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Panera Fuji Apple Chicken Salad (Copycat)

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An easy copycat Panera Fuji Apple Chicken Salad with mixed greens, chicken, apple chips, gorgonzola, pecans, and a homemade Fuji apple vinaigrette — including the onion, garlic, and ginger most copycats leave out.

Ingredients

For the salad

  • 4–6 cups mixed greens (romaine and spring mix)
  • 2 cooked chicken breasts, sliced or shredded
  • 1–2 handfuls apple chips
  • 1/3 cup crumbled gorgonzola (or feta)
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 1/2 cup halved grape or cherry tomatoes
  • 1/3 cup toasted pecans
  • 1 Fuji apple, sliced (optional)

For the Fuji apple vinaigrette

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp white balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tbsp apple juice concentrate (or apple juice reduced by half)
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1/2 tsp grated onion
  • 1 small garlic clove, grated
  • 1/4 tsp fresh grated ginger
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Add the mixed greens to a large bowl.
  2. Layer on the chicken, gorgonzola, red onion, tomatoes, toasted pecans, and fresh apple slices if using.
  3. For the vinaigrette, whisk together the olive oil, both vinegars, apple juice concentrate, honey, grated onion, garlic, ginger, lemon juice, and salt.
  4. Drizzle lightly over the salad and toss. Start with less than you think you need.
  5. Top with apple chips right before serving so they stay crisp.
  6.  

Notes

  • The onion, garlic, and ginger are not optional. They’re on Panera’s actual label and they’re what give the dressing its savory backbone. Every copycat that skips them tastes flat.

  • Apple juice concentrate, not apple juice. If you can’t find it, simmer regular apple juice until reduced by half. Four minutes.

  • Apple chips last. They soften on contact with dressing. Bare’s Fuji & Reds are the closest to Panera’s.

  • White balsamic, not dark. White balsamic is what Panera uses. Dark balsamic will brown the dressing and overpower the apple.

  • Meal prep: Store components separately, up to three days. A batch of shredded chicken makes this trivial.

Find it online: https://reachwellth.com/panera-fuji-apple-chicken-salad/