This Copycat Panera Fuji Apple Salad recipe is the perfect make at home lunch made with real ingredients like sliced chicken, dried apple chips, gorgonzola cheese and a fresh apple vinaigrette. If you like the Panera Fuji Apple Salad, you will love this healthy homemade version!
My teen loves Panera, and one of our favorite things to do together is go shopping and hit Panera afterwards for lunch and a sweet treat. You know how much I love the Panera Green Goddess Salad, as well as the warm bowl that inspired this Chicken Quinoa Mediterranean Bowl.
But on a recent trip, I decided to order the Fuji Apple Chicken Salad since a reader asked me to recreate it for my salad series on Instagram. Gosh, you guys, I had no idea what I was missing all these years! It is definitely one of the best salads at Panera and I was super excited to try making it at home!
Why You Will Love this Tasty Salad
- The perfect combination of flavors – you have the sweet pecans and apple chips along with the savory cheese, chicken, and the bite of fresh red onion – just like Panera’s Fuji apple salad!
- Variety of textures – crunchy pecans, crisp apple chips, creamy feta cheese or Gorgonzola cheese…this salad hit all the notes for me
- Simple to prep – I used grocery store rotisserie chicken and pre-washed spring mix for this salad, and besides making the quick candied pecans and easy dressing, it doesn’t involve much else in the way of prep work or chopping
- Full of protein, fiber, and healthy fats
Ingredient List
Here’s what you will need:
For the Salad
- Spring Mix – or whatever fresh greens you have on hand
- Diced or Sliced Chicken Breast – I used pre-cooked chicken breasts from a rotisserie chicken, but you can use this air fryer whole chicken or leftover air fryer chicken thighs
- Ripe Tomatoes – I like Grape Tomatoes or Cherry Tomatoes
- Apple Chips – you could make your own apple chips, but I bought the Bare brand and they were perfect. You could also use Seneca Apple Chips or even fresh fuji apples!
- Red Onion – you could also use my pickled red onions from the Copycat Green Goddess Salad recipe
- Gorgonzola cheese – feel free to swap this with blue cheese, feta cheese, goat cheese, or use avocado for a dairy free salad
- Pecans + brown sugar or coconut sugar – to keep the sugar content down, I make my own quick toasted pecans with brown sugar, but you can use store bought candied pecans.
For the Apple Vinaigrette:
- Avocado oil – you could use extra virgin olive oil, but I prefer the neutral flavor of avocado oil in this recipe
- White balsamic vinegar or white wine vinegar – apple cider vinegar would also be delish
- Honey or maple syrup
- Dijon mustard – for a little creaminess
- Half of an apple – fuji apple or honeycrisp apple would work best
- Pinch of salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and ground ginger
- Note – you could easily buy Panera’s Fuji Apple Salad Dressing if you don’t want to make your own and want something that tastes exactly like the real thing. I just prefer the ingredients of my homemade version as Panera’s version includes seed oils and artificial preservatives.
Substitutions and Additions
- Instead of chicken, use roasted chickpeas for a vegetarian spin
- Swap gorgonzola for your favorite soft cheese or add avocado for a dairy free version
- Use fresh apples instead of apple chips
- For the dressing, you can use apple jelly or apple juice instead of fresh apples
- For more crunch, top with pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, or hemp seeds
Step by Step Instructions
This healthy salad comes together in just a few simple steps!
- Make the candied pecans: Heat pecans in a nonstick pan over medium heat for 1 minute. Add in brown sugar and a pinch of coarse salt. Stir continuously for 2-3 minutes or until pecans are toasted and coated with the melted sugar.
2. Place candied pecans on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let cool. Once cooled, chop pecans.
3. Make the dressing: Place all ingredients in a high speed blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings if desired. Strain dressing using a mesh strainer, if desired.
4. Assemble salads: Start with the spring mix, then add in diced chicken breast, cheese, apple chips, pecan pieces, tomatoes, and red onion. Toss, then top with homemade dressing.
What to Serve with Fuji Apple Salad
When I was at Panera, I ordered the Autumn Squash Soup, so now when I make this at home, I love to enjoy this salad with my Butternut Squash Soup. It would also be delicious with this healthy french onion soup.
Meal Prep and Storage
Salads are one of my favorite things to meal prep and this one is no exception! I like storing the dressing and the salad ingredients in separate containers in the fridge for up to 4 days of lunches or quick dinners.
More Restaurant Inspired Salads
Copycat Panera Green Goddess Salad and Dressing
Chopped Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe
Kale Caesar Salad (SweetGreen Copycat)
Lemony Arugula Salad with Shrimp
Copycat Panera Fuji Apple Salad
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 8 cups Spring Mix
- 4 cups cooked chicken breast diced
- 1 1/2 cup Grape tomatoes sliced in half
- 1 package Apple Chips – I use the Bare brand use 2 Tbsp per salad
- 1/4 cup red onion sliced
- 1/2 cup Gorgonzola cheese
- 1/2 cup Candied Pecans see recipe below
For the quick candied pecans
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar or coconut sugar
- ½ cup pecans
For the dressing
- 1/2 cup avocado oil
- 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar or white wine vinegar
- 2 Tbsp honey
- ½ tsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 apple fuji or honey crisp, diced
- Pinch salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and ground ginger to taste
Instructions
Make the candied pecans
- Heat pecans in a nonstick pan over medium heat for 1 minute. Add in brown sugar and a pinch of coarse salt. Stir continuously for 2-3 minutes or until pecans are toasted and coated with the melted sugar.
- Place candied pecans on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let cool. Once cooled, chop pecans.
Make the dressing
- Place all ingredients in a high speed blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings if desired. Strain dressing using a mesh strainer for less apple pulp and a smoother dressing.
Assemble salads
- Start with 2 cups of spring mix in each salad. Then in each bowl add in 3/4 cup diced chicken breast, 2 Tbsp cheese, 2 Tbsp apple chips, 2 Tbsp pecan pieces, 1/4 cup tomatoes, and 1 Tbsp red onion.
- Toss ingredients together, then top with homemade dressing. Toss again, if desired.
Missie says
I am a major salad hater, but I LOVE this salad!! I even get cravings for it! Absolutely delicious! Bravo!
Nancylynn says
This is a huge compliment! Thank you Missie!
Amy says
This recipe is so good! I had it for lunch the last two days. So yummy-
Nancylynn says
Thanks, Amy!