This Apple Harvest Chicken Salad is my fall-inspired twist on my classic chicken salad recipe! It has everything I want in a traditional chicken salad, like tender chicken and a creamy dressing. But I love taking this one a step further with seasonal ingredients like sweet apples, Medjool dates, and pecans! With lots of different tastes and textures, every bite is SO good. I love that I can just quickly toss it together and have a hearty meal ready to go in minutes. Serve it on a croissant (my favorite way), on apple slices, or just eat it right out of the bowl!

Creamy, Crispy Apple Harvest Chicken Salad

This apple harvest chicken salad is another recipe from my Sunday Plan on Substack! (opens in a new tab) If you haven’t checked it out yet, my Sunday Plans are designed to make healthy eating feel simple without sacrificing flavor, thanks to recipes like my Hot Honey Peach Burrata Bowls, Mediterranean Chicken Feta Bake, and now, this chicken salad, too.

Each plan comes with a grocery list, a prep schedule, and a full week of recipes that work together. The result is less time spent in the kitchen and more family-friendly dinners ready to eat. This recipe is one of my favorites from my September plan (opens in a new tab) because it’s SO easy and the combination of sweet, savory, creamy, and crunchy textures is just absolutely perfect.

Plus, it’s served cold, making it perfect for those lingering warm days, while the apples, dates, pecans, and maple give it lots of comforting fall flavor. Basically, there’s never a bad time for this recipe!

Need help with meal planning and getting healthy meals on the table quickly? Join my Substack newsletter for monthly healthy eating meal plans, high-protein recipes, an amazing community, weekend chats, and more!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick & Easy – Everything comes together in one bowl in just 15 minutes, with no cooking required when you use leftover or rotisserie chicken.
Great for Meal Prep – I love to prep a large batch for quick grab-and-go lunches on busy weeks!
Versatile – Mix and match the ingredients, adjust the flavors, and serve the chicken salad in a variety of ways so it never gets old.
The Best Fall Flavors – Honeycrisp apples, sweet Medjool dates, crunchy pecans, and a creamy Dijon dressing create the perfect combination of tastes that just screams fall.

Top image of Apple Harvest Chicken Salad sandwiches.

Watch How to Make Apple Harvest Chicken Salad

Ingredients

Chicken – I love to use leftover chicken from my Greek chicken bowls. The marinade adds even more incredible flavor! However, any cooked chicken, such as my Instant Pot shredded chicken, will work. Or, save even more time and pick up a rotisserie chicken from the store!
Veggies – Green onion, celery, and pickles add lots of crunch and a bright flavor with just a touch of sharpness that offsets the sweet fruit nicely.
Fruit – Honeycrisp apples add fresh, crispy texture and sweetness. Then, I include Medjool dates for a chewy texture and sweet, caramel-like flavor. Feel free to substitute another crisp apple variety if preferred.
Pecans – These add a nutty, buttery flavor and plenty of crunch. Walnuts would work well, too!
Greek Yogurt – This forms the base of the dressing, taking the place of mayonnaise found in many recipes and adding a little extra protein.
Olive Oil (opens in a new tab) – A little bit goes a long way to thin out the yogurt without diluting the flavor.
Dijon Mustard (opens in a new tab) – This adds a sharp flavor that balances some of the sweetness.
Lemon Juice – This is optional, but I love the extra brightness it adds to the dressing.
Garlic – This adds depth to the salad. Using pre-minced garlic is one of my favorite kitchen shortcuts!
Salt/Pepper – Adjust to taste.

How to Make Apple Harvest Chicken Salad

This might be the easiest recipe I’ve ever made! All you need is a large bowl. Here’s how to prepare this Apple Harvest Chicken Salad Recipe:

Combine – Add all the ingredients to a large bowl and mix to combine and coat.
Serve – I always give my chicken salad a quick taste test and make any adjustments as needed. Then, it’s ready to serve right away or chill in the fridge!

Tips

Cut everything into similar-sized pieces. Finely chopping the chicken, celery, apple, dates, and pecans helps you get a little bit of everything in each bite.
Adjust the consistency. Feel free to add a little more Greek yogurt if you prefer an extra-creamy chicken salad.
Let it chill. If you have time, I recommend refrigerating the chicken salad for 20-30 minutes before serving to give the flavors a chance to blend.
Add the pecans just before serving. If you’re meal prepping, keeping the pecans separate until you’re ready to eat helps them stay nice and crunchy.

Variations

Switch up the fruit. Swap the Honeycrisp apple for another crisp variety, or try fresh pears or grapes for a different flavor.

Use a different nut. Walnuts, almonds, or pistachios can be used in place of the pecans.

Add dried fruit. Toss in dried cranberries or cherries for even more sweet, tart flavor.

Make it dairy-free. Use your favorite plain dairy-free Greek-style yogurt in place of regular Greek yogurt.

Make it vegetarian. Omit the chicken, or add crispy chickpeas just before serving for a vegetarian apple harvest chicken salad recipe.

Two Apple Harvest Chicken Salad sandwiches.

My Favorite Ways to Serve

There are so many ways to serve this apple harvest chicken salad recipe, but I love it on a croissant! There’s something about the flaky texture and buttery flavor that just works so well.

That said, the chicken salad is also great served with sandwich bread, in a pita wrap, almond flour tortillas, or even lettuce wraps. It’s also delicious piled over a bed of greens like romaine or arugula for a hearty salad. Try it with crackers for dipping, or eat it straight with just a fork, too!

If you’re looking for a fun snack or appetizer, I often spoon the chicken salad over apple slices. It always looks pretty on a table, and my littles love it after school!

How to Store

Once combined, leftover apple harvest chicken salad will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. For the best texture, keep the pecans separate and add them just before serving so they stay crunchy.

I don’t recommend freezing this recipe! The Greek yogurt dressing can separate, and the apples and celery can become soft once thawed. Just stick to refrigerating it!

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Apple Harvest Chicken Salad