The classic sweet and tangy Panera Fuji Apple Salad recipe is so easy to replicate in the comfort of your own home.
Made with a spring mix of lettuce, chicken, dried apple chips, grape tomatoes, red onions, pecan pieces, Gorgonzola, and dried cranberries, it’s tossed in the signature Panera dressing.
Panera Fuji Apple Salad Copycat Recipe
Our homemade version of the Panera Fuji Apple Salad recipe is so quick and easy to make with money saving ingredient substitutions and shortcuts that require no cooking!
Why drive to Panera Bread when you can prepare a fresh and wholesome copycat of the famous cafe favorite in the convenience of your own kitchen?
This Fuji apple chicken salad has the perfect balance of savory and salty parts: it’s filled with protein-packed chicken, crumbled cheese, and crunchy pecans which pair deliciously with the sweetened cranberries, bright tomatoes, and Seneca apple chips.
While you can certainly use your favorite vinaigrette to replace the original Fuji apple dressing, I find that nothing can compare to the taste of the real thing and it’s easy to pick up a bottle from the produce section of your local grocery store.
Why We Love Panera Bread Fuji Apple Salad with chicken
- Quick and easy to make in 15 minutes.
- Uses simple, fresh, nutrient-dense ingredients.
- Crisp and delicious copycat of the popular Panera apple salad.
- Meal-sized salad to serve for lunch or dinner or can be served on the side with supper.
Panera Fuji Apple Salad Ingredients
- Spring salad mix
- Rotisserie chicken: I used chicken breasts but you can use the dark meet if you prefer.
- Apple chips: I used original Seneca apple chips but my Air Fryer Apple Chips would taste delicious!
- Crumbled gorgonzola cheese
- Shaved parmesan cheese (optional)
- Grape tomatoes
- Pecan halves: You can use plain pecans or make my homemade candied pecans.
- Red onion
- Dried sweetened cranberries
- Panera fuji apple vinaigrette dressing
Substitutions and Additions
- Change The Cheese: You can substitute crumbled blue cheese or feta cheese for the gorgonzola.
- Prepare Without Pecans: You can substitute candied pecans, walnuts, or sliced almonds for the halved pecans.
- Vary The Vinaigrette: You can substitute champagne vinaigrette or apple cider vinaigrette for the fuji apple vinaigrette.
- Vegan Version: Feel free to substitute grilled tofu or tempeh or roasted chickpeas in place of the sliced chicken in your salad and either skip the cheese or swap it for your favorite dairy-free cheese.
Recommended Tools
- Large serving bowl
- Serving utensils
How to Make Fuji Apple Panera Salad
- Assemble: Add the salad mix to a large serving bowl, add sliced chicken and apple chips, and top with crumbled gorgonzola, shaved parmesan cheese, halved grape tomatoes, pecan halves, sliced onion, and dried cranberries. Toss/stir to evenly distribute all of the ingredients.
- Serve: Just before serving, drizzle the dressing over the salad. Enjoy!
Tips for the Best Fuji Apple Salad
- I found the Panera fuji apple vinaigrette in the refrigerated section of the fresh vegetable aisle at my local grocery store as well as the produce section at Target.
- The ingredients and measurements in this recipe can be customized according your personal preference. You can add more or less of what you like best, or include your other ideas.
- You can use any cooked and sliced chicken for you salad. It’s a great way to use leftovers too.
Other Easy Salad Recipes
How to Store Fuji Apple Salad
- To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Other Easy Copycat recipes
- Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
- Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
- Bang Bang Shrimp (Copycat Bonefish Grill)
- KFC Coleslaw (Copycat)
- Jennifer Aniston’s Salad
Panera Fuji Apple Salad
Serves — 6
This copycat Panera Fuji Apple Salad is so easy to prepare at home. It's crisp, crunchy, packed with protein, and tastes delicious when tossed in a vinaigrette dressing.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 11 ounce package of spring salad mix washed and dried
- 2½ cups sliced rotisserie chicken I used the chicken breast
- 2.5 ounce bag of apple chips I used Seneca original apple chips
- 5 ounce package of crumbled gorgonzola cheese
- ½ cup shaved parmesan cheese optional
- 1½ cups halved grape tomatoes
- 1 cup pecan halves
- 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 cup dried sweetened cranberries
- Panera fuji apple vinaigrette dressing
Instructions
- Add the salad mix to a large serving bowl.
- Sprinkle the sliced chicken over the salad mix.
- Sprinkle the apple chips over the sliced chicken.
- Sprinkle the crumbled gorgonzola, shaved parmesan cheese, halved grape tomatoes, pecan halves, sliced onion, and dried cranberries. Toss/stir the salad to evenly distribute all of the salad ingredients.
- Just before serving, drizzle the desired amount of dressing over the salad, or wait and allow each person to drizzle the dressing over the salad in their bowls.
Jenn’s Notes
Storage :
- To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- I found the Panera fuji apple vinaigrette in the refrigerated section of the fresh vegetable aisle at my local grocery store as well as the produce section at Target.
- The ingredients and measurements in this recipe can be customized according your personal preference. You can add more or less of what you like best, or include your other ideas.
- You can use any cooked and sliced chicken for you salad. It’s a great way to use leftovers too.
Nutrition Info
Calories: 506kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 118mg | Sodium: 765mg | Potassium: 375mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 1162IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 254mg | Iron: 1mg
