Harvest Chicken Salad

Submitted by Debala

"Apples and tangy orange dressing makes this chicken salad the main attraction. Cook’s tip: A 2-pound rotisserie-cooked chicken can be used to prepare this recipe, if desired. You may also want to top this with “Recipe #220615”."

 

• Ready In: 20mins
• Ingredients: 15
• Serves: 12

ingredients

• Dressing

• 2 oranges
• 1⁄3 cup fat-free mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons stone ground mustard
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 small garlic clove, pressed

• Salad

• 1 (6 ounce) package fresh baby spinach leaves
• 2 cups diced roasted chicken meat
• 1 cup celery rib, diced
• 2 medium Red Delicious apples
• 1⁄2 cup red onion, chopped
• 3⁄4 cup dried sweetened cranberries
• 1⁄2 cup pecan halves, toasted (optional)
• orange section (optional)

directions

1. For dressing, zest one orange to measure 2 teaspoons zest.
2. Juice oranges to measure 1/2 cup juice.
3. Combine orange zest, mayonnaise, mustard, sugar, salt, black pepper and pressed garlic; whisk until smooth.
4. While continuously whisking, add orange juice in a thin, steady stream; set dressing aside.
5. For salad, place spinach in bottom of large serving bowl.
6. Dice chicken and celery.
7. Cut apples in half lengthwise; remove stems and seeds.
8. Cut each apple half into small pieces.
9. Chop onion.
10. Layer chicken, celery, apples, onion, cranberries and pecans, if desired, over spinach.
11. To serve, drizzle dressing over salad and toss to coat.
12. Top with orange segments (if you want to add this, you will need at least 1 extra orange) and Whole-Grain Croutons, if desired.
13. Serve immediately.

Reviews

[pcdarlene]

This recipe is actually from Pampered Chef's 2006 Fall/Winter Season's Best Recipe Collection. My family and friends LOVE it!

 

[LifeIsGood]

Lovely combination of ingredients! I used the meat from a rotisserie chicken and this salad came together very quickly. I loved the dressing flavor! This made for a healthy, quick and satisfying family dinner. I'd say it served 3-4 as a main course (not the 12 that is stated). Thank you for posting! Made for Spring Pick A Chef in the Contests/Events forum.

 

[PalatablePastime]

I was curious how the flavors of apple and orange would work out with the chicken in this recipe, but it was soooo good! It worked out well for us having a light supper. We loved this!!! Thanks.

 

[Little Lisa]

I made this tonight with a few modifications: 1) used orange juice instead of juicing an orange, 2) used Romaine instead of spinach, 3) omitted the cranberries and 4) subbed walnuts for pecans. All in all this is a very delicious salad. I ate it for dinner at my son's baseball game. The dressing is sweet and tangy and I think the inclusion of the cranberries would have made it too sweet, but perhaps that was because I used orange juice instead of juicing the oranges. The garlic gives it a nice punch. To say that this serves 12 people with only 2 cups of chicken and 6 oz greens is an overestimation in my opinion. I would say that as written, this recipe would serve 4 adults as a salad (and not a main dish as I ate it). Also, the calorie count on this incorrect. One boneless, skinless chicken breast has approximately 200 calories alone, and you need approx 1.5 breasts get 2 cups of diced chicken. I entered this recipe on a calorie tracking website and it told me that, as written, the recipe has approx 950 calories total, or approx 240 per serving (for 4 people). This is a great summer salad to eat cold or to take to your childrens' games. I will definitely be making this again.

 

[Chef MB]

DELICIOUS! Even the kids liked it. I used romaine lettuce instead of spinach and omitted the onion (both because of the kids). The salad is easy to put together, the dressing is wonderful and NOT too sweet. A wonderful, crunchy, crispy combination that's perfect for a fall menu.