Autumn Chopped Chicken Salad may just become your new favorite fall salad! Every bite is loaded with crisp pears, tangy cranberries, toasted pecans, feta, and juicy chicken.
We love Fall Salads like our popular Apple Broccoli Salad and Beet Salad with the same dressing you see here (it’s really THAT good!). This Chicken Salad has all of the best flavors of Autumn and it’s a feel-good salad.
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Fall Chicken Salad Recipe
This Fall Chopped Chicken Salad is easy, healthy and loaded with the best ingredients. It is paleo (if you use a goat/sheep milk feta), gluten-free and guilt-free, with all the flavor. This salad is perfect as a main course or side salad.
I sent text messages to all of my sisters telling them about this salad before it was posted – sometimes when things are just THIS GOOD, I just can’t help but share and I’m so excited to share it with all of you! Don’t judge my use of strange descriptors. I didn’t plan to share this screenshot with the world until just now. 
Ingredients for Chicken Salad & Balsamic Vinaigrette:
We love that the entire salad can be prepped ahead of time for parties and arranging. Just shake and add the homemade balsamic vinaigrette just before serving.
Seriously, friends, the dressing takes this salad to the next level. It couldn’t be easier and is a keeper of a recipe. You’ll want it on all of your Fall salads!
How to Make Chopped Chicken Salad:
This salad really requires very little effort. Cutting the chicken breasts in half cuts the cooking time in half and a salad spinner will make the lettuce prep easy peasy. Do you use a salad spinner? They are a wonderful tool and you’ll never have another soggy salad!
- Step 1: Season and sauté chicken and toast pecans
- Step 2: Chop and spin dry Salad – place in a large bowl.
- Step 3: Slice Pears and Cooked Chicken Breast and arrange over romaine lettuce in strips along with cranberries, feta and pecans.
How to Make Balsamic Vinaigrette:
The simple balsamic vinaigrette will win you over. It has the perfect combination of flavors and all you need is a mason jar to shake and serve. My friend Natalia shared this dressing recipe with me and it worked perfectly on this salad.
Combine dressing ingredients in a small mason jar. Cover with lid and shake vigorously to combine. If any separation occurs, shake again just before using. Drizzle balsamic vinaigrette over the salad, adding it to taste then toss to combine. We usually use about 3/4 of the dressing. Leftovers are a great problem to have! 😉
P.S. I prefer pressed garlic for this using a garlic press – you get more garlic flavor in the dressing.
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Can I Substitute Feta Cheese?
If you aren’t a fan of feta cheese or don’t have it on hand, try goat cheese instead. It has a similar, wonderfully tangy flavor that pairs really well with all of the ingredients and dressing in this salad. We use goat cheese and feta interchangeably in this salad.
Can I Use Rotisserie Chicken?
YES! We love the easy substitution of using chopped rotisserie chicken to make this a Rotisserie Chicken Salad. It becomes a no-cooking required salad that comes together quickly and is just as impressive. During the holidays, you can use leftover turkey to make it a Thanksgiving-worthy Turkey Salad.
More Chicken Salad Recipes:
We love chicken salads around here because they are a meal in themselves and are perfect for to-go lunches and meal prep!
- Avocado Chicken Salad – our most popular salad
- Chicken Potato Salad – A twist on the classic “Olivier”
- Chicken Mango Avocado Salad – Cheesecake Factory copycat!
Watch Natasha Make Chicken Salad:
I hope this Chopped Chicken Salad and Balsamic Dressing become a new favorite for you!
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Autumn Chopped Chicken Salad
Ingredients
Autumn Chopped Chicken Salad Ingredients:
- 1 lb chicken breasts (2 large), trimmed and halved lengthwise
- 1/2 tsp Garlic salt , (or to taste)
- 1/8 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 head romaine lettuce, (8 cups chopped) rinsed and dried
- 2 pears, cored and sliced
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup pecans, lightly toasted on a dry skillet
- 1/2 cup feta cheese (4 oz), crumbled
Balsamic Vinaigrette Ingredients:
- 3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, pressed or finely minced
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, (regular olive oil also works)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Cut chicken breasts in half lengthwise so you have 4 thin cutlets. Season chicken cutlets on both sides with garlic salt and black pepper. Place a large skillet over medium heat with 1 Tbsp olive oil. Add chicken cutlets and sautee 3-4 minutes per side or until fully cooked through. Transfer to a cutting board and let chicken rest while preparing the salad then slice the chicken into strips.
- Meanwhile, in a medium dry skillet, toast pecans over medium heat for 5 minutes, tossing frequently or until pecans are fragrant and lightly golden. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine chopped romaine, sliced pears, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, crumbled feta and cooked sliced chicken.
- Combine dressing ingredients in a small mason jar. Cover with lid and shake vigorously to combine. If any separation occurs, shake again just before using. Drizzle balsamic vinaigrette over the salad, adding it to taste then toss to combine.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
This Autumn chicken salad is absolutely delicious; one you will make again and again!
Q: Do you have a go-to salad for Fall?
