Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans

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Published Jul 05, 2026

This Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans is the perfect combination of creamy, crunchy, sweet, and savory in every last bite. Tender chicken, juicy grapes, and buttery pecans make the freshest and most satisfying salad that's perfect on a hot day, or all year long, really.

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Gluten Free

I am completely obsessed with this delicious Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans, and I make it every chance I get. There’s just something about the combination of chicken, the sweetness of the grapes, crispy celery, and crunchy pecans, with a creamy dressing that keeps me coming back for more. While it’s delicious on sandwiches and croissants, my favorite way to enjoy it is with crackers or pretzel crisps, or in a lettuce cup, similar to this Chinese Chicken Lettuce Wraps. I’ve been known to keep a container in the fridge just so I can grab a few bites throughout the day because it’s just that good.

Why You Will Love This Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans
Ingredients You Will Need
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
Tips For THe Best Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans
How to Make Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans
How to Modify
Dietary Customizations
Serving Suggestions
Common Questions
Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans Recipe

Why You Will Love This Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans

This is fantastic for meal prep, keep it in the fridge for quick lunches all week long.
This isn’t your average chicken salad, the combination of grapes and toasted pecans really amps up the flavor and makes it feel a bit fancier
It’s such a versatile dish! Enjoy it on its own, with crackers, in lettuce cups, wrapped up in a tortilla or on toast or in a sandwich.
Make a big batch on meal prep day and make lunches effortless all week.
You’re going to love the perfect balance of creamy, crunchy, sweet, and savory flavors.

Ingredients You Will Need

Chicken: Use cubed chicken breasts or chopped rotisserie chicken for extra ease.
Celery: The fresh, crisp crunch adds texture and flavor.
Red Onion: Sharp, savory bite that balances the creamy dressing. You can also use shallots.
Red Seedless Grapes: I love the sweetness of red grapes for this salad, but you can also use green grapes.
Toasted Pecans: Toasting them gives you a buttery, nutty crunch that adds richness and texture.
Chives: Mild onion flavor that brings fresh flavor to every bite. You can also use some green onion.
Mayonnaise: Feel free to use store-bought mayo or homemade mayo.
Greek Yogurt: I love the creamy, protein Greek yogurt gives. You can also use plain yogurt.
Dijon Mustard: Dijon adds a tangy, yummy flavor to the dressing.
Lemon Juice: Brightens it up and ties it all together.
Spices: Use a simple combo of kosher salt and black pepper. Add spice with a slight kick of red pepper.

Kitchen Tools You Will Need

Large Bowl
Small Bowl
Whisk
Cutting Board
Sharp Knife

Tips For THe Best Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans

Cut everything into similar-sized pieces to ensure you get a little bit of everything in each bite. So delicious!
Use cold chicken to help the dressing stay creamy and to prevent the salad from becoming watery.
If the chicken salad has been sitting in the fridge for a day or two, add a big spoonful of mayo to bring it back to life.

How to Make Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans

In a bowl, combine the diced chicken, vegetables, red grapes, pecans, and chives.
In a bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients.
Pour the dressing over the chicken and toss until well coated. Garnish with additional chopped chives.

How to Modify

Use leftover chopped chicken or shredded chicken for delicious results. The shredded chicken may just give bigger chunks. You do you!
Add more veggies like red bell peppers or shredded carrots.
Swap the roasted pecans for cashews or walnuts, or omit the nuts altogether.
If you don’t want fresh grapes, try dried cranberries for a sweet bite.

Dietary Customizations

Nut Free: Omit the nuts for anyone with a nut allergy.
Vegan: Use cubed tofu in place of the chicken.
Dairy-Free: Use non-dairy plain yogurt instead of the plain Greek yogurt.

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy this in lettuce wraps like this BLT Chicken Salad Wrap or scoop it on top of a crusty slice of sourdough bread or a croissant. Dip with crackers, pretzel crisps, or fresh veggies.

Serve chilled with a Fruit Platter, or a pasta salad like Chicken, Sun-dried Tomato and Balsamic Pasta Salad or Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad or you can also scoop it on a bed of lettuce for a delicious meal.

Common Questions

What about leftovers?

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Don’t leave it on the counter for more than an hour or two because of the mayo.

What can I use instead of grapes?

Try diced apples (try Gala for sweet or Granny Smith apples for tart), dried cranberries, chopped pears, or even mandarin oranges.

Can I make this lighter?

Yes! You can use more Greek yogurt and less mayonnaise for a lighter version, or you can use plain yogurt in place of the mayo.

Can I make this in advance?

Absolutely! In fact, it tastes even better after chilling for a few hours or a couple of days. Make a big batch on Sunday or Monday as a great way to enjoy this all week for an easy snack or quick lunch or dinner.

What kind of chicken should I use?

You can use leftover chicken, rotisserie chicken, or cook up a whole chicken and use it multiple times in the week for a budget-friendly option. You could also use canned chicken.

More Salad Recipes You’re Going to Love

If you make this Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans, let me know in the comments section below. I would love to hear what you think, or take a photo and tag me (@everylastbite_) on Instagram; I love seeing your photos!

Meet Carmen

I'm the recipe creator and cookbook author behind Every Last Bite. This website is packed with hundreds of recipes that are all Grain Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free and most importantly delicious!