Chunky, creamy, and loaded with bright pops of sweetness, this Fruity Chicken Salad is the kind of lunch that makes you stop mid-bite and think, okay, I need to make this every week. Juicy grapes, crisp apple, crunchy pecans, and a little crushed pineapple all tangled together with tender rotisserie chicken and the creamiest two-ingredient dressing. I first threw this together on a random Tuesday when I had half a rotisserie chicken sitting in the fridge and a bowl of fruit nobody was touching, and honestly, it was one of my better ideas. The best part? It comes together in about 10 minutes with absolutely no cooking required.
If you love easy, feel-good meals like this one, you'll also want to check out my Easy Smothered Pork Chops Recipe and this crowd-pleasing Healthy Baked Ham Recipe for more simple, satisfying dinners.
It's got that perfect sweet-savory thing going on, the kind that sneaks past even the pickiest eaters in the room. Creamy, cool, and a little bit tropical, this one's going straight into your regular rotation.
Why You'll Love This Fruity Chicken Salad
This fruity chicken salad is the kind of Fruity Chicken Salad that just works on every level.
The combination of sweet fruit and savory chicken hits a really satisfying balance that you don't get in plain Fruity Chicken Salad. The creamy dressing made with mayo and sour cream is rich but not heavy, and the crunch from pecans and celery keeps every bite interesting. It's also incredibly easy to make with only four real steps, no stovetop required, and a store-bought rotisserie chicken to keep the prep work close to nothing. Whether you're packing lunch for the week or throwing something together for a picnic, this one always delivers.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Fruity Chicken Salad
- Fruity Chicken Salad Ingredients
- How to Make Fruity Chicken Salad
- Easy Swaps and Substitutions
- Equipment For Fruity Chicken Salad
- Storage Your Fruity Chicken Salad
- How to Serve Fruity Chicken Salad
- Top Tip
- The Little Afternoon That Started It All
- FAQ
- Related
- Pairing
- Fruity Chicken Salad
Fruity Chicken Salad Ingredients
Here's everything you'll need to pull this together.
See Recipe Card Below This Post For Ingredient Quantities
- shredded chicken (from a rotisserie chicken, skin removed)
- apple, chopped
- stalk celery, chopped
- chopped pecans
- grapes, cut in half
- can crushed pineapple, drained
- mayonnaise
- sour cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
Shredded Chicken: Rotisserie chicken is the real shortcut here. It's already seasoned, already cooked, and shreds beautifully. Pull the skin off and shred the meat into bite-sized pieces.
Apple: Adds a fresh, crisp sweetness that plays perfectly against the savory chicken. Any variety works, though Honeycrisp or Fuji give you the best crunch.
Celery: Brings texture and a mild, clean flavor that keeps the salad from feeling too rich.
Chopped Pecans: Adds a buttery, nutty crunch that rounds out all that fruit sweetness. Toasting them first deepens the flavor, but it's totally optional.
Grapes: Juicy little bursts of sweetness in every bite. Red or green both work great here.
Crushed Pineapple: This one surprised me the first time, but it makes the whole salad taste a little brighter and tropical. Make sure to drain it well so the dressing doesn't get watery.
Mayonnaise: The creamy base that holds everything together. Full-fat mayo gives you the richest flavor.
Sour Cream: Lightens the mayo just slightly and adds a subtle tang that balances all that fruit sweetness.
Salt and Pepper: Simple seasoning that pulls all the flavors into focus.
How to Make Fruity Chicken Salad
Here's a quick look at what you'll do, then the full steps below.
Combine the main ingredients: In a large bowl, toss together the shredded chicken, chopped apple, chopped celery, pecans, halved grapes, and drained crushed pineapple. Stir gently so everything is evenly mixed without breaking anything up too much.
Add the dressing: Spoon the mayonnaise and sour cream right over the top of the chicken and fruit mixture. Stir everything together until the dressing coats every piece evenly.
Season it: Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Give it one more gentle stir and taste as you go, adjusting until it feels just right.
Chill: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for about 1 hour. This step matters. It gives all the flavors time to come together and the dressing time to settle into every bite.
Serve: Scoop the Fruity Chicken Salad onto your favorite bread, crackers, or tortilla chips and enjoy.
Easy Swaps and Substitutions
This Fruity Chicken Salad is flexible, so don't stress if you're missing something.
