Fuji Apple Chicken Salad Panera

Must Try

Gather Your Ingredients For This Panera Bread Fuji Apple Salad Copycat Recipe

Panera Bread Fuji Apple Chicken Salad Review

If you tend to make a lot of salads, you might already have everything you need for this Panera Bread Fuji apple salad copycat recipe on hand. But if not, just take a quick tour through your grocery store’s produce department and deli to pick up what you need. The beautiful thing is, you can rely on a few pre-packaged staples to speed up prep time. For instance, grab a bag or box of pre-washed spring mix greens as your salad base, and look for the pre-sliced red onions, as well. Otherwise, a pint of cherry tomatoes , toasted pecans, dried apple chips, feta cheese, and dried cranberries are all you’ll need, aside from the chicken and dressing ingredients.

As far as the chicken goes, you have options. “I’d recommend rotisserie chicken if you’re looking for flavor and something easy,” says Carli, although you can always use leftovers or another pre-cooked chicken you can pick up from the deli.

Then, for the dressing, all you need is olive oil, white wine vinegar, minced garlic, horseradish mustard, and honey. The list of actual ingredients is fairly long, but they’re simple and straightforward items you can find practically anywhere .

How Many Calories Should I Be Eating To Lose Weight

2,000 caloriesThe healthiest things to eat at Panera Bread

  • Avocado, Egg White & Spinach. This sandwich would make a filling and nutritious start to your day.
  • Steel Cut Oatmeal with Almonds, Quinoa and Honey.
  • Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich.
  • Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken.
  • Strawberry Poppyseed Salad with Chicken.
  • Black Bean Soup.

Our Copycat Panera Fuji Apple Chicken Salad Is Perfect For Lunch Or Dinner

Panera Bread is famous for their drool-worthy salads. They just seem to have a knack for combining ingredients that have the right amount of sweetness, tang and crunch and their Fuji apple chicken salad is no exception. While we love going to Panera and ordering this salad, its hard to resist also buying a dozen of their cookies. Thats where our copycat version of the recipe, inspired by Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice, comes in.

It has the same ingredients and flavor and you can eat it in the comfort of your home anytime without being talked into cookies. Oh, you can still eat homemade cookies afterwards. We dont judge.

Making this salad at home starts with the base salad: a mixture of the field greens and chopped romaine gives your salad the right texture and flavor. A bag of mixed salad greens from the supermarket typically contains a blend of Swiss chard, arugula, radicchio, baby romaine, frisee and baby spinach. Add in a couple of cups of chopped leafy romaine and you have your base.

Fuji apples are the star of the show and are known for their sweet crunch, making them perfect for salads and pies. Gala apples make a good substitute, as they are also on the sweeter end of the spectrum and are delicious in salads. If you want this salad to be less sweet and more tart, consider a Red Delicious or Honeycrisp apple.

ALSO TRY: Thai shrimp salad

You May Like: Store Bought Vegan Salad Dressing

Fuji Apple Salad With Chicken

Salads, American, Calorie Conscious, Gluten Conscious, Sodium Conscious

  • 10 minutes
  • 4 servings

An amazing blend of wholesome ingredients, topped with our popular Fuji Apple Dressing, makes this salad a crisp and delicious interpretation of a bakery-cafe favorite.

  • Print this Recipe
  • 12 oz.cooked chicken breasts, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cupcrumbled Gorgonzola
  • 2 vine-ripened tomatoes, cut into wedges
  • 1/2 cuppecans, toasted

Vegan Panera Fuji Apple Chicken Salad

Fuji Apple Salad with Chicken

This Vegan Panera Fuji Apple Chicken Salad starts with a bed of fresh mixed greens. It then gets topped with vegan chicken strips, red onion slices, tomatoes, apple chips, homemade tofu feta, easy candied pecans, and a simple white balsamic apple vinaigrette! Its surprisingly easy, filling, and just as delicious as the famous version!

This has been on my list to veganize for quite a while now, and it only involves a few swaps. Simply trade the chicken for a plant-based alternative and replace the gorgonzola cheese with an easy homemade batch of tofu feta.

