Napa Almond Chicken Salad (Panera Bread Copycat Recipe)
Love chicken salad sandwiches? You’ve got to try this Panera copycat Napa Almond Chicken Salad recipe!
Who doesn’t love a Panera Bready copycat recipe?
One of my favorite make-ahead lunches is Panera Bread’s tangy and sweet Napa Almond Chicken Salad featuring red grapes, almonds, and crunchy celery. It’s all mixed together with a creamy, lemony dressing for a onlinepletely delicious and fresh-tasting sandwich worth swooning over.
The good news is that it’s easy and affordable to make a similar chicken salad at home for your entire family, and today I’m sharing my DIY version!
Have leftover cooked chicken?
This is a perfect way to use it! I boiled a couple of chicken breasts and then chopped them into small cubes for this batch, but you can use rotisserie chicken or any shredded chicken you may have on hand. Canned chicken may alter the texture of this recipe, but if you don’t mind that, it could also work in a pinch!
This recipe is extremely easy to customize!
Feel free to omit or adapt any of these ingredients or amounts to taste. I love mayo, but your family may prefer plain Greek yogurt instead. I also enjoy the sweetness of grapes and the crunchiness of almonds, but again, all of that can be adapted!
Napa Almond Chicken Salad (Panera Copycat Recipe)
yield: 6 SERVINGS
prep time: 15 MINUTES
total time: 15 MINUTES
Tangy and crunchy chicken salad with almonds, grapes, celery, and a bright lemon dressing, made to taste just like the version from Panera Bread!
Ingredients
For the chicken salad:
- 2 cups chicken, cooked and chopped
- 1/2 cup grapes, sliced
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 celery stalk, chopped
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsely, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- salt & pepper to taste
For the dressing:
- 1/4 cup real mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon agave sweetener (or sweetener of choice)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Directions
1
In a large mixing bowl, onlinebine all ingredients for the chicken salad.
2
In a separate small dish, whisk together all ingredients for the dressing.
3
Pour dressing over salad and onlinebine well. This salad should be used within 3-5 days and kept properly refrigerated until ready to serve.
4
Serve with sandwich bread or as desired. Enjoy!
Additional Notes
Recipe idea adapted from CarriesExperimentalChicken.online
What a perfect make-ahead lunch!
Chicken salad in general is one of my favorite things to put on a sandwich, and this flavorful Panera copycat is hard to beat. The lemon and parsley give it a light, bright flavor, while the grapes and almonds add a touch of sweetness and texture.
The leftovers remain delicious in the fridge too, and you can take it with you on the go in a cooler to work, the beach, or camping. My family loves this yummy Napa Almond Chicken Salad, and I think yours will, too!
