Maple Dijon Chicken Chopped Salad packs a ton of texture into one bowl. Chicken breast, romaine, apple, cucumber, cheddar, dried cranberries, pecans, and parsley all get tossed together and coated in a creamy maple Dijon dressing.
The dressing itself is simple: Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and a touch of mayonnaise.
The lettuce, cucumber, apple, and pecans give it plenty of crunch, while the chicken and cheddar keep it hearty enough to work for lunch or dinner.
The dried cranberries add just enough sweetness to play off the maple and Dijon without tipping the whole thing into dessert territory.
It comes together in about 20 minutes, so it’s a solid choice on days when you want something healthy but don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen.
It’s also a natural fit for fall, when apples, maple, cranberries, and pecans start showing up in everything anyway.
Why You’ll Love This Maple Dijon Chicken Chopped Salad
Ready in 20 Minutes
A quick option for lunch or dinner.
Filling Main Dish
Chicken, cheese, and pecans make it satisfying enough for a full meal.
Sweet and Tangy Dressing
Maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar give the dressing a balanced flavor.
Plenty of Crunch
Romaine, apple, cucumber, celery, and pecans add crisp texture.
Fall-Inspired Flavors
Apple, cranberries, maple, cheddar, and pecans make this a nice choice for fall.
Ingredient Substitutions
Romaine Lettuce
Use chopped green leaf lettuce or iceberg lettuce if you don’t have romaine.
Chicken Breast
Cooked rotisserie chicken can replace the cooked chicken breast. Remove the skin before chopping if desired.
Apple
Use any crisp apple you have on hand. Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, or Granny Smith all pair well with the maple Dijon dressing.
Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Reduced-fat mild cheddar, white cheddar, or Colby Jack can replace the sharp cheddar.
Pecans
Use chopped walnuts or sliced almonds in place of the pecans.
Dried Cranberries
Chopped dried cherries or raisins can replace the dried cranberries.
Greek Yogurt
Plain low-fat Greek yogurt can replace the nonfat Greek yogurt.
Light Mayonnaise
Regular mayonnaise can be used instead of light mayonnaise.
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Maple Dijon Chicken Chopped Salad
Recipes are written with one action per step for accessibility. Short lines. Fewer rereads. A calmer kitchen on mobile or desktop.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 3 cups cooked chicken breast chopped
- 1 large apple chopped
- 1 cup cucumbers chopped
- ½ cup reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese diced
- ⅓ cup red onion finely chopped
- ¾ cup celery chopped
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries roughly chopped
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
- 2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
For the Creamy Maple Dijon Dressing:
- ½ cup plain nonfat greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon light Mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon water
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add the chopped romaine lettuce to a large mixing bowl.
- Add the chicken, apple, cucumber, celery, cheddar cheese, red onion, dried cranberries, pecans, and parsley.
- In a small mixing bowl, add the Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, light mayonnaise, water, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Using a wire whisk, mix the dressing until smooth.
- Pour the dressing over the salad.
- Toss until the salad is evenly coated.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Tips and Tricks
Keep the apple from browning – If you’re preparing the ingredients ahead of time, toss the chopped apple with a small amount of lemon juice. Keep the pecans separate for meal prep – Store the pecans in a separate container and add them shortly before serving. This keeps them from absorbing moisture from the salad. Chill the dressing ahead of time – The maple Dijon dressing can be prepared in advance and refrigerated in a covered container until you’re ready to assemble the salad. Use cold chicken – Refrigerated cooked chicken works well in this salad and helps keep the lettuce crisp.Storing
Store the salad – Refrigerate leftover salad in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Once dressed, the lettuce will soften as it sits. Store the dressing separately – For meal prep, keep the dressing in a sealed container in the refrigerator and add it shortly before serving. Keep crunchy ingredients separate – Store the pecans separately when preparing the salad ahead of time. Add them before serving for better texture.Nutrition
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