Read Also: Chicken Salad Chick Athens Ga

Fuji Apple Salad Dressing

Recreate Paneras Fuji Apple Salad Dressing at home with this 5 minute recipe! This tangy, sweet vinaigrette dressing is bursting with flavor and its so easy to make!Its perfect for tossing with a copycat Fuji Apple Chicken Salad or drizzling over your favorite salad!

Over the past 20 years, Ive eaten A LOT of Fuji Apple Chicken Salads at Panera Bread. Its my favorite salad on their menu, so of course I had to make a copycat version at home. This way, I can enjoy the salad anytime!

But before I could recreate this delicious salad, I had to recreate my favorite part of the salad, the sweet and zesty fuji apple salad dressing.

Years ago, my favorite salad dressing brand, Litehouse, had their own bottled Fuji Apple dressing that I would always pick up at the grocery store. I used it back in 2015 to create this Kale Apple Slaw recipe. Unfortunately, they quit making the dressing a few years back. So this is also my ode to the Litehouse Fuji Apple Salad Dressing of years past!

Its easy to whisk together in just 5 minutes and is great on everything from salads, to wraps, to buddha bowls!

How To Make Panera Breads Fuji Apple Chicken Salad

This easy fuji apple chicken salad is a breeze to throw together! Because were using cooked chicken and pre-made dressing, all you really have to worry about is chopping some veggies and throwing everything together.

  • After washing and preparing all of the fresh ingredients, toss them into a large bowl.
  • If youre having to cook your chicken, be sure to let it cool some before tossing it in with the other ingredients.
  • Just before serving, add desired amount of dressing and toss until everything is evenly coated. Alternatively, dressing can be served on the side.
  • For presentation, reserve a bit of each ingredient to place on top of the salad before serving.
  • Also Check: Outback Blue Cheese Pecan Chopped Salad

    The Panera Fuji Apple Salad At Home

    To save a little money and for convenience-sake, I started making the salad at home. I dont always have time in my day to drive out of my way to Panera, but I can always find time for this salad. And friends, I can happily report this is one easy salad to make at home.

    Making the Fuji apple salad at home is seriously simple to do, and requires little prep, but before you can prep it, youll need to know what goes in it. Lets get to it, shall we?

    Pour Feta Cheese On Top Of Chicken And Apple Slices

    How To Make Fuji Apple Salad With Chicken | Panera Copycat Salad at Home!

    This brined curd white cheese originated in Greece and is made from sheeps milk or a mixture of sheep and goats milk. One serving contains zero carbohydrates and five grams of protein. While its high in sodium and cholesterol, feta is a good source of protein, vitamin B12, calcium and phosphorus.

    Read Also: Eating Salad At Night To Lose Weight

    Why You Should Make This Copycat Panera Fuji Apple Salad

    • To save money and for conveniences sake, of course! You may not always have time to drive to Panera, but you can always find time to recreate this apple salad at home. It saves you time, money, and effort!
    • Everything in this salad is incredibly flavorful and has such a variety of unique and delightful textures. The dressing on top is also fantastic. A balsamic and honey dressing elevates this salad to new heights. Youre going to adore everything in this salad, and it will also become an instant family favorite.
    • The Panera Fuji Apple Salad is a simple dish to prepare, despite its sophisticated-sounding name. Its a simple toss and mix salad. Anyone is capable of completing the salad-making task. In addition, the salad dressing is easy to make as well.

    If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this fresh heirloom tomato salad with balsamic and feta!

    How Many Calories Are In A Panera Fuji Apple Chicken Salad

    4.4/5caloriesPaneraFuji Apple Chicken Salad

    Nutrition

    Also Know, how many calories are in a Panera Bread Southwest salad? 650 calories

    Secondly, how many calories are in a Panera salad?

    Nutrition Facts

    97%

    What’s in Panera salad?

    Greens Blend , Red Grape Tomatoes, Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing , Cucumber, Red Onion.

    Don’t Miss: How To Make Tuna Fish Salad

    Fuji Apple Chicken Salad

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Im bringing this one back up from the archives to share with you today. Because Im pretty sure we all need more of this salad in our lives.

