Carolyn J. Braden • 4 Minute Read
25-Minute Crispy Chicken Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
Need dinner fast? I’ve got you! This easy crispy chicken salad is my go-to 25-minute dinner recipe when I need something quick, fresh, filling, and delicious without spending all night in the kitchen.
I love Lineage Provisions and Brightland products!
Crispy chicken tenders are served over fresh spinach with sweet apple, dried cranberries or cherries, and sliced almonds, then finished with an easy homemade honey mustard vinaigrette.
The best part? This easy chicken salad recipe comes together in about 25 minutes, making it a perfect quick weeknight dinner for busy nights. And because it’s so easy to customize, you can swap ingredients based on what you have on hand—like using juicy mandarin oranges instead of apple.
This is my “I NEED DINNER FAST!” recipe—and its proof that a quick dinner can still be absolutely delicious! I created this recipe after making numerous other recipes for salads, and this is one I can make in minutes without even thinking about it anymore. It uses many pantry items I always have on hand, and you probably do too!
These Sam’s Club tenders are a freezer staple in my house
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Quick Chicken Salad with Homemade Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
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Make This Crispy Chicken Salad Your Own
One of the reasons I love this quick chicken salad recipe is that it doesn't have to be complicated—or exactly the same every time.
Want something a little different? Try mandarin oranges instead of apple. You can also swap dried cranberries for dried cherries or use your favorite nuts and toppings.
It's an easy recipe to adjust based on what you already have in the refrigerator and pantry. Pantry dinners can be the best and it’s a good idea to have some ideas written down on the nights you need to eat fast but can’t remember what to make.
Easy and quick dinner: Done!
If you're looking for easy 25-minute dinner ideas, this crispy chicken salad is one to keep in your back pocket.
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Easy Crispy Chicken Salad for a Quick 25-Minute Dinner
Kitchen Tools:
Air fryer (or you can oven-bake), large mixing bowl, Magic Bullet (not necessary, but makes the dressing easier or you can whisk it), knife
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Description:
A quick and delicious crispy chicken salad made with fresh spinach, sweet apples, dried fruit, sliced almonds, and an easy homemade honey mustard vinaigrette. This easy 25-minute dinner is perfect for busy weeknights when you need dinner fast!
Print the FREE recipe card out below:
Easy Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Salad in 25 Minutes
Ingredients
For the Crispy Chicken Salad
1 package Sam's Club Organic Chicken Tenders (or use your favorite)
1 (9-ounce) bag fresh spinach
1 sweet apple, chopped — Gala, Red Delicious, or Honeycrisp
¼ cup dried cranberries or dried Bing cherries
¼ cup sliced almonds
Homemade Honey Mustard Vinaigrette for Crispy Chicken Salad
For the Easy Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil (I used Brightland Awake and LOVE IT with The Spout)
2 tablespoons champagne vinegar (I used Brightland), or apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons honey (I used Organic Raw Honey by Lineage Provisions and code CAROLYN15 or my discount link gets you 15% off)
Salt and pepper (optional, to taste)
The Spout makes this Brightland Oil so easy to pour…no dribbles or overflowing!
Instructions
Cook the chicken. Air fry the chicken tenders at 400°F for approximately 15 minutes, or according to the package directions, until cooked through and crispy. You can also oven bake.
Prepare the salad. While the chicken cooks, add the fresh spinach to a large bowl. Add the chopped apple, dried cranberries or dried Bing cherries, and sliced almonds. Toss everything together and set aside.
Make the honey mustard vinaigrette. Add the olive oil, champagne vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey to a Magic Bullet or small blender. Blend until smooth and well combined. You can also whisk the ingredients together by hand.
Chop the chicken. Once the chicken is cooked, let it cool slightly, then chop it into small, bite-sized pieces.
Assemble the salad. Add your desired amount of salad mixture to a dinner bowl. Top with the chopped crispy chicken and drizzle with honey mustard vinaigrette.
Serve and enjoy! Dinner is ready!
Recipe Notes
Apple: Gala, Red Delicious, and Honeycrisp all work well. I especially love Honeycrisp for its sweetness and crunch.
Dried fruit: Use unsweetened dried cranberries or dried Bing cherries.
Vinegar: Champagne vinegar gives the vinaigrette a lovely flavor, but apple cider vinegar is an easy substitute.
Customize it: Try mandarin oranges instead of apple or add your favorite salad toppings.
Vinaigrette: If you don't have a Magic Bullet or blender, simply whisk the ingredients together until emulsified.
Fast & Easy 25-Minute Chicken Salad Dinner
Affiliate Disclosure
Some of the products mentioned in this recipe are linked with affiliate links. If you purchase through one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support Carolyn's Blooming Creations so I can continue sharing creative recipes, DIY projects, product finds, and easy life solutions.
Food Safety Note
Cook chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F and follow the cooking instructions on your specific package, since air fryer times can vary. I use a meat thermometer to test doneness.
Homemade Honey Mustard Vinaigrette for Crispy Chicken Salad
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Carolyn J. Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.