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    Home » Main Course Recipes » Chicken and Poultry Recipes

    Published: Jul 15, 2018 · Modified: Sep 16, 2023 by Renée · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

    Chicken Salad with Apricots

    Jump to Recipe

    Chicken Salad with Apricots and macadamia nuts makes a delicious summer meal when served in lettuce cups for a low-carb meal option, or between some delicious bread as a sandwich filling.

    Creamy Chicken Salad Recipe with Dried Apricots & Macadamia Nuts Recipe - kudoskitchenbyrenee.com

    Whichever way you choose to serve and eat it, you're going to love this wonderful combination of flavors and textures.

    Table of Contents Found Here
    • The ingredient list:
    • How this recipe came to be:
    • Why this recipe works:
    • Creamy Chicken Salad Recipe tips:
    • How to make low-carb chicken salad with apricots:
    • Additional rotisserie chicken recipes:
    • Printable Recipe Card
    • Please comment if you've made this recipe.

    Subscribe to my Kudos Kitchen channel on YouTube. IT'S FREE!! Thanks, and I can't wait to see you there!!
    Sweet & Savory Creamy Chicken Salad Recipe with Dried Apricots & Macadamia Nuts makes a delicious summer meal when served in lettuce cups for a low-carb meal option, or between your favorite bread slices as a sandwich filling. Whichever way you choose to serve (and eat it), you're going to love this tasty combination of flavors and textures. - kudoskitchenbyrenee.com

    The ingredient list:

    • rotisserie chicken (about 6 cups of chopped chicken)
    • mayonnaise
    • avocado oil
    • red onion
    • red bell pepper
    • celery
    • fresh orange juice and orange zest
    • macadamia nuts
    • fresh tarragon
    • dried apricots
    • salt and pepper
    • red cabbage (optional for presentation)
    • butter lettuce leaves (optional for serving)
    Sweet & Savory Creamy Chicken Salad Recipe with Dried Apricots & Macadamia Nuts makes a delicious summer meal when served in lettuce cups for a low-carb meal option, or between your favorite bread slices as a sandwich filling. Whichever way you choose to serve (and eat it), you're going to love this tasty combination of flavors and textures. - kudoskitchenbyrenee.com

    How this recipe came to be:

    This sweet and savory creamy chicken salad recipe is one I developed because my husband and I started eating a low-carb diet.

    All the ingredients I've used are relatively low in carbohydrates, with the exception of the dried apricots.

    However, because there is only a small amount of dried apricots in this recipe (½ cup for 6 cups of chicken salad), and because dried apricots are also high in fiber, I considered them to be a healthy and flavorful option for this creamy chicken salad recipe.

    Why this recipe works:

    You can make this creamy chicken salad in advance and keep it in the fridge for up to 5 days. Once made, you'll be ready to serve it up at a moment's notice or to pack it in a cooler for a fun and tasty on-the-go picnic.

    Creamy Chicken Salad Recipe tips:

    • I find that a mix of dark and white meat chicken makes the best-tasting chicken salad. Store-bought rotisserie chicken is what I prefer when making a homemade chicken salad recipe.
    • When using onions in a non-cooked salad, I enjoy a red onion and think it is the sweetest. You can adjust the amount of red onion in the recipe depending on your taste. Chopped shallots may be used in place of the red onion for a slightly milder onion flavor.
    • Golden raisins make a good substitution for the dried apricots if you're not a fan of apricots.
    • When dicing the vegetables, make sure they're all roughly the same size. I like mine to be about ¼" dice.
    • Fresh orange juice and zest help to brighten the flavor of this creamy chicken salad recipe. I don't recommend leaving these out.
    • Other chopped nuts may be substituted for the macadamia nuts if preferred.
    • Once the chicken salad is made, chill covered in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours so the flavors can marry and meld.
    • Always stir well before serving.
    • This creamy chicken salad can keep in the refrigerator (covered) for up to 5 days.
    • When serving chilled, don't allow this chicken salad to sit out for longer than 2 hours without refrigerating. If serving on a hot day, don't let it sit for more than 1 hour without refrigerating.

    How to make low-carb chicken salad with apricots:

    • In a large bowl, add 6 cups of boneless, skinless chicken, torn into bite-sized pieces.
    • Stir in diced celery, red bell peppers, red onion, mayonnaise, and avocado oil.