    I only have a handful of restaurant copycat recipes here on the blog. But after having ordered the Fuji apple chicken salad at Panera for nearly a decade, I decided a few years ago that it was high time to learn how to make it for myself. Because clearly, it must be a keeper if Im still not tired of it after so many years.

    The good news about this salad is that its really nothing fancy. Just a simple green salad made with dried apple chips, seasoned chicken breasts, and a white balsamic vinaigrette. Although I have to admit that I do use this salad as an excuse to make a batch of my favorite candied pecans to throw on top of it. I may use a few more of those than Panera. )

    Heres how to make it!

    Well first off, heres a photo I took of the salad back in 2011. It was when I was in my bright-solid-colored backgrounds stage, and when all of the walls in my house were painted bright colors.

    Now I live in a loft with completely white and neutral tones, and Im in a white-on-white photography stage. Coincidence?

    Well, at least the salad has remained the same over the years. Its literally overflowing with mixed greens, sliced chicken breasts, apple chips , gorgonzola

    and lots of those candied pecans I was talking about.

    Panera Fuji Apple Salad

    Copycat Panera Bread Fuji Apple Chicken Salad

    Once youve had Paneras Fuji Apple Salad, it will most definitely keep you coming back for more. So much so, that learning to make it at home could save you a pretty penny or two. Lucky for us, this salad is seriously easy to replicate, and youll have no trouble at all throwing it together in your very own kitchen!

    Today, in addition to an identical copycat recipe for Paneras Fuji Apple Salad, well also cover money-saving substitutions for the restaurants lettuce mix, quick-fix options for the sliced chicken, the brand of apple chips Panera uses, and even how to make the salad in advance for a weeks worth of lunches!

    You May Like: Extra Virgin Olive Oil For Salad

    Fuji Apple Chicken Salad Ingredients

    • spring mix, romaine and/or baby spinach any greens you have on hand will work, but I like using a spring mix, romaine and/or baby spinach
    • Fuji or Honeycrisp apple Paneras version of this salad uses crispy apple chips, but I like the flavor and crunch that raw apples add so thats what Im using. I recommend using Fuji or Honeycrisp apples.
    • grilled chicken breasts see my note below about how to make the grilled chicken
    • crumbled Gorgonzola fresh gorgonzola cheese adds a ton of flavor to this salad! If you dont like the flavor of gorgonzola you can swap it for your favorite cheese. Goat cheese or feta would be nice subs.
    • red onion
    • cherry tomatoes
    • pepitas or toasted pecans Paneras version uses pecans, but Im using pepitas for this version. Either work great!
    • white balsamic vinaigrette

    How Do I Make The Grilled Chicken For This Copy Cat Panera Fuji Apple Chicken Salad

    We are skipping the grilling guys lol. I know I love grilling chicken, however it is too hot and sticky outside lately for me to go stand over the grill. PLUS I want you guys to be making this all year round and I dont do all year round grilling I want you guys to be able to make this any time anywhere so I bring you this simple and delicious way to cook your chicken on stove top.

    Ingredients:
    • 3 chicken breasts about 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts
    • 1 tbsp olive oil
    • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
    Directions:
  • Pour 1 tbsp olive in frying pan, heat to medium heat. While it is getting hot. Place your chicken breasts on plate. Then in a small bowl add your basil, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and cayenne pepper. Whisk until fully incorporated
  • Evenly disperse seasoning mixture on both sides of each chicken breasts.
  • Once skillet is hot, add chicken breasts and cover the top of the frying pan with aluminum foil. Cook each side for 5-7 minutes. I start usually with 7 minutes on the first side. Then on second side start with 5. Check the inside then do 1 1/2 more minutes if need be.
  • Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing
  • Don’t Miss: Chicken Salad With Plain Yogurt

    Copycat Panera Bread Fuji Apple Chicken Salad

    This copycat Panera Bread fuji apple chicken salad is made with a fresh and delicious combination of mixed greens tossed with red onion, ripe tomatoes, chicken, roasted pecans, crisp apple chips, and Gorgonzola cheese. Drizzle the delicious fuji apple dressing over this salad and enjoy an incredible lunch or dinner!

