Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad (with Greek Yogurt)

Name: Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad (with Greek Yogurt)
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 3 cups finely diced rotisserie chicken breast; ½ cup dried cranberries; ⅓ cup roughly chopped toasted almonds; 2 finely diced celery stalks; 2 thinly sliced green onions; ⅔ cup plain greek yogurt; 1 tbsp Dijon mustard; 1 tbsp whole-grain mustard; ½ lemon, zest & juice; 1 tsp maple syrup; salt, to taste

Chicken salad is one of those recipes I always come back to. It’s quick, endlessly flexible, and for whatever reason, it’s the one meal prep option I just never get sick of.

So here’s my take on a cranberry almond chicken salad. This one is made with a greek yogurt dressing, so it’s totally mayo-free, which makes it lighter, higher in protein, and gives it a really nice tangy flavor.

For the mix-ins, I keep things simple. Dried cranberries, toasted almonds (very important!), finely diced celery, and thinly sliced green onion. And that’s it, really.

The almonds are the part I get most excited about. I toast them until they’re golden and nutty, which makes them extra crunchy too. You can buy them pre-roasted at most stores, but I’ve also included instructions in the recipe below in case yours only carries them raw.

And another signature VLH Health move: mix this chicken salad for a little longer than you think you need to. The chicken starts to break apart and gets this amazing shreddy texture that I think makes it extra delicious, whether you’re scooping it onto crackers, piling it into a green salad, or eating it however you like to enjoy your chicken salad.

Some more of my favorite chicken salad recipes:

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Chicken salad with dried cranberries and toasted almonds in a white bowl with a silver spoon, served with crackers

Why I Love This Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad

39 grams of protein per serving thanks to lean rotisserie chicken breast and a tangy greek yogurt dressing.
Light and mayo-free: Using all greek yogurt keeps things light, tangy, and even egg-free since traditional mayo contains eggs.
Sweet and savory in every bite from dried cranberries, toasted almonds, and green onions.
Ready in 15 minutes with no cooking required beyond toasting the almonds (and you can skip that step if you buy them pre-roasted).
Perfect for meal prep: Stays fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days and can be enjoyed a bunch of different ways.
Totally customizable: Swap in ingredients you love, swap out the ones you don’t. Easy to make this recipe your own.

If you love chicken salad as much as I do, this High-Protein Dill Pickle Chicken Salad is a must-try. It’s one of the most popular recipes on my site.

Close-up of healthy cranberry chicken salad with greek yogurt dressing, toasted almonds, and green onion garnish

Key Ingredients

Made with simple, everyday ingredients, this cranberry almond chicken salad features:

Rotisserie chicken breast: This hack makes things super simple and flavorful. Just finely dice it up and the whole recipe stays completely no-cook. Or poach your chicken breasts if you prefer.
Plain greek yogurt: The base of the dressing. Adds creaminess, tang, and an extra protein boost.
Dried cranberries: Essential to this recipe. They add a pop of sweetness and a nice chewy texture that works amazingly with the crunchy almonds.
Almonds: Roughly chopped and toasted until golden for warm, nutty flavor in every bite. Pre-roasted almonds make things extra simple.
Celery and green onions: For a bit of crunch and extra flavor, not to mention a small serving of veggies.
Dijon and whole-grain mustard: These two mustards are essential in any chicken salad for me. They add sharpness and depth, and I like the textural pop of the whole-grain mustard seeds.
Lemon zest and juice: Another essential for me. Brightens everything up and keeps the dressing tasting super vibrant.
Maple syrup: Because we’re using all greek yogurt here, the dressing leans slightly tangy. A small splash of maple syrup balances that out. Honey works here too.

Looking for more meal prep ideas? Check out 29 High-Protein Cold Lunches for Work each with 30+ grams of protein per serving.

How to Make It

This cranberry almond chicken salad with greek yogurt comes together in just a few simple steps. Here’s how to make it.