    How to make creamy chicken salad with dried apricots & macadamia nuts

    • Season with salt and pepper.
    • Add fresh orange juice and fresh orange zest

    • Chop and add the dried apricots, macadamia nuts, and fresh tarragon.

    • Stir well to combine and refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving for the flavors to marry.
    • Create a red cabbage bowl for presentation using a paring knife and an ice cream scoop, if desired.
    • Serve on bread for sandwiches or in lettuce cups.

    Creamy Chicken Salad Recipe with Dried Apricots & Macadamia Nuts Recipe - kudoskitchenbyrenee.com

    Additional rotisserie chicken recipes:

    • Berry Chicken and Avocado Salad
    • Chicken Parmesan Stuffed Portobello
    • French Spaghetti
    Shop my recommended products at my Kudos Kitchen Store

    When you make today's recipe (and I hope that you will), I'd appreciate it if you'd take the time to come back and give it a star rating along with a comment on why you rated as you did.

    Search engines such as Google appreciate comments and ratings and, in turn, will show my recipes to more people. Please look for the pink star rating box within the printable recipe card. Thank you!!

    Printable Recipe Card

    A red cabbage bowl filled with Chicken Salad with Apricots.

    Chicken Salad with Apricots

    Renee Goerger
    This colorful chicken salad makes a delicious summer meal when served in lettuce cups for a low-carb meal option, or between your favorite bread slices as a sandwich filling.
    Have you made this recipe?Please Comment and Rate
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save recipe Save this recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    chill time 4 hours hrs
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course chicken - sandwich, main course - chicken
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 cups
    Calories 513 kcal

    Equipment

    • Mixing Bowls
    • chef's knife
    • cutting board
    • spatula
    • microplane
    • citrus juicer optional
    • measuring cups and spoons
    • paring knife
    • airtight container

    Ingredients
      

    • 6 cups boneless/skinless chicken pieces, torn or cut into bite-sized pieces
    • 1 cup mayonnaise
    • ¼ cup avocado oil
    • 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
    • 1½ tablespoons fresh orange zest
    • ½ cup diced red onion
    • 1 cup diced red bell pepper
    • 1 cup diced celery
    • ½ cup chopped macadamia nuts
    • ½ cup chopped, dried apricots
    • 3 tablespoons fresh chopped tarragon
    • 1½ teaspoons salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • 1 red cabbage, hollowed into a bowl, optional
    • butter lettuce leaves for serving, optional
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    • Add the first 13 ingredients into a large bowl and stir well.
    • Cover and refrigerate the chicken salad at least 4 hours before serving.
    • Serve chilled, on bread or lettuce cups.

    Notes

    Stir well before serving. Keep this chicken salad chilled if serving on a hot day.
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupCalories: 513kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 27gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 786mgPotassium: 976mgFiber: 4gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 2275IUVitamin C: 91mgCalcium: 107mgIron: 2.8mg

    I sincerely hope you've enjoyed today's delicious chicken salad recipe featuring apricots as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you.

    Creamy Chicken Salad Recipe with Dried Apricots & Macadamia Nuts Recipe - kudoskitchenbyrenee.com

    Should you have any questions or comments regarding anything you've seen on my site, please don't hesitate to reach out to contact me. It is always my distinct pleasure to get back with you just as soon as I possibly can!

    Thank you so much for visiting me today in my Kudos Kitchen. I hope you found something you'll love and that you will come back and visit me often. Please know that there is always room for you around my kitchen table!

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      5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    1. Patricia @ Grab a Plate says

      July 16, 2018 at 9:37 am

      5 stars
      What a great chicken salad -- always one of my favorite dishes! The apricots & macadamia nuts are fab here! Mmm!

      Reply
    2. Patricia @ Grab a Plate says

      July 16, 2018 at 9:36 am

      What a great chicken salad -- always one of my favorite dishes! The apricots & macadamia nuts are fab here!

      Reply
      • Renée says

        July 16, 2018 at 11:55 am

        Thanks, Patricia! I'm a sucker for a fruit and nut chicken salad so I had no choice. LOL

        Reply
    3. Jenn says

      July 16, 2018 at 9:28 am

      5 stars
      This is easily my new favorite use for dried apricots! Such a fanastic and colorful dish!

      Reply
      • Renée says

        July 16, 2018 at 11:55 am

        Thank you so much. It's the colors that make it so flavorful!

        Reply

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