    This is one of my all-time favorite salad recipes! It has the perfect combination of flavors and textures savory, sweet, salty, fresh, crisp and crunchy. This recipe is based off a favorite salad from Panera Bread Company®, the Fuji Apple Chicken Salad.

    Creating a copycat of Panera Breads fuji apple chicken salad has been something Ive wanted to do forever. After first trying the salad, years ago, it quickly became my favorite sandwich shop meal. Actually, its my favorite salad of all time. And Im being completely honest when I say that this copycat version is actually tastier than the original. Lets get to the details!

    Copycat Panera Apple Fuji Chicken Salad

    COPYCAT PANERA FUJI APPLE CHICKEN SALAD #DIY

    Copycat Panera Apple Fuji Chicken Salad with white balsamic apple dressing. This lighter, healthier version of the salad will knock your socks off. Absolutely delicious and loaded with flavor.

    If youve ever tried Paneras Apple Fuji Chicken Salad, then you know it is light, refreshing, and flavorful. Although it packs a healthy punch, it also packs extra calories in the dressing and sometimes not the most fresh chicken, if you know what I mean. I love this salad and figured it was easy enough to make at home. So here it is!

    Don’t Miss: Can You Put Relish In Tuna Salad

    Put Your Panera Bread Fuji Apple Salad Copycat Recipe Ingredients In A Large Bowl

    After gathering your Panera Bread Fuji apple salad copycat recipe ingredients and halving your tomatoes, your prep work is almost done . Simply put the greens, tomatoes, onions, pecans, apple chips, feta, and dried cranberries all together in a large bowl. Cut up your chicken into bite-sized chunks and add it on top. Toss the dry salad a bit just to mix it up, but don’t worry too much about this part yet you’ll toss it again after you add the dressing. Set the bowl aside as you mix your dressing.

    Mix The Dressing For This Panera Bread Fuji Apple Salad Copycat Recipe

    Place all the remaining Panera Bread Fuji apple salad copycat recipe ingredients into a bowl to whisk them into a dressing. There are only five ingredients olive oil, white wine vinegar, minced garlic, horseradish mustard, and honey so it’s incredibly easy to make. That said, you can opt for a few substitutions, if desired. Carli says you can switch champagne vinegar for the white wine vinegar, or a Dijon mustard for the horseradish mustard. “You’re really just looking for that tangy element,” she says. And of course, it’s easiest to buy a pre-minced garlic, rather than mincing your own at home.

    Once you’ve placed your desired ingredients in a bowl, whisk them until they’re well-combined. You may end up with more dressing than you plan to use on a single salad, so you can store any remaining dressing in a jar with an airtight lid and save it in the fridge for about a week.

    Recommended Reading: Tuna Salad Recipe 1 Can

    To Make This Fuji Apple Salad You Will Need:

    for the sweet apple cider vinaigrette:

    • olive oil
    • candied pecans
    • crumbled blue cheese

    In a mini food processor blender, measure and add 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon fine salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger and 1/8 teaspoon white pepper.

    If you cant find ground rosemary, throw some into a spice grinder or use a mortar and pestle to grind it up.

    To that, measure and add 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar, 3 tablespoons apple cider , 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup and 1 teaspoon dijon mustard.

    Blend until creamy and smooth.

    Make the candied pecans by adding 1/2 cup pecans, 2 teaspoons brown sugar and 2 teaspoons maple syrup. Heat on medium-low, stirring until the pecans are coated and toasty.

    Divide 10 ounces of baby spring mix among bowls and top with cooked grilled chicken , crispy apple chips, thinly sliced red onion, halved tomatoes, crumbled blue cheese and candied pecans.

    Drizzle with the sweet apple cider vinaigrette.

    And there you have fall in a bowl. The combination of flavors is why this salad is so great. Apples, blue cheese and pecans is one of the best!

    Make it a meal with this Autumn Squash Soup!

    For More Panera Bread Inspired Recipes.

    Enjoy! And if you give this Fuji Apple Salad recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on or !

    Popular Articles

    More Recipes Like This