Cranberry Walnut Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a quick High Protein lunch when you already have cooked chicken ready to use.
There’s no cooking involved, so you can have everything assembled in about 15 minutes.
The cranberries give the chicken salad a little sweetness, and the walnuts add crunch without making the filling complicated.
You’ll need a couple of mixing bowls and a whisk for the dressing. Butter lettuce works well because the leaves are soft enough to fold but sturdy enough to hold the chicken mixture.
The Greek yogurt dressing keeps things creamy without relying entirely on mayonnaise, and Dijon mustard and lemon give it enough tang to balance the sweeter ingredients.
Each serving is two lettuce wraps, making these easy to portion for lunch.
You can also prepare the chicken mixture ahead and keep the lettuce separate until serving so the leaves stay crisp.
Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Walnut Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Ready in 15 Minutes
There’s nothing to cook once the chicken is prepared. Chop, mix, fill the lettuce leaves, and lunch is ready.
High Protein Lunch
With 43 grams of protein per serving based on the provided nutrition information, these make a substantial lunch without needing bread or tortillas.
Sweet and Crunchy Chicken Salad
Dried cranberries and walnuts give the filling more texture than a basic chicken salad. The red onion and celery add some crispness, too.
Easy to Prepare Ahead
Mix the chicken salad in advance and refrigerate it separately from the lettuce. Assembly takes only a minute when you’re ready to eat.
Ingredient Substitutions
Chicken
Cooked turkey breast can replace the chicken in the same amount. This is also a practical way to use leftover turkey.
Walnuts
Pecans are the closest swap and work especially well with the cranberries. Sliced or slivered almonds are another option if you want more crunch.
Dried Cranberries
Dried cherries can be substituted for a similar sweet-tart flavor. Raisins also work, although they’ll make the filling a little sweeter.
Greek Yogurt
Plain low-fat Greek yogurt can replace nonfat Greek yogurt without changing how the dressing is prepared.
Light Mayonnaise
Regular mayonnaise can be used instead. It will make the dressing richer and will change the nutrition and estimated WW Points.
Butter Lettuce
Bibb or Boston lettuce works well. Romaine leaves are another option and give the wraps considerably more crunch.
Red Onion
Green onions are a milder substitute if raw red onion tastes too strong.
Honey
Pure maple syrup can replace the honey in the dressing. Use the same amount.
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RECOMMENDED TOOL FOR THIS RECIPE
Vegetable Chopper
A handy shortcut for finely chopped salad ingredients.
Cranberry Walnut Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Recipes are written with one action per step for accessibility. Short lines. Fewer rereads. A calmer kitchen on mobile or desktop.
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked boneless skinless chicken breast diced
- ½ cup celery diced
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries
- ⅓ cup chopped walnuts
- ¼ cup red onion finely diced
- 8 large butter lettuce leaves
For the Dressing:
- ½ cup plain nonfat greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoon light Mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Add the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, honey, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to a small mixing bowl. Whisk until smooth.
- Add the chicken, celery, dried cranberries, walnuts, and red onion to a large mixing bowl.
- Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and stir until evenly coated.
- Divide the chicken mixture evenly among the lettuce leaves.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Tips and Tricks
Keep the lettuce dry – After washing the lettuce, dry the leaves thoroughly. Extra water can make the wraps slippery and dilute the filling. Chop the filling fairly small – Smaller pieces of chicken, celery, walnuts, and onion make the wraps easier to fill and eat. Toast the walnuts – For a deeper nutty flavor, lightly toast the walnuts and let them cool completely before adding them to the chicken. Wait to assemble – If you’re making these ahead, keep the chicken mixture and lettuce in separate containers until serving.Storing and Reheating
Refrigerator – Store the chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. Keep the lettuce leaves in a separate container so they stay crisp. Reheating – These wraps are meant to be served cold, so reheating isn’t necessary.Nutrition
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