Chicken Apple New Years Salad (Printable)

Tender chicken and crisp apples join black-eyed peas and greens tossed in a tangy honey-mustard dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Protein & Legumes

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
02 - 1 1/2 cups cooked black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed

→ Produce

03 - 2 medium apples (Fuji or Honeycrisp), cored and diced
04 - 1 cup celery, finely sliced
05 - 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, or baby kale)
07 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Dressing

08 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
09 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
11 - 1 tablespoon honey
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Optional Garnishes

14 - 1/4 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
15 - 2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese (omit for dairy-free)

# How to Make It:

01 - Whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until emulsified. Set aside.
02 - In a large salad bowl, mix cooked chicken, black-eyed peas, diced apples, celery, red onion, and parsley.
03 - Add mixed salad greens and toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
04 - Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss again until fully coated.
05 - Sprinkle toasted pecans or walnuts and crumbled feta cheese on top if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's loaded with protein and good intentions without feeling like diet food.
  • The honey-mustard dressing pulls together flavors that shouldn't work but absolutely do.
  • You get that superstition-approved luck from black-eyed peas without the guilt of overindulgence.
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad more than a few minutes before eating it, or the greens will wilt and the apples will brown—I learned this the hard way at a potluck.
  • If you're prepping components ahead, keep the dressing separate and assemble just before serving; the difference is the entire experience.
03 -
  • A crisp Sauvignon Blanc pairs perfectly with this salad—the acidity complements the honey-mustard dressing and doesn't fight with the apples.
  • If you're making this for a crowd, toss the salad in a big bowl just before serving and let people add their own nuts and cheese to taste their own luck.
Return