Cranberry Chicken Salad with Pistachios

Cranberry Chicken Salad was one of the first recipes I shared on the blog, and itโ€™s still a favorite. This chicken salad recipe with cranberries and pistachios is perfect for baby and wedding showers, picnics, and easy lunches!

Chicken Salad with cranberries and pistachios on a ciabatta roll with lettuce

The Search for the BEST Chicken Salad

Chicken salad is one of those foods that can be incredibly delicious or just plain icky. Over the past few years Iโ€™ve had my share of both.ย 

Iโ€™ve drooled over many delectable looking chicken salad sandwiches on the menu, only to receive a pile of chicken and mayo goo between two slices of stale bread.

ย On the other hand, Iโ€™ve also tried a few chicken salads I really enjoyed, and even recreated some of my favorites at home–like this Parmesan Basil Chicken Salad and Chicken Salad with Apples and Pecans.

Cranberry Chicken Salad Recipe FTW

I thought I had pretty much played the field when it came to chicken salad, but on a recent brunch visit to Mimiโ€™s Cafe, I was intrigued by a new combination they had on the menuโ€“ Cranberry Chicken Salad with Pistachios.

Iโ€™ll be honest, I mainly ordered it because it was served on a croissant. I mean, geesh, I would eat shoe leather if it was sandwiched in a fluffy, buttery croissant. But thatโ€™s beside the point.

ย The point is this chicken salad was AWESOME. Within days after consuming that masterpiece of a sandwich, I was craving it again. I knew I had to try to recreate it at home.ย 

With a little tweaking I managed to get the recipe pretty darn close. Mr. NeighborFood., who usually scoffs at anything that mixes โ€œpointlessโ€ fruit with meat, said it was the best chicken salad recipe heโ€™d ever tried.

Thatโ€™s what I call a WIN, and now Iโ€™m thrilled to share the recipe with you!

Picnic table with Cranberry Chicken Salad Sandwiches, watermelon slices, and carrots

Tips for Making the Best Chicken Salad with Cranberries

Like most chicken salads, this Cranberry Chicken Salad recipe is easy to make and uses common ingredients. Basically, mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and you’re done!

That said, I do have a couple tips for taking chicken salad to the next level.

  • Always start with good quality chicken. This is not the time for chicken in a can. I like to use leftover chicken from another recipe (like this Italian Dressing Chicken) or from a store bought rotisserie chicken. You can also use this method for quick pan fried chicken breast.
  • Splurge on good bread. You definitely CAN judge a chicken salad by its day-old Wonder Bread cover. So do it up right and grab a hearty, seedy wheat bread, chewy ciabatta rolls, make ahead butterhorn rolls, or flaky croissants.
  • Donโ€™t skip the sour cream or the lemon juice! These are the secret ingredients that really put this Cranberry Chicken Salad over the top. They add a hint of tang and brightness that makes this chicken salad taste so fresh! If youโ€™d like, sub the sour cream for plain Greek yogurt, but donโ€™t skip this ingredient.
  • Add nuts! I absolutely ADORE adding buttery pistachios–theyโ€™re such a nice, crunchy compliment to the creamy chicken salad. That said, a Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad or Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad would also be lovely.

Cranberry Chicken Salad Sandwiches on a ciabatta roll

How Long Does Homemade Cranberry Chicken Salad last?

This recipe keeps well in the fridge for about 3-4 days. Be sure to give it a good stir before serving. I also recommend omitting the pistachios and adding them right before serving so they retain their crunch.

What to Serve with Cranberry Chicken Salad with Pistachios

For a simple and incredibly satisfying lunch, I love serving chicken salad with a cucumber tomato salad or garden salad and potato chips.

If youโ€™re serving this for an event or shower, pair it with a fruit salad, garden veggie dip, and pineapple sunshine cake or strawberry rhubarb fool for a gorgeous spring menu.

This Cranberry Chicken Salad studded with crunchy pistachios is the perfect spring and summertime lunch.

Cranberry Chicken Salad

Yield: 5
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Creamy Cranberry Chicken Salad is studded with crunchy pistachios for a stellar sandwich spread. Pair it with a croissant for an incredible meal!

Ingredients

  • 4 cups coarsely chopped cooked chicken
  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 Tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup pistachios
  • Ciabatta, croissants, or other rolls for serving
  • Lettuce and tomato for serving

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayo and sour cream. Add sugar and lemon juice and whisk until thoroughly combined.
  2. Add chunks of chicken to mayo mixture and stir until combined. If needed add a bit more mayo to cover. Stir in cranberries and pistachios. Add salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  3. When ready to serve, slice rolls in half. Pile high with lettuce, chicken salad, and tomato, if desired. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 5
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 374Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 4.5gCholesterol: 100mgSodium: 359mgCarbohydrates: 12.7gFiber: 1gSugar: 4.3gProtein: 34g

Did you make this recipe?

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14 Comments

  1. I used to work at mimis amd while i dont remember the exact recipe I do remember we used Craisins brand cranberries which are a little sweeter and also had green onion and dijon in the mix and no soir cream. Just in case you wanted to try that. โ˜บ

  2. I served these sandwiches on croissant rolls at a shower and all the ladies loved it! It’s the best chicken salad I’ve ever eaten.

  3. This was delicious, thank you! I did increase the sugar to one tablespoon and used about one tablespoon of lemon juice to meet my personal preference.

  4. Thank you, thank you, thank you! This Mimi’s Sandwich is so delicious that I, too, have been craving it weekly since discovering it last month. So happy to have a recipe to make it at home. Can’t wait to try it tonight. Thanks!

  5. This looks so good!!! I’ve never had chicken salad with cranberries and pistachios, but not I’ve just got to try it! Thanks so much for the wonderful idea! ๐Ÿ™‚

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