Last Updated on September 30, 2023
Cape Cod is a beloved brand that’s known for its delicious food products. This chicken salad captures the essence of Cape Cod with fresh ingredients like pecans, cranberries, celery, and honey. It’s perfect as a brunch or an appetizer during the summer months!
In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about Cape Cod Chicken Salad, including a step-by-step guide for how to make it, tips for storage and substitutes, and more. So let’s get started!
What is Cape Cod Chicken Salad?
Cape Cod Chicken Salad is an iconic appetizer that features fresh ingredients from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. It’s a delicious combination of cooked chicken, sweetened dried cranberries, celery, pecans, mayo, orange blossom honey, and other seasonings.
You can easily adjust the ingredients based on your taste preferences. So if you’re looking for a delicious side dish or a light meal for lunch, this Cape Cod Chicken Salad is sure to hit.
This salad is great on its own or as an appetizer. It’s a great way to cool off during the warmer months and it can be served chilled or at room temperature.
Why You’ll Love This Cape Cod Chicken Salad?
This Cape Cod Chicken Salad is an amazing combination of flavors, textures, and colors. It’s packed with healthy ingredients and nutrients.
Plus, it’s incredibly easy to make and comes together in just a few simple steps. You can customize it based on your taste preferences and make it as sweet or savory as you’d like. The combination of tastes is sure to please the whole family.
It’s also incredibly versatile. It’s great for those days when you don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen and want something that’s fresh, flavorful, and nutritious.
You’ll also like the following Side Dishes recipes!
How Does It Taste Like?
This Cape Cod Chicken Salad has a wonderful combination of flavors. The sweetness from the orange-blossom honey and the tartness from the cranberries bring out the nutty flavor of the pecans, while the celery adds a nice crunch to each bite.
The mayo helps to bind everything together while adding moisture and creaminess to every bite. The pepper helps to enhance spice while adding a little bit of heat. All in all, this Cape Cod Chicken Salad is a flavorful and delicious dish that you’ll love!
Ingredients
- Pecans: Pecans are a nutty, crunchy, and nutritious treat that can be added to salads or baked goods. They add a wonderful flavor and texture to this chicken salad.
- Cranberries: Sweetened dried cranberries provide the perfect amount of sweetness and tartness to the dish that pairs perfectly with the pecans.
- Celery: Celery provides a nice crunch to the salad and balances out the sweetness of the cranberries.
- Honey: Honey adds a touch of sweetness to this salad and helps to create a delicious flavor profile that is both sweet and savory.
- Mayo: Mayo binds all of the ingredients together, helping to give it a creamy texture and also providing added moisture.
- Salt: Salt is essential in bringing out the flavors of the other ingredients and helps to give this dish a nice, balanced flavor profile.
- Chicken: The chicken is the main ingredient in this salad and adds a great source of protein.
- Pepper: Pepper helps to enhance the flavor of the other ingredients and adds a little bit of heat.
Step by Step Directions
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread pecans onto a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Once done, remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
Step 2
In a large bowl, add chicken, cranberries, celery, mayo, honey, salt and pepper. Mix until all of the ingredients are evenly combined.
Step 3
Gently fold in toasted pecans into the chicken salad mixture.
Step 4
Serve chilled or at room temperature on a bed of lettuce or your favorite greens.
Tips
- For the best flavor, season the chicken with salt and pepper before cooking.
- Use store-bought roasted chicken if you don’t have time to cook your own.
- Feel free to adjust the amount of honey or mayo used to achieve desired flavor and texture.
- This is also great with canned chicken, just make sure to drain it well before using.
Nutrition Information
How to store Cape Cod Chicken Salad?
The best way to store Cape Cod Chicken Salad is in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
This will help it stay fresh. If you want to keep it longer, you can also freeze it for up to 3 months. To thaw, simply leave it in the fridge overnight or heat over medium-low heat until warmed through.
It’s important to note that this salad does not hold up well at room temperature, so it’s best served chilled or slightly warmed. If you plan to serve it at a picnic or gathering, make sure that you keep it in an insulated container or on ice until ready to eat.
What other substitute can I use in Cape Cod Chicken Salad?
- For a vegan or dairy-free option, try substituting the mayo with vegan mayonnaise.
- If you don’t have pecans on hand, walnuts or almonds make for great substitutes.
- To add more flavor and texture to your salad, consider adding diced apples or dried apricots.
- Instead of honey, you can also use agave nectar or maple syrup.
- To give the salad a bit of spice and zing, add some diced jalapenos or red onion.
- For additional crunch, you could try adding in some crumbled bacon or crispy onions.
Equipment
- Oven
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans toasted
- 4 cups chopped chicken
- 1 cup sweetened dried cranberries
- 3 celery ribs chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/3 cup orange blossom honey
- 1 1/2 cups mayo
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Spread pecans on a baking sheet and bake until lightly browned and fragrant, about 8-10 minutes. Let cool completely after removing from the oven.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked chicken, cranberries, celery, mayo, honey, salt and pepper. Stir until all ingredients are evenly mixed.
- Gently fold in the toasted pecans into the chicken salad mix.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature atop lettuce or your desired greens for an extra crunch.
Notes
- For the best flavor, season the chicken with salt and pepper before cooking.
- Use store-bought roasted chicken if you don’t have time to cook your own.
- Feel free to adjust the amount of honey or mayo used to achieve desired flavor and texture.
- This is also great with canned chicken, just make sure to drain it well before using.
Nutrition
FAQs
What can I serve with the Chicken Salad?
This Chicken Salad is great served with a side of crackers, toasted bread, or croissants. It’s also delicious as an appetizer with cucumber slices, bell pepper strips, or celery sticks.
Is it nutritious for pregnant women?
Yes, this Cape Cod Chicken Salad is a great option for pregnant women. It’s full of healthy ingredients. Just make sure to use light mayonnaise as opposed to the full-fat version.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Yes, you can easily make this Cape Cod Chicken Salad gluten-free by using a gluten-free mayonnaise or substituting it with plain Greek yogurt. Just make sure to check the labels of all ingredients for potential sources of gluten.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading about Cape Cod Chicken Salad! This delicious dish is perfect as a brunch, appetizer, or even a light meal.
Please share this article with friends and family who would love to try this salad. We hope you enjoy making and eating it as much as we do!
You’ll also like these latest recipes!
Rebecca Novak is a trained chef with over 10 years of experience in the food industry. She has worked in both fine dining and casual Hungarian restaurants and specializes in creating dishes using fresh, seasonal ingredients. She also loves exploring different cuisines worldwide, which allows her to bring unique flavors and ideas to the recipes she creates for Hungarianchef.com. Read more
