Chicken Harvest Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Chicken Harvest Salad is a Fall favorite made with juicy chicken, candied walnuts, cranberries, gouda cheese, apple slices and drizzled with a homemade apple cider vinaigrette. And it's ready in under 30 minutes!
Cut a sheet of parchment paper about the size of a sheet pan and set aside.
Warm a medium saucepan on Medium heat. Once warm, add the butter and heat until melted.
Add sugar and walnuts to melted butter. Mix together walnuts are coated in butter and sugar. Stir continuously until you see the caramel start to thicken - about 2 minutes.
Add the water and stir for 1 more minute.
Transfer walnut mixture to the parchment paper, and spread them out in an even layer to cool.
Apple Cider Vinaigrette:
Place all dressing ingredients in a blender jar or food processor bowl. Blend for about two minutes or until you reach a creamy consistency.
Salad:
Place the salad greens in a large bowl.
Add the chicken, cheese, candied walnuts, apple slices and dried cranberries.
Drizzle vinaigrette over the salad or serve it on the side.
Notes
Use rotisserie chicken or precooked chicken from the grocery store or leftover roasted chicken.
Feel free to adjust the salad ingredients based on preferences or what you have on hand.
This salad is best eaten immediately.
Make ahead directions: prepare the nuts and dressing ahead and store the dressing in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Prep salad ingredients and store separately until ready to serve. To serve: make salad as directed.