Honestly, some days I swear lunch planning is harder than making dinner. I get so tired of the same old sad desk sandwich rotation! That’s why I’m shouting from the rooftops about this recipe: it makes the absolute best Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad you will ever stir together. Seriously, I whipped this up last Tuesday when I realized I had zero plans, and bam! Ten minutes later, I had flavor explosion waiting in the fridge. It hits that perfect sweet-and-savory note every single time. You just won’t believe how easy things get when you have a reliable, flavor-packed recipe like this in your back pocket.

Why This Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad Stands Out (E-E-A-T)

I know, I know, chicken salad is everywhere. But trust me, you haven’t had one like this! The dried cherries give you these chewy bursts of tartness that just sing next to the savory chicken. Plus, the walnuts give off this amazing crunch that keeps every bite interesting. It’s all about that texture party happening in your mouth!

Sweetness from the cherries
Crunch from newly chopped walnuts
Bright zing from fresh lemon juice

Quick Prep for Your Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad

This whole recipe takes about ten minutes from start to finish—no cooking required unless you count warming up the rotisserie bird! That’s why this Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad is my secret weapon for busy days. You simply dump, mix, and eat. Fast lunches don’t have to mean boring lunches, ever!

Gathering Ingredients for Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad

Don’t stress about a long grocery list here! This salad comes together with ingredients you likely already have or can grab in a heartbeat. The key is measuring things out so the balance between the creamy base and the tart mix-ins is just right. Keep your cooked chicken ready, and we can whip this up while the kettle boils!

Here is exactly what you need to grab from the pantry and the fridge:

2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup dried cherries
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons celery, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Your Salad

Listen up, busy bees! If you’re short on time, using store-bought rotisserie chicken is totally acceptable; it saves you loads of time. Also, the walnuts make a huge difference when you toast them lightly—it deepens that nutty flavor beautifully for the best Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad. Give that step five minutes in a dry pan!

Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad

Okay, time for the fun part! Since we already have our chicken ready—maybe you followed my guide on the best way to shred chicken—putting this Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad together is incredibly fast. We are aiming for a nice, creamy base that perfectly coats all those crunchy nuts and chewy bits. Don’t overthink it; just relax and mix!

First things first, get that shredded chicken right into your favorite medium mixing bowl. Don’t be shy with the amount!
Next up, we add the binding agent and the flavor bomb: the mayonnaise, those gorgeous dried cherries, your chopped walnuts, the finely diced celery for that necessary snap, and that splash of fresh lemon juice for brightness.
Now, take a sturdy spoon or spatula and mix everything until it looks happy and uniform. You want every scoop to have some cherry and some walnut, so be sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl!
Once it’s all mixed, this is where you taste it. Sprinkle in salt and pepper until it tastes exactly like *your* perfect chicken salad should taste.
Serve it right away for that fresh crunch, or cover it up and let it chill for half an hour so those flavors can truly marry.

Mixing and Seasoning Your Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad

The mixing part is critical; we need to distribute those cherries and walnuts evenly without smashing them into oblivion. Go gentle but thorough on Step 3. As for seasoning, don’t just guess on the salt and pepper! Always taste before you serve. If it tastes a little flat, it needs salt. If it needs a wake-up call, it needs a tiny bit more lemon or a crank of pepper.

Tips for Success When Making Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad

Even though this Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad is super simple, there are just a couple of little secrets I learned over the years to keep it from getting sloppy or sad. Tip number one: Don’t over-mix! Once everything is incorporated and you don’t see streaks of plain mayo, stop stirring. Overmixing breaks down the chicken fibers and makes the whole thing turn mushy, and nobody wants that.

Also, please, please chill it! I know it’s tempting to eat it right away, but that ten minutes of resting time lets the lemon juice mingle with the mayo and soften the dried cherries just perfectly. If you use a good quality mayo—I always recommend checking out my favorite creamy bases—you’re already halfway there to the best Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad!

Serving Suggestions for Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad

The hard part is over—you made the perfect salad! Now, how do you eat it? While an old-school sandwich on squishy white bread is comforting, this Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad deserves better presentation! Try scooping a big dollop onto crisp romaine lettuce cups; it feels fancy but takes zero extra effort.

