Apple Tarragon Chicken Salad

 Apple Tarragon Chicken Salad is a light, refreshing, and flavorful salad that combines tender chicken, crisp apples, and a tangy dressing with the unique flavor of tarragon. It's perfect for a healthy lunch or a light dinner.

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Ingredients:

For the Chicken Salad:

2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or chopped (rotisserie chicken works great)

1 large apple, cored and diced (preferably a sweet-tart variety like Fuji or Honeycrisp)

1/2 cup celery, diced

1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped

1/4 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped (optional, for crunch)

1/4 cup fresh tarragon, chopped

1/4 cup dried cranberries or raisins (optional, for sweetness)

For the Dressing:

1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt or mayonnaise

2 tbsp Dijon mustard

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice

1 tsp honey or maple syrup (optional, for a touch of sweetness)

Salt and pepper, to taste

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Instructions:

1. Prepare the Chicken Salad:

1. In a large bowl, combine the cooked chicken, diced apple, celery, red onion, walnuts or pecans (if using), tarragon, and dried cranberries or raisins (if using).

2. Gently toss everything together to mix.

2. Make the Dressing:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt (or mayonnaise), Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice), honey (if using), salt, and pepper.

2. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more honey for sweetness or vinegar for tang.

3. Assemble the Salad:

1. Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and toss gently to coat everything evenly.

2. Chill the salad in the fridge for about 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

4. Serve:

Serve the salad on a bed of greens, in a sandwich, or with crackers.

Garnish with additional fresh tarragon or a sprinkle of nuts if desired.

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Tips:

For a lighter version, use all Greek yogurt for the dressing instead of mayonnaise.

You can swap the apples for grapes or pears if you prefer.

If you don’t have fresh tarragon, dried tarragon works, but use less (about 1 tsp).

Apple Tarragon Chicken Salad is a fresh, creamy, and crunchy dish with a delicate balance of flavors from the crisp apples, fragrant tarragon, and the tangy dressing, making it a great choice for a light, satisfying meal.