Let me know about it in a comment below! Speaking of chicken salads, don’t miss our chicken avocado salad which won the hearts of our readers with over 150 million views! Explore more of our favorite salads here.
This is a thumbs up recipe from the whole family. Thank you Natasha for making cooking so much easier and healthy and flavourful. Your recipes are amazing. My next try will be the clam chowder 😉
This is a big thumbs up from the whole family. Your recipes are amazing Natasha. I am so glad I found you. Thank you so much for making cooking so much easier to prepare and taste good and healthy. God bless you
Thank you Amy for such a nice review and I’m so glad to hear that our recipes are a blessing to your family 😀
This salad is amazing! I made it for Thanksgiving party with family, and now every party I’ve been asked to bring this salad. Thank you Natasha for such a great receipie! It’s been a hit in my family.
My pleasure Lesya! I’m glad to hear how much everyone enjoys the recipe. Thanks for sharing your excellent review!
Hi Natasha,
Can I use apples instead if I don’t have pears?
Hi Vika, yes that would work well 🙂
When I discovered this salad I thought I HAVE to try this, and it’s even better than it looks and sounds! I loved it and so did my bf – He’s a picky eater and hardly finishes any food and he ate it all! 🙂 Also, he wants this salad once a week now!
Awesome, I’m happy to hear the recipe is a HIT! Thanks for sharing your excellent review Sina!
Looks delicious! Thanks so much for formatting the recipe to fit on one printed page.
You’re welcome Janet! I hope you love the recipe! Please let me know what you think!
This salad looks amazing and will definitely be a part of my weekly meal plans this week.
The dressing, would it keep for a few days do you suppose? Sounds delicious!
Hi Meagan, since it has lettuce in it, it won’t keep for more than 6 hours after adding the dressing since the salt in the dressing will wilt the lettuce. If you prep the salad in advance and then add the dressing just before serving, it will keep longer. Also note that the pears will discolor slightly as they stand. If serving for a party and the look of the pears is important, I would add pears just before serving as well. 🙂
wonderful!!!
I’m glad we agree Marjanne! 🙂
made this salad last week and my whole family loved it. added some extra garlic and it’s even more flavorful. love the dressing, thank you for sharing this recipe.
You’re welcome! I’m glad to hear your family enjoys the recipe as much as mine does! Thanks for sharing your great review with other readers!
This looks amazing- cant wait to try! Just starting following you 🙂
If you have yet to try it, you need to discover LAMBRUSCO vinegar (sold at Fairway markets not sure where else). I marinade shallots in it and add grey poupon, garlic, black pepper, and oil! Great for those salad recipes that include fruit 🙂
Hello Katia! Thanks for following and sharing your helpful tip! I hope you love this recipe!
Katia Lukianova do you not mean Stesh marinade shallots and add the spice you mention? Once a liar always a liar.
Thank you Natasha for this autumn salad . I can’t wait to make it. It looks so good. I think iam going to make this for my coworker birthday luncheon. Thank you for putting the picture of lettecue and actual balsamic vinaigrette that you use. And all if the ingreidents. This makes it easier when I go to grocery store to get ingredients to make the salad. Thanks for putting the cist. I am on a right budget do to a horrible divorce .
You’re welcome Veronica! Please let me know what you think!
I’m not overly fond of pears. How about substituting apples??
Hi Bonnie, yes that will work great 🙂
yum! this looks so delicious and healthy too. I must try it soon.
It is amazing! Please let me know what you think Sherry!
really nice recipe, I have a different vinaigrette-chicken recipe, but am kinda tired of it, so this is a great alternative for me, thank you!
You’re welcome Sabrina! I’m glad you enjoy it!
Love a good hearty fall salad! I’ve been making a few myself lately… yum!! 🙂
You’ll love this one then! Please let me know what you think when you decide to make it!
Lol, now thats an elite group I want to be part of. 😁 looks delish , what would u substitute feta for? Parmasen? Or just omit? I personally don’t like the texture
Hi Anna, you could just omit feta if you don’t like it. Lol elite group. I have no idea which of the sisters named the group “juicy secrets” but I think it’s hilarious. The name is deceiving haha!
This salad looks fantastic! And I’ve even got a few pears waiting to be used up – this will be perfect.
It is so fresh and delicious! I hope you love it Julie!
Thank you for this guilt free work lunch !
My pleasure! I hope you love it!
wow, you wont believe but here in PA I have the same brand of balsamic vinegar. It is good brand and I really like it. thank you for salad recipe. Just in time. Recently i started to crave Pecans and it is a good way to use them.
You’re welcome Zoryana! I hope you love it!
This looks awesome:) would it work if o replaced romaine with kale?:)
Hi Rosa, since kale needs time to soften, I would suggest using the method in our kale salad where you add the dressing, cover and refrigerate 4 hours and then add remaining ingredients when ready to serve. I have also seen kale massaging methods where you drizzle the dressing on the kale and massage the kale leaves for a few minutes until they soften. I hope that helps!