Extra-creamy and loaded with crunchy apples and cranberries, this colorful chicken salad makes the perfect filler for these beautiful and healthy lettuce wraps!
Sooo..I’m currently trying to contain myself from screaming out the news that these lettuce wraps are EVERYTHING!
Hey, don’t judge my excitement! I sorta need something to get pumped about since vacation time in Florida is done, and post-vacay diets have officially begun. Oh, wait. I’m in the middle of culinary school where people literally LAUGH at the word diet.
Either way, we are SO doing curried apple cranberry chicken salad lettuce wraps today. That 17-hour drive across the country yesterday was particularly long and slightly-exhausting, and well…today is the first Monday after a two-week vacation.
I need all the coffee money can buy for breakfast this morning. And all the lettuce wraps my backpack will physically hold for lunch at school today. That is all.
Speaking of such awesomeness…guys, we need to have a serious discussion about this thing called lettuce wraps. As in, WHY has no one ever informed me that they’re probably something I would totally develop a crush on and LOVE?!
I mean, I’m totally over here buying up all the butter/romaine lettuce and giving my tortillas the boot.
Only the best to hold my end-all-be-all chicken salad.
And while we’re on THAT same subject…oh MAN, peeps! You should just put away any other chicken salad recipe you might have for good because THIS is the one you’ve been waiting for! That one killer chicken salad that just beats all the others. Period.
Just forget about all that other stuff you may have thought about chicken salad because you’ve just found THE keeper.
And SURPRISE, surprise! It’s fall-flavored and totally seasonal since a ton of sweet, crispy apples and tangy dried cranberries somehow fell into the bowl.. What a strange coinky-dink, you know with it being fall and all. 😉
Just look at all the lovely-ness loaded into one bowl. I don’t know about you, but it just makes my heart go pitter-patter over all the COLOR.
Oh, geez…dressing now too? Well, OBVI. We’ve gotta have something to balance out all the clearly-healthy goodness we’ve got goin’ on here.
Now…into the lettuce boat goes a nicely-sized plop of the world’s prettiest and so-gosh-darn-good chicken salad…
And doooown goes Sarah. I can’t handle it, guys…***insert heart-eyed emojiis***
I don’t know about you, but Monday is suddenly looking quite a bit more doable now that I have lettuce wraps. I blame it on the fact that I have like four of these in my lunch bag currently.
C’mon, admit it. You know lunchtime is gonna ROCK!
Curried Apple Cranberry Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps
This recipe may included paid links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked diced chicken
- 1 honeycrisp apple diced
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup minced celery
- 1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
- 1 green onion thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon dijjon mustard
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Butter lettuce or romaine lettuce leaves
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine chicken, apple, cranberries, celery, almonds, parsley, and green onion. In a separate bowl, whisk mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, and curry powder until smooth. Pour dressing over chicken mixture and stir until chicken salad is evenly coated. Season salad with salt and pepper to taste.
- Spoon salad into lettuce leaves and serve immediately.
If you make this recipe, be sure to tag your photo #wholeandheavenlyoven on Instagram. And follow me so we can be friends! ♥
Gayle@Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I love the idea of apple and cranberry lettuce wraps, Sarah! I’ve actually never made my own before, so it’s time to change that. This sounds like the ultimate healthy lunch, especially with those delicious fall flavors!
Sarah says
Thanks Gayle! These wraps are totally the ultimate fall lunch! You HAVE to try ’em! 🙂
Jen | Baked by an Introvert says
These wraps would make a great afternoon snack. Curried apple and cranberry sound like a wonderful way to jazz up chicken salad.
Sarah says
They’re pretty much amazing 24/7 in my mind! LOL. Thanks Jen!
Kathy Mader says
Hmm, I just happen to have home-roasted chicken in the fridge and every ingredient listed. What’s the world coming to? Bring on dinner.
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
17 hour drive?! Oh my goodness lady, you must have one big case of “car body”. I hope your vacation was fun! Could really go for some beach and sand about now. And these lettuce wraps!
Sarah says
Haha! Those 17 hours MAY have also involved a flat tire and a 1-hour traffic jam along the way—I was never more relieved to be home! LOL. Thanks Natalie! xoxo
Manali @ CookWithManali says
I absolutely love lettuce wraps, the tofu ones at PF Chang are my favorite! love all ingredients you used in this recipe Sarah!
Sarah says
Thanks Manali! If you’ve got a thing for lettuce wraps, then these are definitely up your alley! xoxo
Kathy Mader says
Truly yummy recipe. I know I boasted about having all the ingredients on hand but I had to sub an orange for lemon (orange courtesy of Children’s Church yesterday, it was part of the object lesson, hehe), had no onion (what??) but used finely diced cucumber instead. Also had to use dried parsley. So a delicious recipe and versatile. Thank you, Sarah!
Sarah says
Yay! Glad to hear that you loved these wraps, Kathy! Loving the sound of the subs you used! I’ve gotta try orange juice next time!
Renee @ Two in the Kitchen says
Hey Sarah, i’ve been out of the blogging loop for several weeks and just now see that you are going to culinary school. Congrats girl! I feel like you could TEACH at culinary school because you are so talented!!
These lettuce wraps look delicious! I SO want one right now!!
Sarah says
Welcome back, Renee! Thank you SO much for the super-kind words and support, lady! You’re too kind. 🙂 xoxo
Mariah @ Mariah's Pleasing Plates says
Hope you had fun on vacation pretty girl!! This is the prettiest chicken salad ever! Love the flavor combo!!
Sarah says
Thanks so much Mariah! xoxo 🙂
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
These lettuce wraps are the perfect meal after a vacation. Love all the goodies in them! Hope you can sneak in some rest after your vacation and long drive home!
Sarah says
They totally are! It definitely made all the unpacking a little bit easier. 😉 Thanks Kelly!
marcie says
These wraps look phenomenal and full of flavors I love! Your photos are just gorgeous, too, Sarah!
Sarah says
Aww thanks for the sweet words, Marcie! You’re too kind. 🙂
Kristen @ The Endless Meal says
Oh man, this looks so good! I’ve always loved a good chicken salad, and this one looks awesome!
Sarah says
Thank you, Kristen! If you love chicken salad, then this recipe is right up your alley!
Stephanie says
Let me guess: Type A personality, right? Or perhaps you had just already made major inroads into the coffee rations you had set for yourself on this day. :)))
Either way, so glad I found your blog and this recipe. It looks amazing and now I must make this later this week. As soon as I’ve stocked up on dried cranberries. Thought of doing it with dried sour cherries, but I really prefer doing new recipes verbatim the first time. Just to give them a fair trial. This practice has stood me well over the years. I’ve accumulated many amazing new (then) recipes that I would have been tempted to change at first, but which ultimately came out so well, that I never change them at all.
Thanks for posting this, Sarah. Nice photos too!
Sarah says
I’m glad to hear that you’re loving my blog, Stephanie! Thanks for stopping by with the sweet words! 🙂
Stephanie says
Made ’em! Twice! Once with chicken, once with turkey thighs. Both times with Granny Smith Apples. Otherwise, exactly as prescribed. Awesome both times. So many subtle flavors and textures. And so nicely matched. Hubby loves ’em too. Thanks very much, Sarah!
Sarah says
I’m so happy to hear that you loved these lettuce wraps, Stephanie! Love the idea of using turkey too! 🙂
Claudia Saucedo Avila says
Oh My God!!!! I just made this and cant believe how good it is!!!!! Really, amazing flavor combination ???