Copy Cat Panera Fuji Apple Chicken Salad

5 from 5 votes

This is it! The homemade version of you beloved Fuji Apple Chicken Salad. The dressing, the way you cook the chicken-- all is just so good! Easy, healthy, delicious and perfect for dinner and lunch.

Prep Time10

Cook Time0

Course: Dinner, lunch

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chicken salad, clean eating, easy dinner recipes, family dinner, healthy salads, lunch recipes, panera recipes, simple recipes

Servings:

Calories: 238kcal

Author: Alaina Hinkle

Equipment

Immersion Blender

Ingredients

Copy Cat Panera Fuji Apple Chicken Salad

32 oz mixed greens
Apple Chips see above for homemade recipe & which ones Panera uses
4 oz gorgonzola cheese
24 cherry tomatoes
1/2 red onion sliced thin
1 cups pecans toasted
1/2 tbsp butter
"Grilled" Chicken from below

Apple Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

3/4 cup apple juice concentrate NOT apple juice
1/4 cup light olive oil
1/8 cup WHITE Balsamic Vinegar not regular balsamic vinegar, needs to be white
1 tbsp lemon juice about 1/2 a large lemon
1/4 tsp Xanthan Gum you don't have to use Xanthan Gum, however it gives it a great thickness!
1/4 tsp salt
pinch of garlic powder

"Grilled" Chicken

3 chicken breasts about 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 TBSP basil
onion powder 1 tsp
garlic powder 1 tsp
salt 1 tsp
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions

Apple Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

Add all ingredients into a immersion blender safe container, immersion blend and place in air tight container. Seal and refrigerate. Dressing keeps in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

"Grilled" Chicken

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

Toasted Pecans

Place butter in frying pan at medium heat, let melt, add in pecans. Then continue to toast pecans until they are golden brown about 5 minutes.

Assembling the Copy Cat Panera Fuji Apple Chicken Salad

Place mixed greens in the bowl followed by the tomatoes, onion, gorgonzola cheese, "grilled" chicken, apple chips and toasted pecans. Optional to add avocado. Then drizzle Apple Balsamic Vinegar Dressing on top and enjoy!

Notes

Feel free to use rotisserie chicken and the pre made Panera dressing and apple chips to make the recipe go faster. However, I wanted to give you all the option of making your own! It may seem like "more" ingredients, but they are super easy to pull together, promise :) The taste will be way worth it!

Nutrition