Southern Style Pecan Chicken Salad Recipes

In the realm of Southern cuisine, pecan chicken salad reigns supreme as a delectable dish that tantalizes taste buds with its harmonious blend of flavors and textures. This classic recipe, often served as a refreshing lunch or light dinner option, combines succulent cooked chicken with a symphony of ingredients that create a symphony of flavors. Imagine tender chicken pieces mingling with crunchy pecans, crisp celery, sweet grapes, and a creamy dressing that ties all the elements together in perfect harmony. As you savor each bite, the nutty aroma of pecans mingles with the subtle sweetness of grapes, while the celery adds a refreshing crunch that complements the creamy richness of the dressing. This Southern-style pecan chicken salad is a culinary delight that promises to leave you feeling satisfied and refreshed.

**Additional recipes mentioned in the article:**

- **Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwiches:** For a quick and portable meal, transform your pecan chicken salad into delectable sandwiches. Simply spread the salad onto your favorite bread, add some lettuce and tomato slices, and enjoy a satisfying lunch on the go.

- **Pecan Chicken Salad Croissants:** Elevate your lunch experience with pecan chicken salad croissants. Fill flaky croissants with a generous helping of the salad, and you'll have a gourmet meal that's perfect for brunches or special occasions.

- **Pecan Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps:** If you're watching your carb intake, opt for pecan chicken salad lettuce wraps. Wrap the salad in crisp lettuce leaves, and you'll have a light and refreshing meal that's packed with flavor.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

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

Ingredients

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

CHICKEN SALAD WITH GRAPES AND PECANS

Chicken Salad With Grapes and Pecans image

This classic chicken salad is a Southern lunch staple, but it is also fitting for afternoon teas or book clubs. The recipe was inspired by a favorite dish served at the former Sweetbriar restaurant in Gadsden, Alabama.

Provided by Southern Living Test Kitchen

Time 1h20m

Yield 8 cups

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

½ cup light or regular mayonnaise
½ cup light or regular sour cream
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
2 pounds skinned and boned chicken breasts, cooked and chopped
3 cups red and white seedless grapes, halved
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
Lettuce leaves (optional)

Steps:

Stir together 1/2 cup mayonnaise and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Add chopped chicken and grapes, tossing gently to coat.
Cover and chill at least 1 hour. Stir in pecans just before serving.

CHUNKY CHICKEN SALAD WITH GRAPES AND PECANS

Chunky Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans image

This chicken salad with grapes is ready in a snap when using rotisserie chicken and a few quick chops of pecans, sweet onion and celery. -Julie Sterchi, Jackson, Missouri

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Lunch

Time 25m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
4 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
1-1/4 cups seedless red grapes, halved
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped sweet onion, optional
Lettuce leaves or whole wheat bread slices, optional

Steps:

In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Add the chicken, grapes, pecans, celery and, if desired, onion; mix lightly to coat. If desired, serve with lettuce leaves or whole wheat bread.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 311 calories, Fat 22g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 70mg cholesterol, Sodium 180mg sodium, Carbohydrate 6g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 21g protein.

SOUTHERN STYLE SALAD

Southern Style Salad image

Black-eyed peas, candied bacon, pecan crusted chicken breast-YUM! A terrific summer meal. It looks a little involved, but is really very easy as you can prep everything else as the chicken cooks. Try a Southwestern/Southern fusion by substituting ingredients as you like ex: Black beans vs black-eyed peas, add sliced avocado, Jack vs cheddar, you decide :) We like our corn and beans or peas warmed a bit, and ate this as a slightly warm salad. Note: After making the recipe as directed, I wished I would have doubled the bacon as it really made the salad special.

Provided by Brenda.

Categories Chicken Breast

Time 40m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

4 large boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1 cup pecans, very finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt (such as Lawry's)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt (such as Lawry's)
1/2 lb bacon, thick sliced
3 quarts iceberg lettuce or 3 quarts romaine lettuce, coarsely chopped
1 (15 1/2 ounce) can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
1 (11 ounce) can whole kernel corn or 1 (11 ounce) can mexican style whole kernel corn, drained
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded (about 4 oz.)
1 cup ranch dressing or 1 cup bleu cheese salad dressing

Steps:

Pecan-Crusted Chicken:.
Combine 1 cup finely chopped pecans, 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
Coat 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves with 2 tablespoons melted butter, then pecan mixture.
Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked.
Allow chicken to cool slightly.
Slice Chicken on the diagonal into about 1/2 inch thick slices. (If the pecans fall off a bit when slicing, just sprinkle them over the top after arranging chicken slices on the platter).
Candied Bacon:.
In shallow dish, combine brown sugar with seasoned salt.
Evenly coat bacon with brown sugar mixture.
In shallow microwave-safe dish, arrange bacon. (I did put mine on paper towels and covered with a piece of paper toweling as well).
Microwave at HIGH, turning once, 4-5 minutes or until crisp; crumble and set aside. Watch closely so it doesn't burn.
On large shallow serving platter, arrange greens.
Evenly top with candied bacon and remaining ingredients, arranging in rows.
Just before serving, drizzle with Dressing.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 692.5, Fat 50.9, SaturatedFat 14.6, Cholesterol 97, Sodium 1082.8, Carbohydrate 37.2, Fiber 5.8, Sugar 18.6, Protein 25.9

Tips:

Use high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. Look for fresh, plump chicken, crunchy celery, and sweet grapes.
Don't overcook the chicken. Cook it just until it is cooked through, or it will become dry and tough.
Let the chicken cool completely before chopping it. This will help to prevent the salad from becoming watery.
Use a sharp knife to chop the chicken and celery. This will help to ensure that the pieces are even and consistent.
Don't be afraid to experiment with different ingredients. You could add chopped walnuts, dried cranberries, or crumbled bacon to the salad for a different flavor.

Conclusion:

Southern-Style Pecan Chicken Salad is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. It is also a great way to use up leftover chicken. The combination of chicken, pecans, and grapes is classic, and the creamy mayonnaise dressing brings it all together. This salad is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it.