Chicken Poppy Seed Salad with Cranberries and Greek Yogurt
Sneak Preview: This Chicken Poppy Seed Salad combines poppy seeds, dried cranberries, and creamy Greek yogurt for a flavorful dish. Perfect for brunch, lunch, or an easy dinner, it’s a crowd-pleaser with a slightly elevated twist!
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
How many chicken salad recipes are in your rotation? If you’re anything like me, there’s always room for one more! While my website index only lists a single chicken salad recipe, my personal collection tells a different story.
There’s the classic sweet pickle relish and mayo version—quick, nostalgic, and perfect for white bread. Then there’s my curried chicken salad, which is a secret indulgence because, well, my husband doesn’t touch it. And finally, there’s this Chicken Poppy Seed Salad recipe with Greek yogurt, cranberries, and almonds—the one I keep coming back to. It’s light, tangy, and full of texture—my all-time favorite.
Ingredients and Substitutions
• CHICKEN: Use leftover cooked chicken, rotisserie chicken, or even turkey.
I prefer all white meat.
• GREEK YOGURT: Greek yogurt adds tang and freshness. Swap with mayonnaise or sour cream
• POPPY SEEDS: Chia seeds work as a backup. Store seeds in the fridge to keep them fresh.
• DRIED CRANBERRIES: Optional but adds color and sweetness. Sub with dried cherries or raisins.
• CELERY: Adds crunch. Apples can replace celery for a hint of sweetness.
• TOASTED ALMONDS: Sliced, toasted almonds work best. Pecans or walnuts are great swaps.
• LEMON JUICE: Apple cider vinegar works in a pinch.
Four Fun Ways To Serve
- Rolls or Bread: Pair with sweet potato rolls or classic dinner rolls.
- With Chips: Top sweet potato chips with a spoonful for bite-sized snacks.
- On Greens: Serve over a big salad with olive oil, vinegar, and Parmesan.
- Crackers or Sandwiches: Spread onto crackers or make sandwiches with homemade potato buns or Blue Ribbon ButtermIlk Bread.
Quick FAQ
- Can I use store-bought poppy seed dressing?
Store-bought versions are too sweet and thin. Stick with Greek yogurt for the best consistency and flavor. - Can I freeze this salad?
No, the texture changes when thawed. - How long does it last?
Store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Final Thoughts
Chicken Poppy Seed Salad is more than just a recipe—it’s a versatile, crowd-pleasing dish that fits any occasion. If you having a party, consider offering ham salad, too. Your guests will appreciate having a choice.
Need help troubleshooting? Email me: Paula at saladinajar.com—photos welcome!
Chicken Poppy Seed Salad with Cranberries and Greek Yogurt
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups (250 g) cooked chicken, cubed
- ½ cup (60-75 g) sliced almonds or chopped pecans, toasted
- 1 stalk (40-50 g) finely chopped celery
- 1-2 tablespoons poppy seeds
- ⅓ cup (43 g) dried cranberries
- ¼ cup (50 g) unflavored Greek yogurt unflavored
- ½ cup (112 g) mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- pinch sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Combine 2 cups (250 g) cooked chicken, cubed, 1/2 cup (60-75 g) sliced almonds or chopped pecans,, 1 stalk (40-50 g) finely chopped celery, 1-2 tablespoons poppy seeds, 1/3 cup (43 g) dried cranberries, 1/4 cup (50 g) unflavored Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup (112 g) mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, pinch sugar, and ½ teaspoon salt together in a bowl until combined.
- Chill.
Notes
- Substitute sour cream or more mayonnaise for the yogurt.
- Vinegar is a good replacement for lemon juice.
Nutrition
All images and text ©️ Paula Rhodes for Salad in a Jar.com
I make chicken salad frequently during the summer. We eat fried chicken then have chicken salad the next night. I like it better than traditional chicken salad. The cranberries give it a kick.
Chicken salad made with leftover fried chicken?? Yes, please.
Paula,
Do you have a Bread Machine dough Croissant recipe?
Hi Samantha,
I do not, but you can find many online. Make the dough with the DOUGH cycle. After that, you must roll the layers with butter, etc. It’s a process. The rolls you see on this post are sweet potato rolls that I made. You can see the instructions for making them in this post. They are not really croissants since they do not have multiple layers of butter in them. But nobody will care–they are delicious as is.
I made this for dinner tonight and it was a huge hit! It is so easy to put together, yet tastes special because of the almonds and cranberries. I used shredded chicken (canned) which really cut down on the prep time. This is definitely going into my recipe file. Thank you, Paula.
Thanks Jocelyn,
I haven’t used canned chicken much but maybe I should try it. 🙂
Paula, I made this chicken salad for my son’s 9th birthday party. He wanted a cricket themed party (the sport-my husband is South African) so I wanted something a little elegant for the adults. We had beautiful weather and I made & assembled the sandwiches on homemade buns (yes! I used my bread machine! I used a sour cream dough, however.) with a piece of romaine lettuce and a toothpick through the center to keep it all together. I received many, many compliments! Thank you for sharing your fabulous recipe & helping to make my son’s party special!
L
Made this salad and loved it! I am adding it to my list of fav Chicken Salads. Thanks for sharing!
A dear friend sent a link to me, which led me to your youtube.com salad-in-a-jar video, and I’m so glad that she sent it! After viewing that video, I just had to do a search in order to find your blog, Paula. Who could resist?
Well, you grabbed my attention right away with your yummy sounding chicken salad recipe. I know what I’ll be putting together tomorrow! I’m off to my kitchen just now to prepare dinner, but I’ll be right back to take a better peek at your site.
This sounds great! To make you laugh, I made poppy seed muffins the other day and accidently used CHIA seeds! I had bought them (because they are supposed to be so good for you) and put them in a jar just like the one that my poppy seeds were stored in. I didn’t tell anyone, and no one was the wiser. Still giggling about that…
You made me laugh Piper. So just what was your plan for the CHIA seeds? That’s a territory I have yet to explore.
This sandwich looks gorgeous. I can only imagine how it would taste on brioche. I’m going to give it a try.
Which of your bread recipes is the best to use with chicken-salad sandwiches?
That question is like asking who is my favorite child!!
Current favorite would be the sweet potato rolls followed by My favorite dinner rolls or brioche. If you want regular bread– the Sweet Milk White Bread would be fabulous.
Oh, yum. I don’t use poppyseeds nearly enough.
I always like chicken salad and this one looks yummy. I did make your sweet potato dinner rolls and we all enjoyed them for our Christmas dinner.
Happy New Year, Paula : )
Hi Lorraine,
I guess you and I were eating the same kind of dinner rolls at our Christmas dinner. Hope your new year is going well.
Ok never mind. I didn’t see the entire post on iPad mini until after clicking submit. You already answered my question.
Already made this & packed in lunch for work! Yum! And so easy to throw together! What type of bread/crackers do you recommend to go with this for maximum satisfaction of my taste buds?
Hey Susie,
I forgot to tell you that Special K Crackers in the Multi-Grain variety are really good with this salad. Actually. They’re just really good. Period. Similar to wheat thins. That’s what you see in the top picture of this post.
Hi Paula, love your chicken salad, it sounds wonderful. I think poppy seeds make everything a bit more special.
I have a favorite chicken salad recipe, too, but I’m always on the lookout for new ideas. Love this one!
This sounds like a wonderful recipe and those sandwiches look so appetizing!
I love chicken salad, your recipe looks so good! =)
Thanks!
This is a great salad, delicious! Was fortunate to receive some and I would definitely make it myself. The yogurt gives it a different texture/taste. Thanks Paula!