Apple Chicken Salad

A wonderful twist on your everyday classic chicken salad. This Apple Chicken Salad is made with crunchy apples and toasted cashews and then tossed in a sweet honey dressing for a mouthful of flavors and textures. This chicken salad with apples is an easy recipe that makes for a delicious lunch or light dinner. 

Once early fall is upon us,  flavors turn to apples.  I get so excited – apple is one of my favorite things to bake with, but apples aren’t just for baking. I made the most amazing chicken salad with them, and it packed a perfect fall punch – apples, chicken, cashews, and honey.

You’ll find this fabulous salad goes well on a bed of lettuce, or turn it into chicken salad sandwiches and layer it on a croissant or toasted sourdough bread. It makes an easy lunch or light dinner, and I love to serve it at fall luncheons and showers, too.

If you’re looking for an easy chicken salad recipe that feels fresh and seasonal, this Apple Chicken Salad is a great recipe to keep on hand. Made with tender chicken breasts, crisp apples, and toasted cashews, it’s tossed in a sweet, creamy honey dressing that’s not too heavy. Every bite is packed with textures, featuring juicy chicken, crunchy celery, and crisp apples, making it one of my favorite ways to enjoy chicken salad.

This chicken apple salad recipe is versatile, too. You can serve it on a bed of lettuce, tucked inside a lettuce wrap, or piled high on your favorite bread for chicken salad sandwiches. It is one of those classic chicken salads that works for everything from weekday easy lunch prep to casual dinners with friends.

Apples are not just for pies and crisps. They add a nice crunch and natural sweetness to savory dishes like chicken salad. I love using a mix of Granny Smith apples for tartness and Gala apples or Pink Lady for balance. Tossed with chicken and a honey-mayo dressing, this really is the best chicken salad when fall produce is at its peak.

Another reason this is a good chicken salad recipe is that it is adaptable. You can use rotisserie chicken, leftover chicken, or even pre-cooked chicken for a quick recipe that saves time. It is also a great way to stretch a whole chicken into a second meal.

Ingredients in Apple Chicken Salad

You will find the exact measurements and instructions in the printable recipe card below.

For the Dressing and the Salad:

• Honey – for natural sweetness
• Mayonnaise – use your favorite brand, or swap with plain Greek yogurt or sour cream for a lighter option.
• Apple cider vinegar – for a tangy balance
• Cooked chicken – such as Tyson® Grilled and Ready® Chicken Breast Strips, rotisserie chicken, leftover chicken, or even turkey
• Salted cashews – toasted and roughly chopped. Pecans or walnuts also make a great substitute
• A crisp apple – cubed. Granny Smith, Gala, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady apples all work well, depending on whether you prefer tart or sweet
• Lemon juice – to keep the apples from browning and to add brightness
• Celery – finely chopped for a fresh crunch

For serving:

Serve over a Bed of lettuce or on toasted bread or croisants.

Toast the cashews on a baking sheet in a hot oven until fragrant, then let them cool and roughly chop.

In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, mayonnaise, and apple cider vinegar to make the dressing. Place it in the fridge to chill while you prepare the salad.

Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.

Cube the apple and toss it with lemon juice so it stays fresh and bright.

In a large bowl, combine the chicken, apples, celery, and cashews. Pour the dressing over the top and stir until everything is coated.

Cover and chill until ready to serve.

Serve the salad over a bed of greens, spoon it into lettuce cups, layer it on a croissant or your favorite bread, or simply pair it with crackers for a light and easy meal.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Love it? Pin it!

If you love this recipe for Chicken Salad with Apples, be sure you can find the recipe! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go!

Substitutions and Variations

• Make cranberry apple chicken salad with dried cranberries or tart cranberries
• Use sour cream or plain Greek yogurt instead of mayo
• Swap cashews with crunchy pecans or walnuts
• Spoon into a lettuce wrap for a low-carb option

FAQs: Apple Chicken Salad

• Do I need to peel the apples? That depends on personal preference. I like to leave the peel on for extra fiber and color.
• Can I freeze chicken salad? I do not recommend freezing it. Store it in the fridge and enjoy within three days.
• What’s the best way to serve it? On croissants, with crackers, or in a lettuce wrap are all favorite ways to enjoy it.
• Can I make it ahead of time? Yes. It actually tastes better if it chills for a few hours before serving. Just wait to add it to bread until right before serving, so it does not get soggy.

More Salad Recipes to Try

If you are a salad person like me, I have loads of Salad recipes here on my website! I bet you’ll love my Peach Basil Chicken Salad (pictured above), my Chinese Chicken Salad, Grilled Chicken Waldorf Salad, and this Snicker Apple Salad recipe, too!

These are also delicious: Bacon Cashew Broccoli Salad, Caprese Salad, Columbia Restaurant’s 1905 Salad, and this Italian Raw Veggie Salad.

If you are a big fan of apple season like me, be sure to check out all of my apple recipes!

This simple chicken salad with apples is one you will want to make again and again. Whether you serve it on your favorite bread, spoon it into a lettuce wrap, or enjoy it as a side dish, it is a fabulous salad for fall and beyond.

This recipe was originally posted on August 24, 2015, in partnership with Tyson. The post has been updated to improve user experience and reshared on October 3, 2025.