Chicken and Apple Salad Recipe: Savory Apple and Chicken Bowl

This chicken and apple salad is an easy, flavorful lunch or dinner that combines crunch, bright fruit and satisfying protein. It’s inspired by the classic Waldorf salad, first served at the Waldorf-Astoria in 1896 as a simple mix of apples, celery and mayonnaise. Over the years many variations have appeared; this version adds chicken, dried cranberries and Greek yogurt to lighten the dressing while keeping great taste and texture.

My take on this classic keeps the original ingredients while adding cooked chicken for protein and Greek yogurt for a lighter, creamier dressing. Turn it into a complete meal by serving it on whole wheat bread, in a tortilla wrap, stuffed into a pita or piled on a bagel.

Recipe for Chicken and Apple Salad

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4.25 from 4 votes

Chicken and Apple Salad

This classic chicken salad is equally good on a bed of lettuce, on a bagel, rolled in a tortilla shell or tucked inside a pita pocket.

Prep : 15 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 large apple diced small
• 2 celery stalks diced small
• 2 cups diced cooked chicken
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup walnuts optional
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• salt & pepper to taste
• 2 Tbsp parsley chopped

Instructions

• In a large bowl, combine the diced apple, celery, cooked chicken, dried cranberries and walnuts (if using).
• In a separate bowl, stir together the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt and pepper until smooth.
• Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss to coat evenly. Adjust seasoning to taste and garnish with chopped parsley.
• Serve on a bed of lettuce, on bread, in a wrap, on a bagel or stuffed into pita pockets.

Notes

Alternatives to try:

Swap walnuts for pumpkin or sunflower seeds for a nut-free option.

Use almonds, pecans or hazelnuts instead of walnuts for different flavor and crunch.

Try dill in place of parsley for a different herb note.

Add shredded carrots for color and extra crunch.

For an appetizer, chop ingredients very finely and place small scoops on crackers.

Replace apples with grapes or pears, or use raisins or other dried fruit instead of cranberries.

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Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple, chicken breast,, summer picnic

How long will chicken and apple salad last?

Stored in an airtight container, this salad keeps well in the refrigerator for 3–4 days. If you’re serving it outdoors on a warm day, keep it chilled and follow safe food-handling practices to avoid spoilage.

What kind of chicken is best?

Any cooked chicken works well—white or dark meat—so use what you like or what you have on hand.

Leftover Chicken

Leftover chicken is ideal for this salad. I often make it after roasting a whole chicken. Cooked chicken freezes well for 2–3 months: cool it, wrap tightly, freeze, then thaw overnight in the fridge before using.

Rotisserie Chicken

Store-bought rotisserie chicken is a convenient and flavorful option that works perfectly in this recipe.

Home Cooked Chicken Breasts or Thighs

If you don’t have leftovers, cook breasts or thighs before preparing the salad. Below are simple, reliable methods to produce tender, flavorful chicken suitable for salads and sandwiches.

Get Maximum Flavour from your Chicken

Try one of these easy techniques for tender, flavorful cooked chicken:

1. Poach/Boil

Poaching yields moist, tender chicken that’s ideal for shredding or dicing into salads.

2. Slow Cook

Slow cooking produces fall-apart chicken that’s flavorful and simple to shred for salads and wraps.

3. Quick Pan-fry

• Cut chicken into equal-sized pieces.
• Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
• Season the chicken pieces and add to the pan.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5–7 minutes until cooked through (internal temp 74°C / 165°F).

Local Chicken

Whenever possible, choose local chicken to support nearby farmers and enjoy fresh quality. Sourcing locally helps the community and often results in better-tasting meat.

What kind of apples are best?

For this salad, choose a crunchy, slightly tart apple to balance the creamy dressing and savory chicken. Good choices include Ambrosia, Braeburn, Empire, Gala and Pink Lady. If you prefer sweeter fruit, Golden Delicious works well; Honeycrisp adds a distinctive flavor. When fresh local apples are available, they’re the best option, but any crunchy apple will do.

I developed this chicken and apple salad for an apple-themed cookbook and it remains one of my favorite savory apple recipes. If you make it, please share a photo and tag #getgettys so I can see it!

This recipe was developed in partnership with local producers. As always, the opinions and recommendations are my own and reflect practical home cooking experience.