Buc-ee's Chicken Salad (Copycat Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad)
Description
This copycat Buc-ee's chicken salad is made with tender rotisserie chicken, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and crunchy celery in a creamy, lightly sweet dressing. Perfect for croissants, pretzel chips, or meal prep lunches.
Ingredients
Dressing
- ⅔ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Chicken Salad
- 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 2 celery stalks, finely diced
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup chopped pecans, toasted
Instructions
- Toast the chopped pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant. Let cool.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, honey, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Add the shredded chicken, celery, green onions, and dried cranberries. Gently fold until evenly coated.
- Fold in the toasted pecans.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Stir and adjust seasoning before serving.
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Whisk or spoon
Notes
- Meal prep: Store pecans separately and add just before serving to keep them crunchy.
- Lighter option: Swap half the mayonnaise for plain Greek yogurt.
- Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days. Do not freeze.
- About this copycat: Buc-ee's doesn't publish its recipe, so this version is based on fan descriptions of the store-bought chicken salad.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 337kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 6gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 14gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 375mgPotassium: 127mgFiber: 2gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 131IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg