This Chicken and Apple Salad with Apple Vinaigrette is not only a mouthful to say but it is so dang good! Perfect meal for summer when you really just don’t feel like eating anything heavy or even hot. You can use leftover chicken from grilling or use rotisserie chicken to make it easy on you. It’s also perfect to have everything prepped ahead and ready to assemble whenever you want. If you work full time like I do an need a lunch option to take with you that has been prepped ahead of time, then this is perfect for you! The vinaigrette can be made ahead of time and all of the veggies can be chopped and ready to go.
I got the idea to remake the Panera Bread version this past spring when I tried it for the first time. Seriously you all, it was so dang good. Then I got it a second time soon after because I needed to taste it all again and really dig into what it entailed. I needed to know the toppings and I had to get the dressing right. It was a mix of some tartness from vinegar and sweetness from apple. Once I got the ingredients and measurements right I knew I had to share because everyone should experience this deliciousness! I promise the vinaigrette is so simple and easy to make. All you do is throw everything in a jar, close it tightly, and shake it up real good to mix everything thoroughly. Then when you are ready to use it again and it has been sitting in the fridge, just set it out for a few minutes and shake it up again. The oil will naturally separate and even solidify some but setting out on the counter will make it more liquid and easy to shake and mix together again.
As far as toppings go, the ones listed for this are exactly what is on the original version of the salad. The gorgonzola cheese adds that extra bite that contrasts so well with the sweetness of the apples. The apple chips add an extra crunch along with a little sweetness and subtle tartness. Think of it as a the crouton for this salad, a little extra but worth it! If you cant find any, no worries simply omit it. You’ve got to give this Chicken and Apple Salad with Apple Vinaigrette a try. As I said before, the name is a mouthful but I guarantee a mouthful of the actual salad is 100% worth it!
Chicken and Apple Salad with Apple Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breast grilled or cooked by preferred method
- 6 cups romaine lettuce, or greens of choice chopped
- ½ red onion thinly sliced
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 large apple, honeycrisp or gala thinly sliced
- ½ cup gorgonzola
- ¼ cup pecans
- ½ cup apple chips chopped
Apple Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup white balsamic vinegar sub white wine vinegar or regular balsamic
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup apple juice
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 garlic clove minced
- ½ tsp thyme
- 1 tbsp honey
Instructions
Apple Vinaigrette
- Add everything to a jar and cover with lid. Shake for a couple of minutes until incorporated.
- Alternately add everything to small blender and blend a couple of minutes.
Salad
- Assemble by layering greens in a bowl along with remaining vegetables, apple slices, sliced chicken, apple chips, gorgonzola, and drizzling dressing on top. Toss and enjoy!
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