Roasted almonds spread in an air fryer basket, after toasting

Toast your almonds (optional)
If you can’t find pre-roasted almonds, you can toast them at home on the stovetop, in the oven, or in the air fryer. See the recipe card below for full instructions.

Greek yogurt, Dijon, whole-grain mustard, and lemon zest in a stainless bowl for chicken salad dressing

Whisk the dressing
In a large bowl, whisk together your greek yogurt, mustards, lemon zest and juice, maple syrup, and salt until smooth and creamy.

Diced rotisserie chicken, celery, green onions, toasted almonds, and dried cranberries in a stainless bowl

Add your chicken and mix-ins
To the same bowl, add your finely diced rotisserie chicken, celery, green onions, cranberries, and toasted almonds. Mix everything together for a full 2 to 3 minutes, a little longer than you think you need, so the chicken starts to break apart and turn into a soft, shreddy texture.

Cranberry almond chicken salad mixed in a stainless bowl with shreddy chicken and creamy dressing

Chill and serve
Taste and season to your liking, then pop the bowl in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes. The flavors meld and the dressing thickens slightly, absorbing into the chicken. Serve it on its own, on greens, in a sandwich, or scooped up with crackers.

Love a tangy chicken salad? My High-Protein Buffalo Chicken Salad is another reader favorite and makes for a great meal prep option.

Victoria’s Tips

Here are some of my tips for the best cranberry almond chicken salad.

Don’t skip the toasting! Raw almonds have a totally different flavor, whereas toasted ones are warm, golden, nutty, and extra crunchy. This is one of the main flavor notes here, so it’s important to get it right.
Mix longer than feels necessary. Mix your chicken salad for a full 2 to 3 minutes until you start to see the chicken breaking down slightly. This gives it a soft, shreddy texture that makes this salad extra special.
Chill before serving. If you’ve got the time, even 20 minutes in the fridge lets all the flavors meld and the dressing thicken and soak into the chicken.

Swaps & Variations

This cranberry almond chicken salad recipe is so easy to adapt and customize. Here are a couple of suggestions:

Make it dairy-free: Swap the greek yogurt for an equal amount of dairy-free yogurt or mayonnaise.
Try a soft herb: Chopped dill, parsley, or even tarragon all work really well in place of the green onions if you prefer that flavor.
Swap the dried fruit: Use whatever you have on hand. Finely diced dried apricots, dried blueberries, or golden raisins all work well in place of the cranberries.
Stir in apple: Finely diced Honeycrisp or Pink Lady apple brings a nice crunch and a little extra natural sweetness.
Skip the maple syrup: Leave it out for a tangier dressing, or swap it for honey.

Cranberry almond chicken salad in a meal prep container with sliced cucumber and rosemary crackers

Storage & Meal Prep

This chicken salad is designed for meal prep. Divide into individual portions in airtight containers and keep in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days. For extra crunch, keep the almonds in a separate small bag and add them right before eating so they stay fully crunchy.

FAQ

What type of greek yogurt should I use?

Go for full-fat or 2% plain greek yogurt for the best texture and flavor. Both have enough fat to make the dressing taste creamy and balanced, whereas nonfat will be a little bit lean, thin, and tangy. Still works in a pinch if that’s what you’ve got. A fresher Greek yogurt also leans a little more balanced versus one that’s been sitting in the fridge, which can get a little more tangy.

Can I use light and dark meat rotisserie chicken?

Absolutely! I like to go with breast meat for the highest protein content and cleanest flavor, but you can use all of the meat coming off a rotisserie chicken. Just dice them both up and follow the recipe as instructed.

What other mix-ins do you recommend?

This recipe is super customizable. You can add finely diced apple, halved red grapes, or chopped walnuts and pecans. Fresh herbs like dill, parsley, and tarragon also work well. And if you want extra crunch, you can even add something like finely diced cucumber or radish.

How can I make this recipe dairy-free?

Swap the greek yogurt for equal amounts of plain, unsweetened dairy-free yogurt, or use mayonnaise instead.