Chicken Apple New Years Luck (Printable Version)

Vibrant salad featuring chicken, apples, black-eyed peas, and a tangy honey-mustard dressing for festive meals.

# What You 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, thinly sliced
05 - 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, 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)

# Steps:

01 - Whisk olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and black pepper together in a small bowl until emulsified.
02 - In a large salad bowl, mix the 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 prepared dressing over the salad and toss until everything is well coated.
05 - Sprinkle toasted nuts and feta cheese on top if desired, then serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It feels indulgent enough for a special meal but comes together in under 40 minutes.
  • The combination of sweet apples, savory chicken, and earthy peas creates a flavor balance that keeps you reaching for another bite.
02 -
  • Don't assemble this salad hours ahead—the dressing will soften the greens and turn everything soggy, even if you keep components separate.
  • If you're cooking black-eyed peas from scratch, undersalt them in their cooking water, then season the final dish with the dressing salt so you have control.
03 -
  • Massage your salad greens lightly with a tiny bit of the dressing before you finish—it softens them just enough to carry flavor without becoming limp.
  • If you've made this once and want it richer, add a drizzle of walnut oil to the dressing base instead of using all olive oil.
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