I also adore serving it chilled alongside buttery crackers for a simple lunch platter. If you’re having a picnic or brunch, put it over a bed of mixed greens with a light vinaigrette. It makes a wonderful topping for avocado halves, too. Honestly, it’s so flavorful you can eat it with just a fork!

Storage and Reheating for Leftover Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad

This Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad holds up really well, but because we’re using mayonnaise, we need to be smart about keeping it cold! Always store leftovers in an airtight container right in the coldest part of your fridge. It should stay perfectly delicious for about three to four days. I find the flavors actually deepen by day two, which is fantastic!

Because this is a cold salad, you shouldn’t try to reheat it at all. Microwaving mayo is just never a good idea; it separates and gets oily fast. Just pull your container out about ten minutes before you plan to serve it so it’s not *ice* cold, but keep that Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad chilled for serving!

Frequently Asked Questions About Chicken Salad

I get so many questions about this recipe type, and I love hearing what you all are trying! People often wonder about substitutions or how to speed things up even more. Here are the top things folks ask me about before they mix up their next batch of chicken salad. Make sure to check my storage guide if you plan on keeping leftovers!

Can I use fresh cherries instead of dried in this recipe?

You totally can, but brace yourself for a different texture! Fresh cherries are juicier, so they’ll release liquid into your salad, making it thinner. Also, they won’t have that lovely intense chewiness that the dried ones give you. It’s fine, but the salad won’t be as thick!

How do I make this Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad lighter?

If you’re looking to cut some fat, mayo is easy to swap out! Try using plain Greek yogurt; it adds a nice tanginess too. Another brilliant way to lighten it up is by replacing half the mayo with mashed avocado—it gives a wonderful creaminess without all the dairy.

What is the best way to shred chicken quickly?

If you have a stand mixer, this is my favorite trick: put your warm, cooked chicken breasts in the bowl with the paddle attachment, and run it on low for about 30 seconds. If you don’t have one, just use two forks! It only takes a minute or two to pull perfectly shredded chicken apart.

Estimated Nutrition Facts for Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad

I always like to give you guys a realistic idea of what’s in your bowl, even though exact numbers can change based on what mayo you pick! These figures are my best guess based on what I put into the recipe when I test it out in my kitchen.

Keep in mind these estimates are for a half-cup serving, which is a good portion amount.

Calories: 350
Protein: 28 grams
Fat: 20 grams (3g Saturated Fat)
Carbohydrates: 15 grams
Sugar: 8 grams
Sodium: 300 mg

This nutritional info is just a helpful guide, so don’t stress too much over the tiny details! It’s a satisfying lunch, rich in protein, and honestly, the fats here are mostly good fats coming from the walnuts for flavor.

Share Your Perfect Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad Experience

Well, that’s really all there is to creating my favorite ultra-quick lunch! I hope you loved how easy this Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad was to pull together. Now that you’ve mixed it up, I really, really want to hear what you thought!

Did you toast your walnuts like I said? Did you use rotisserie chicken? Tell me everything! The very best part of sharing these recipes is seeing them pop up in your kitchens. So jump down to the comments when you have a second.

If you loved this recipe, please leave a star rating right below—it helps other busy folks find it! And if you snapped a picture, please tag me on social media; I love scrolling through and seeing your creations. You can share all your wonderful Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad photos over on my main share page. Happy eating!

Cherry Walnut Chicken Salad

Author: jekof.com
Total Time: 10 min
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Diet: Low Calorie

Print Recipe

Description

A simple recipe for chicken salad mixed with dried cherries and walnuts.

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup dried cherries
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons celery, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste

Instructions

Place the shredded chicken in a medium bowl.
Add the mayonnaise, dried cherries, chopped walnuts, celery, and lemon juice to the bowl.
Mix all ingredients until well combined.
Season with salt and pepper to your preference.
Serve immediately or chill before serving.

Notes

You can use rotisserie chicken for quicker preparation.
Toast the walnuts lightly before adding them for deeper flavor.

Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 0 min
Category: Lunch
Method: Mixing
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/2 cup
Calories: 350
Sugar: 8
Sodium: 300
Fat: 20
Saturated Fat: 3
Unsaturated Fat: 17
Trans Fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 15
Fiber: 1
Protein: 28
Cholesterol: 85

Keywords: chicken salad, cherry walnut, quick lunch, salad recipe, shredded chicken