Cranberry Hen Salad | Diethood

My favourite cranberry hen salad is filled with candy cranberries, crunchy almonds, and smoky bacon tossed in a lightened-up, tangy yogurt dressing. It’s simple to make and filling sufficient to gas my complete day. You’re going to find it irresistible!

This cranberry hen salad is one among my favourite simple hen salad variations. Largely as a result of it’s simply that good, but in addition as a result of it’s the best salad to make for any event, any time of the 12 months. It’s festive and potluck-y, too, so I took it to a celebration as soon as through the holidays and it was gone throughout the first 20 minutes. That is THE salad I crack out every time a buddy 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 Hen 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 coloration isn’t inexperienced as a result of I eat so many salads. Sufficient mentioned?
• 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 types of deliciousness in a single bowl.
• Thirdly, it’s simply so darn simple. This hen salad doesn’t require any fancy elements 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 Substances

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 need to use any salad greens your coronary heart needs, 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.
• Hen – Cube up any cooked hen you’ve got 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 exploit for a walnut hen salad.
• Cranberries – I like to recommend dried cranberries since they’re much less tart. 

For the Dressing

• Yogurt – I exploit non-fat plain yogurt from Dannon. Be at liberty to make use of your favourite or plain Greek yogurt.
• Dijon Mustard – I really like the milder creaminess of Dijon, however you should utilize yellow mustard if that’s what you’ve got.
• Parmesan – Freshly grated is finest.
• Herbs – I exploit finely chopped recent rosemary and minced garlic. You need to use one other herb, recent or dried, like thyme leaves or basil. If you happen to don’t have recent garlic, substitute the clove with ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.
• Lemon Juice – To brighten up the flavors. You can too use pink or white wine vinegar.

The best way to Make a Cranberry Hen 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 elements for the short yogurt dressing. Pour that over your hen salad, give it a very good toss, and revel in!

Serving Options

Any time of the 12 months, 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 important 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 finest loved inside a few hours. Sadly, as with most salads, the leftovers are likely to go soggy after a day or two within the fridge. See the part above for a straightforward make-ahead hack!

Extra Hen Salad Recipes