Wendy’s Apple Pecan Salad with Chicken Copycat Recipe
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Wendy’s Apple Pecan Salad is fresh, sweet, and nutty – the perfect light bite to add to any meal. Make this delicious copycat apple and pecan recipe at home! This Copycat Wendy’s Apple Pecan Salad is loaded with wonderful ingredients!
I don’t get fast food often, but when I do, I always go for Wendy’s apple pecan chicken salad!
The way that the tangy vinaigrette contrasts the sweet fruit and savory meat is almost intoxicating.
It’s a great hearty salad and is perfect for low-carb health. The crispy apples paired with the tender chicken create the perfect salad taste and texture.
It’s one of my go-to meals where I know I’ll get delicious bite after bite.
It’s a true dinner salad and one that the whole family will love. It has a rich fall flavor to it, but you can easily eat this signature salad anytime that you want.
Wendy’s Apple Pecan Salad
We’re working with a lot of strong tastes here: between the apples, chicken, cheese, and vinaigrette, it’s like a burst of flavor in every bite!
Balance the ingredients in the way that you like best and make this Wendy’s pecan salad recipe totally your own.
I’ve also replicated Applebee’s delicious queso blanco dip! Creamy with a kick, this is a great game day appetizer that everyone will love.
You can also check out my copycat recipe for their savory spinach artichoke dip.
And while this apple pecan chicken salad is almost a main course on its own, it’s also great served as a side.
Since we have chicken in our recipe, go for a main dish without protein. I recommend my homemade ravioli – it’s easier and even tastier than you think!
Wendy’s Pecan Salad Tips and Tricks
- Swap out the blue cheese. I know that not everyone is a fan of blue cheese, so I recommend feta, goat, or aged cheddar as a substitute.
These options will have a similar sharpness and texture. - Achieve perfectly balanced flavors. Use 100% pomegranate juice, which you can find in the refrigerated juice section of your grocery store.
Don’t skip it! You need its sweetness to offset the vinegar in your dressing. - Make ahead tip: You can prepare the dressing ahead of time. Just give it a good shake before pouring it over your Wendy’s apple pecan chicken salad.
Wendy’s Apple Pecan Chicken Salad Serving Suggestions
I recommend serving this apple and pecan salad immediately while everything is crisp and fresh. Don’t add the dressing until just before serving time!
As for your garnish, you can use fresh chives, cilantro, or basil if parsley is hard to come by.
Your homemade Wendy’s apple pecan salad will stay good in the fridge for 3 to 5 days untossed.
Once tossed in the dressing, I wouldn’t save your leftovers for any longer than a day.
Apple and Pecan Salad FAQs
The lemon juice is used to coat the apples and keep them from browning. A pro-tip that you can use for any salad with apple slices in the future!
Extra virgin olive oil would overpower your dressing. To keep your Wendy’s apple pecan salad light, tangy, and refreshing, use a very light olive oil or vegetable oil.
Red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, and unseasoned rice vinegar are all good alternatives!
But do not use regular vinegar – the flavor profiles of the two are totally different and would not complement the apple and pecan salad.
You can. I recommend using the tart cranberries as they add tons of flavors to each bite, but you can easily try red apples instead of tart apples or any other crisp apples that you want.
I also think that adding some grapes would be a really good option, too.
In my opinion, this chicken apple pecan salad is best served fresh. If you add the cooked chicken to the leafy greens too soon, it might become a bit of a soggy mess.
For the most wonderful flavors, make this apple pecan salad base blend fresh.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Wendy’s Apple Pecan Salad with Chicken Copycat Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 cups diced romaine lettuce
- 3 cups spring mix/baby greens
- 1/2 large Granny Smith apple, chopped
- 1/2 large Braeburn apple, chopped (or other sweet red apple)
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 8 ounces grilled chicken pieces
- 4 ounces candied pecans
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 2 ounces blue cheese crumbles
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/3 cup pomegranate juice
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1/3 cup extra light olive oil or vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Place the romaine and spring mix lettuces in a large salad bowl.
- Chop the apples and coat the pieces with lemon juice to prevent them from browning.
- Add the apples, chicken, pecans, cranberries, and blue cheese crumbles to the lettuces and toss to combine.
- Prepare the salad dressing by whisking together the lemon zest, salt, pepper, sugar, minced garlic, pomegranate and orange juices, and vinegar.
- While whisking vigorously, slowly drizzle the oil into the juice mixture. Whisk continuously to emulsify the salad dressing.
- Pour the salad dressing (you may not use all of it) over the salad and toss to combine. Add more salad dressing as desired and garnish with a sprinkle of chopped parsley.
- Serve immediately.
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published February 2022, updated and republished February 2024
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Great job, Donna! But quickly want to point out that sugar is in the ingredients but not in the directions! I realized it was missing when I took my first bite but remedied it immediately. I do LOVE that I can now MAKE IT MYSELF, thanks to you! Convenient as well as money saving – thank you so much! Keep up the good work!!
Thank you SO MUCH for this recipe, Donna! Having it regularly now. Please add the SUGAR in the directions as well as the ingredients so no one misses it in the prep process as I did the first time. This has become my FAVORITE recipe and I have passed it on to others as well. The beauty of making it yourself is that you can increase ingredients (like blue cheese!) to your liking! After all, it's YOUR salad. Thanks again!
This is a great replication of the Wendy’s salad! It truly tastes just like it, but even better! So sweet, refreshing, and delicious.
This salad from Wendy’s has been my “go to” for months as lunch or dinner. I don’t care for bleu cheese so I always ask for them to sub grated cheddar. It’s like a party in my mouth and so happy to find such a great dupe so o can recreate it at home anytime!
I make this all the time but I add more blue cheese and my dressing is a bit different and I double it and add some honey as well as a few other things. Love it and much cheaper making it yourself, quick and easy.
Excelente!
Hi Ronald!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it.
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn
This salad recipe from The Slow Roasted Italian is a game-changer! So easy and delicious.
Hi Lily!
We’re so glad you enjoyed.
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn
Donna and Chad’s recipes never disappoint, and this one is no exception. Five stars!
Hi Caleb!
We’re so glad you enjoyed the recipe!!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn