Copycat Panera Fuji apple chicken salad is perfect for lunch or dinner

Panera Bread is famous for its salads — we especially love the Fuji apple chicken salad. When we can’t buy one, we make one. So, we have a copycat recipe.

Making this salad at home starts with the base salad: a mixture of the field greens and chopped romaine.

Fuji apples, a sweet varietal, are the star of the showbut Gala apples, also sweet, make a good substitute. If you want this salad to be less sweet and more tart, consider a Red Delicious or Honeycrisp apple.

Feta cheese compliments the sweetness of the Fuji apple. However if you aren’t a fan of feta, ricotta salata cheese has the same crumbly texture, but isn’t as salty. Goat cheese works, too. For those who are dairy-free, tofu cheeses can be used.

This salad calls for shredded chicken — if you want to save a step, you can pick up a rotisserie chicken, otherwise, season chicken breasts with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and bake before shredding.

Copycat Panera Fuji apple chicken salad

Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients

Dressing:

• ¼ cup honey
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

Salad:

• 6 cups mixed field greens
• 2 cups chopped leafy romaine
• 1-2 cups rotisserie or leftover chicken, shredded
• 1 fuji apple cut into matchsticks, skin left on
• ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
• ½ red onion, thinly sliced
• ¾ cup pecans, toasted
• 1 bag (2½ ounce) apple chips
• Sea salt and fresh black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl whisk the honey, vinegar, and mustard together until smooth and creamy. 
2. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil and whisk until well combined.  Set aside.
3. Add greens and leafy romaine to a large platter.
4. Sprinkle chicken, apples, feta, red onion, pecans and apple chips over the greens.
5. Drizzle with dressing.
6. Add salt and pepper to taste.