Chicken Apple Walnut Salad

Flavorful chicken apple walnut salad is perfect for celebrating autumn’s apple harvest! It’s hearty, filling, and delicious.

When you want a hearty salad for dinner, this Chicken Apple Walnut Salad with not disappoint! Honey Mustard Chicken Salad and BBQ Chicken Salad will also hit the spot and are delicious!

Rainbow of ingredients in Chicken Apple Walnut Salad

One hearty salad

There’s a pizza place not too far from where we live that has amazing pizza & the best salads! Every time we go I have to get their chicken apple walnut salad, it’s my favorite! I love the combination of the tart apples and grapes with the celery, red onion, chicken and candied walnuts.

Since I’ve been on a salad kick lately, I thought I’d try recreating it at home. It was quick, easy, and way cheaper than ordering it at the restaurant!

I love how this Chicken Apple Walnut Salad is packed with protein, veggies and fruit! It’s got everything you need to keep you full and satisfied throughout the day. Plus there aren’t any unusual or hard to find ingredients in this one!

If you have trouble with the candied walnuts (I love buying them at Trader Joe’s) you can always candy them yourself… it’s actually really easy! Enjoy!

Apple cider vinegar for Chicken Apple Walnut Salad.

Making simple chicken apple walnut salad

SALAD. Add greens to a large dinner plate or salad bowl. Top with the chicken, apple, grapes, celery, red onion and candied walnuts.

DRESSING. To make the dressing, combine all of the ingredients whisking vigorously until emulsified (or puree in a food processor). Drizzle the salad with the dressing and serve immediately.

Tips + Storing Info

This delicious chicken apple walnut salad is like having a favorite restaurant dish in the comfort of your own home. Here are some tips when putting it together:

  • Rotisserie chicken is a great short cut instead of using grilled chicken breast. Remove the chicken from the bones while it is still warm – it will fall right off!
  • Apples that stay crunchy such as honeycrisp, pink lady, granny smith, jazz, envy, Fuji, and gala are great choices for this recipe.
  • Shallots or green onions can be swapped out for the red onion for a milder taste.
  • Candied pecans or almonds can be subbed for the walnuts for a similar crunch.
  • Add some feta or bleu cheese crumbles for some variety.

Apple Cider Vinegar: If you are like me and find that apple cider vinegar is sort of pungent and overpowering, no worries, just scale back on the amount. It may seem like a little much when you’re making the dressing but it’s actually a lot less strong when you mix it with the salad. You can keep the leftover dressing in the refrigerator for up to 1 week!

To STORE: It is best to wait to add the chicken, apples, grapes, and dressing to the salad just before serving. Ingredients can be stored separately for a few days in the fridge until you are ready to combine them to make this dish.

Chicken Apple Walnut Salad served in a white bowl

More salads with fruit:

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Chicken salad served in a large shallow salad bowl.

Apple Walnut Chicken Salad Recipe

Experience a burst of fall flavors in every bite with our Apple Walnut Chicken Salad – a delightful blend of juicy apples, crunchy walnuts, and tender chicken, perfect for a hearty and delectable meal.
5 from 8 votes
Pin Rate
Course: Main Dishes, Salad
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Dairy Free
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 large salad
Calories: 1080kcal
Author: Andrea
Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups lightly packed spinach or spring mix greens
  • 1/2 cup grilled chicken breast - cubed
  • 1/2 cup apple - cubed
  • 1/2 cup red seedless grapes - sliced in half
  • 1 stalk of celery - sliced
  • 1 tbsp red onion - finely diced
  • 1/3 cup candied walnuts

Apple Cider Vinaigrette*

  • 1/2 shallot - minced
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp honey or agave
  • 2 tbsp apple sauce
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • pinch salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Add greens to a large dinner plate or salad bowl. Top with the chicken, apple, grapes, celery, red onion, and candied walnuts.
  • To make the dressing, combine all the ingredients, whisking vigorously until emulsified (or puree in a food processor). Drizzle the salad with the dressing and serve immediately.

NOTES

-The salad dressing makes 4 servings.
STORE the assembled Chicken Apple Walnut Salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator; it will stay fresh for up to 2 days. It’s best not to freeze this salad, as the greens and fresh fruits will lose their texture upon thawing.
If you have leftover chicken, you can store it separately and reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop before adding it to the fresh salad ingredients.

Nutrition

Calories: 1080kcal | Carbohydrates: 82g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 73g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 17g | Monounsaturated Fat: 36g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 346mg | Potassium: 961mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 69g | Vitamin A: 7162IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 138mg | Iron: 5mg

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Frances Bautista

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Comments:

  1. 5 stars
    Thank you so much for sharing this amazing chicken apple walnut salad recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!