Delicious grapes, creamy cream cheese, sour cream and some sugar are combined in this mouthwatering dessert salad that echoes Chicken Salad Chick’s recipe almost exactly. Feel free to lighten it up a bit with healthy substitutions while it still tastes amazing!
Make this dish the night before serving to allow its flavors to fully blend and the pecan topping to remain crisp and crunchy.
Ingredients
Chicken Salad Chick restaurants have made this creamy grape salad with brown sugar and pecans a crowd pleaser, and it can easily be recreated at home! Perfect for picnics, potlucks or any meal at home!
This recipe is extremely adaptable and can be made using any variety of grapes you prefer, although seedless grapes will help your salad remain fresher for longer and will allow the dressing to dissolve more slowly.
Make this dish your own by folding in mini marshmallows, or switching up the nuts for something like walnuts or almonds for an additional unique twist.
Wash the grapes thoroughly, remove their stems, then cut in halves or quarters depending on your preferred cut size. Place in a large mixing bowl. Meanwhile, in another bowl use an electric mixer to whip cream cheese until creamy before incorporating sour cream, sugar, vanilla extract, and grapes – fold together until everything is mixed well and store in the fridge until serving time!
Preparation
Before beginning this recipe, ensure all the necessary ingredients are on hand. For this dish, four cups of cooked chicken that can either be chopped up into chunks or shredded up for your liking and some seedless grape halves to sweeten it all up nicely – feel free to add in some toasted pecans for some added crunchiness if desired!
Start by mixing cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla extract together using an electric mixer until everything is mixed evenly. You may want to opt for Whole Earth sweetener (containing stevia, monk fruit extract, and erythritol) or simply reduce sugar usage for a lighter dish.
Before adding the chicken, mix thoroughly. Next, gently fold in halved grapes until coated evenly; optionally, you may wish to include dried cranberries and chopped roasted pecans for additional texture and flavour. Cover and refrigerate before serving; this dish makes an excellent dinner, dessert, or snack option! Enjoy! This simple recipe requires only basic ingredients found right in your refrigerator!
Storage
This creamy chicken salad with grapes and pecans makes an irresistibly flavorful side dish for any meal, or can also serve as an easy solution for picnics, potlucks or any other gathering where a light and refreshing salad would be welcome.
This recipe uses both red and green seedless grapes, giving this dish its vibrant hues. Brown sugar and pecans add sweetness, while mayonnaise can be switched out for Greek yogurt to make this healthier and lighter.
This salad can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to three days in an airtight container, to maintain fresh and crunchy ingredients. However, for optimal results it should be served shortly after being assembled as long-term refrigerated storage may lead to melting cream dressing, so serving right after making is best. Frozen storage may not work either since the ingredients won’t thaw out properly!
Nutrition
Juicy red and green grapes paired with creamy dressing and colorful toppings such as brown sugar and crushed pecans make this irresistible dish irresistible! Easy to prepare at home and can serve both as dessert and side dish at parties such as potluck or picnic events. It even travels well, perfect for potluck and picnic gatherings!
This copycat recipe is low in calories, fat and sodium while providing essential vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, Folate, Potassium and Dietary Fiber. Toasty Pecans add protein as well as healthy unsaturated fats while Greek Yogur can be substituted with mayonnaise to further lower its fat content.
Change up this dish by swapping out grapes for other fruits, or by including other veggies like celery and carrots. Also try altering the flavor of your dressing with lemon juice, apple cider vinegar or honey for an tangier or sweeter experience.