You can swap the mayonnaise for Greek yogurt if you want a lighter dressing with a little more tang. Walnuts or almonds work just as well as pecans if that's what you have on hand. If you're not a grape person, try diced mango or dried cranberries for a similar pop of sweetness. Mandarin oranges make a great swap for the pineapple if you want a slightly different flavor. And if you'd rather skip the sour cream, just use all mayo or all Greek yogurt instead.
Equipment For Fruity Chicken Salad
- Large mixing bowl
- Knife and cutting board
- Spoon for stirring
- Measuring cups
Storage Your Fruity Chicken Salad
Store any leftover fruity chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It keeps well for up to 3 days. Give it a quick stir before serving since the dressing can settle a bit. This salad doesn't freeze well because of the creamy dressing and fresh fruit, so it's best enjoyed fresh within a few days of making it.
How to Serve Fruity Chicken Salad
On toasted bread: A simple sandwich on toasted sourdough or whole wheat is always a good call. The crunch of the toast plays so nicely against the creamy salad.
With crackers: Scoop it up with sturdy crackers for an easy snack or light lunch. Great for entertaining too.
In a lettuce wrap: Spoon it into butter lettuce leaves for a lighter option that still feels satisfying and fresh.
Alongside a fresh side: Pair it with a bowl of soup for a cozy, complete meal, or serve it next to my Healthy Coleslaw Recipe for a fun, colorful summer spread.
Top Tip
Drain the pineapple well. Press it with a spoon or paper towel to pull out the extra liquid. Too much moisture makes the dressing runny and waters down the flavor.
Don't skip the chill time. One hour in the fridge makes a real difference. The flavors come together in a way that just doesn't happen when you eat it right away.
Shred the chicken by hand. Pulling it apart into pieces rather than chopping gives you better texture throughout the salad.
Season at the end. Add salt and pepper after everything is combined so you can taste as you go and get it exactly right.
Make it ahead. This salad actually tastes better the next day after everything has had time to really meld together. It's a great make-ahead lunch option for busy weeks.
The Little Afternoon That Started It All
My neighbor Mia knocked on my door one afternoon carrying a bag of grapes she'd bought too many of and absolutely no plan for them. She walked into my kitchen, spotted the leftover rotisserie chicken sitting on the counter, and said, "Can we make something out of this?" I told her I'd try.
I started chopping the apple and handed Mia the grape-halving job. Except she kept eating every third one, so by the time I looked over, her pile had barely grown. "I'm quality-testing," she said, completely unbothered. The pecans almost didn't make it in either.
When we finally mixed everything together with the mayo, sour cream, and that little can of drained pineapple, the smell alone had us both leaning over the bowl. We stuck it in the fridge, waited exactly forty-five minutes (not the full hour, we had zero patience), and scooped it onto crackers right there at the counter. Mia went quiet for a second, then said, "Okay, this is actually ridiculous." That was all the review I needed.
FAQ
What fruit is good with Fruity Chicken Salad?
Grapes, apples, pineapple, dried cranberries, and mandarin oranges all work beautifully. In this recipe, we use grapes, apple, and crushed pineapple together, and the combination is sweet, fresh, and really well-balanced. Mia's unofficial tip: go for whatever fruit you already love eating on its own.
What are the 4 ingredients in Fruity Chicken Salad?
A basic Fruity Chicken Salad usually starts with cooked shredded chicken, mayonnaise, celery, and salt and pepper. This fruity version builds on that base by adding fresh fruit, pecans, and sour cream for extra flavor and texture.
Which fruit is good with chicken?
Apples, grapes, pineapple, peaches, and mango all pair really well with chicken. They add a natural sweetness that balances the savory flavor of the meat. In a creamy salad like this one, pineapple and grapes are especially good choices.
What is the secret to a good fruit salad?
For this kind of salad, the secret is balance. You want sweetness from the fruit, creaminess from the dressing, and a little crunch from nuts or celery. Draining the pineapple well and chilling the salad before serving makes a big difference in keeping everything fresh and not watery.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with [this recipe]:
Fruity Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded chicken from a rotisserie chicken skin removed, for a quicker option
- 1 apple chopped
- 1 stalk celery chopped
- ½ cup chopped pecans adds crunch and flavor
- ½ cup grapes cut in half
- 8 oz can crushed pineapple drained, adds sweetness
- ½ cup mayonnaise classic base for the dressing
- ½ cup sour cream for creaminess
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the shredded chicken, apple, celery, pecans, grapes, and crushed pineapple into a large mixing bowl.
-
Add the mayonnaise and sour cream. Stir everything together until well combined.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
-
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for about 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve the chicken salad on bread, crackers, or tortilla chips for a refreshing meal.
Leave a Reply