Mixed greens tossed with juicy chicken, crispy apple slices, red onions, blue cheese and crunchy pecans. A fresh and healthy Fuji Apple Chicken Salad inspired by the famous Panera Bread version.
I’ve been holding off on you. When we were in Washington D.C. in September we ate at Panera Bread and I tried their fuji apple chicken salad. SO GOOD! Addiction-worthy-good. So, naturally, I re-created it when we got home and it was incredible. I love that I don’t have to head out to find a Panera whenever I get the craving for this salad.
But why on earth did I wait so long to share this recipe?? Well it seems like September would have been perfect timing, what with apple season and all, but I got all wrapped up in sweet potato casseroles, glazed hams and homemade candy that I kind of forgot about it for a millisecond and next thing I knew it was 3 days til Christmas and all I wanted to do was stuff my face with cookies. But now it’s January! Salad season! My favorite. So I know it’s terrible that I’ve been holding out for so long but… better late than never right?
Fuji Apple Chicken Salad (Panera Bread Copycat)
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts - pounded to ½ inch thickness
- 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
- 6-8 cups mixed greens
- 2 medium tomatoes - cut into wedges
- ¼ red onion - thinly sliced
- ¾ cup pecan halves
- ½ cup gorgonzola or blue cheese crumbles
- 2 cups apple chips
- 1 cup fuji apple salad dressing store-bought
Instructions
- Season chicken breasts with seasoning salt and cook on both sides for 3-4 minutes each in a greased skillet or pan over medium heat. Cut into pieces and set aside.
- In a large bowl toss together mixed greens, tomatoes, sliced onions, and chicken. Sprinkle pecans, cheese crumbles, and apple chips on top. Serve with fuji apple dressing.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe adapted from spicy southern kitchen
I feel like apples are something I eat all year round, no matter if they’re in season or not, so this salad is perfect! Beautiful too!
It’s so true, apples are always in season in my mind – I generally crave strawberries more in the spring and summer but apples I will go for any time of year!
Looks lovely Tiffany, I love the crunch and sweetness from the apples!
This is my favorite panera salad, I get it every single time I go! I’ve tried to recreate it at home a ton of times, but could never get the dressing just right! How did I not know that there is a store bought version? Definitely making this happen asap! Thanks for a great copycat!
Target sells the actual Panera Bread dressings. I just picked up a bottle of the Fuji Apple one today. 😊
I love this salad recipe! Love your blog and can’t believe you post every day. Thanks for the ideas, I feed five kids daily plus an extra teenager or two.
Wow! That’s incredible you feed so many – especially kids cause they can be picky!! Thanks for reading my blog, I’m SO glad you enjoy these recipes as much as we do!! 🙂
Dang this looks good. I think it calls for a run to the store. Something fresh and healthy after the junk food feeding frenzy of the past six weeks sound oh so good.