Savor the harvest with our Chicken Apple Walnut Salad—deliciously hearty, packed with flavor, and ideal for any time of the year!
I love how this Chicken Apple Walnut Salad recipe is packed with protein, veggies and fruit! It’s got everything you need to keep you full and satisfied throughout the day.
When you want a hearty salad for dinner, this Chicken Apple Walnut Salad will not disappoint! Honey Mustard Chicken Salad and BBQ Chicken Salad will also hit the spot and are delicious!
Table of Contents
Reasons to Love This Salad
- This Apple Walnut Chicken Salad is quick and easy to prepare and it’s way cheaper than ordering it at the restaurant.
- This creamy chicken salad is packed with protein, veggies, and fruit! It’s got everything you need to keep you full and satisfied throughout the day.
- Chicken Apple Walnut Salad is easy to customize and there aren’t hard-to-find ingredients for this salad. You can also add or substitute ingredients according to personal preference.
Recipe Ingredients
- Apple: Apples contribute a sweet, crisp freshness and crunch to this chicken salad.
- Red Seedless Grapes: These grapes offer a burst of sweet juiciness.
- Apple Cider Vinaigrette: The combination of tangy apple cider vinegar and sweet honey or agave creates a balanced, zesty dressing.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
- Onion Alternatives: You can swap out shallots or green onions for the red onion for a milder taste.
- Nut Variations: Use a variety of nuts like walnuts, pecans, almonds, or cashews for a similar crunch. You can toast the nuts for added crunch and nutty texture.
- Garnish Options: Enhance your salad by adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for a zesty, refreshing twist and a bright, citrusy note. Additionally, sprinkle some feta or blue cheese crumbles over the top for added flavor and a creamy texture.
- Apple Variety Variation: Apples that stay crunchy, such as Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Granny Smith apples, Jazz, Envy, Fuji, and Gala apples, are great choices for this recipe. Their crisp texture and varying sweetness levels add a delightful crunch and flavor to the salad.
How to Make Chicken Apple Walnut Salad
Step 1: Add greens to a large dinner plate or salad bowl. Top with the chicken, apple, grapes, celery, red onion, and candied walnuts.
Step 2: 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.
FAQs
Absolutely! Rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut. It’s best to remove the chicken from the bones while it’s still warm for easy shredding. The flavors and tenderness of rotisserie chicken can add a delicious twist to the salad.
Yes, you can! Simply serve the chicken salad inside croissants with green leaf lettuce for a delicious twist.
Storage Info
STORE the assembled Apple Walnut Chicken 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.
Chicken Apple Walnut Salad 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.
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!
This is one of my favorite salads. I love the crunchy walnuts and the combination of fruits and veggies!
Is the apple sauce really necessary? I want to make this this week but dont want to buy a jar of something for two tablespoons!
It thickens it a bit, but definitely not necessary 🙂
Just made this tonight and it was delicious!! Thanks for the recipe!
Mmmm. Loving this sweet and tangy combination you’ve got going. I don’t usually use celery in salads but I think in this case it would pair really well with both the apple and the grapes! And BTW that first picture is stunning! Pinning this one for sure!
Thanks Marzia!