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A lot of smoked chicken breast recipes are made by stirring together all the ingredients and leaving the mixture to chill, which is also the case with this one. This is one of our more versatile chicken salad recipes and you can serve it for any meal, during any season and for any occasion. Whether you are looking for a sophisticated salad to impress your dinner guests, a smooth and creamy baked potato filling or a gourmet-style lunch which is simple to put together, this mesquite smoked chicken recipe is the answer.
This unusual, interesting and festive chicken salad recipe offers several delicious surprises. Dried cranberries, orange juice, orange essence, and pecans give it a unique flavor and beautiful presentation. This smoked chicken salad is sure to be a hit at any gathering, picnic or just as a casual weekend lunch. You can also serve it as a baked potato filling.
What makes mesquite smoked chicken recipes like this one so easy is the fact that you make it by stirring all the ingredients together - that is all you have to do! It couldn't be easier. This salad is a wonderful combination of chicken, fruit, nuts and more and it is smooth and creamy as well as crunchy and tangy. All these flavors complement one another and this could end up being one of your favorite chicken salad recipes of all time. Not everybody has tried smoked chicken recipes before but if you like a mild smoke flavor, you should enjoy the taste of the chicken. You can get lightly smoked chicken and chicken with a slightly stronger taste, so just use the one you like best.
You can substitute low fat mayonnaise for regular mayonnaise to trim a few calories, and use white pepper instead of black pepper for a milder flavor. The recipe below makes nine cups of salad, which equates to about twelve sandwiches. Give it a try and we guaranteed that you will toss your old chicken salad recipe right out the window!
Ingredients -
4 ½ cups mesquite smoked chicken, diced
1 ½ cups celery, finely diced
2 ¼ cups sweet onion or purple onion, finely diced
2 ¼ cups chopped dried cranberries or tart cherries
1 ½ cups toasted pecan pieces or walnuts
¼ cup minced fresh basil
2 cups mayonnaise
3 tablespoons fresh orange juice with pulp
1 teaspoon orange essence
salt, coarse ground black pepper
Preparation:
Place all ingredients (chicken, celery, onion, cherries, pecans, basil, mayonnaise, orange juice, orange essence, salt, and pepper) in a large mixing bowl; stir gently until thoroughly mixed.
Refrigerate until ready to use.
(Serves 4 - 6)