Grilled chicken, crisp apples, juicy grapes, celery and pecans turn this Arby’s favorite into a cool, creamy sandwich with plenty of crunch.
Photo by SCRR
Copycat Arby’s Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwich
Arby’s Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwich combines diced chicken, red grapes, apples, celery and pecans with mayonnaise, then serves the salad with lettuce on toasted honey wheat bread.
Cut the chicken, apples, grapes and celery into fairly small, even pieces so every bite gets a little of everything. Grilled chicken is closest to the original, but rotisserie chicken makes this an exceptionally easy lunch.
Quick Recipe Overview
- Best For: Easy lunches, warm-weather meals, picnics and Arby’s Market Fresh fans
- Flavor Profile: Savory chicken, sweet grapes and apple, creamy mayonnaise and buttery pecan crunch
- Skill Level: Easy
- What Makes It Like the Restaurant: Diced chicken mixed with red grapes, apples, celery, pecans and mayonnaise, served with lettuce on toasted honey wheat bread
Arby’s
Arby’s began in Boardman, Ohio in 1964 when brothers Forrest and Leroy Raffel opened a fast-food restaurant built around roast beef instead of hamburgers. That original idea eventually grew into a much broader sandwich menu.
The Market Fresh line became one of the clearest examples, giving Arby’s room for turkey, wraps and cold sandwiches that felt considerably different from its signature hot roast beef.
Pecan Chicken Salad became one of the most recognizable of those lighter offerings, combining familiar chicken salad with fresh fruit and nuts.
The Arby’s Sandwich That Keeps Coming Back
Arby’s Pecan Chicken Salad has been documented on the menu since at least 2011 and was already being described as a returning fan favorite when Arby’s reintroduced it nationally in 2012.
That restaurant announcement described whole chicken breast marinated and grilled, then combined with pecans, crisp red apples, red grapes, celery and mayonnaise. The sandwich has returned repeatedly over the years, usually as a limited-time or seasonal offering.
The basic combination has remained remarkably consistent: creamy chicken salad, fresh fruit, nutty crunch and slightly sweet honey wheat bread.
Arby’s Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe
Arby’s Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwich combines grilled chicken with crisp red apple, juicy grapes, celery and pecans in a creamy mayonnaise dressing, served with lettuce on toasted honey wheat bread.
Yield: 4 Sandwiches
Ingredients
Pecan Chicken Salad
- 2 1/2 cups diced Cooked Grilled Chicken Breast chilled
- 1 cup seedless Red Grapes halved
- 1 cup diced Crisp Red Apple
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed Lemon Juice
- 1/2 cup finely diced Celery
- 3/4 cup chopped Pecans
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise plus more as needed
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground Black Pepper
Sandwiches
- 8 slices Honey Wheat Bread
- 2 cups Shredded Iceberg Lettuce
Instructions
Prepare the Chicken Salad
- Add diced apple and lemon juice to a large bowl.
- Toss gently to coat.
- Add chicken, grapes, celery and pecans.
- Stir gently until evenly combined.
- Add mayonnaise, salt and black pepper.
- Fold together until the ingredients are evenly coated.
- Add another tablespoon or two of mayonnaise if the salad seems too dry.
- Cover and refrigerate for about 1 hour to chill and allow the flavors to blend.
Assemble the Sandwiches
- Lightly toast honey wheat bread.
- Divide shredded lettuce among 4 slices of bread.
- Spoon about 1 cup pecan chicken salad over each.
- Top with the remaining bread slices.
- Cut sandwiches in half.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- For the easiest version, use chilled rotisserie chicken breast. Remove the skin and dice the meat before mixing it with the fruit, celery and pecans.
Related Copycat Recipes
- McAlister’s Deli Grilled Chicken Salad – Fresh greens topped with tender grilled chicken and crisp vegetables deliver a light yet satisfying deli favorite.
- Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad – Crispy chicken, crunchy greens, and sweet-tangy dressing in one big bowl
- Cheddar’s Monte Cristo Sandwiches – Crispy, battered sandwiches stuffed with ham, turkey, and melty cheese
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Questions People Ask
What is in Arby’s Pecan Chicken Salad?
The classic mixture contains diced chicken, red grapes, apples, celery, pecans and mayonnaise.
What kind of bread does Arby’s use?
The sandwich is served on toasted honey wheat bread with lettuce.
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Yes. Grilled chicken is closer to the restaurant version, but rotisserie chicken is an excellent shortcut.
What kind of apple works best?
Use a crisp red apple such as Gala, Fuji or Honeycrisp so the pieces stay crunchy in the creamy salad.
Can I make the chicken salad ahead?
Yes. Refrigerate the chicken salad separately, then assemble the sandwiches shortly before serving so the bread does not become soggy.
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Photo of “Arby’s Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwich” created by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes. Photos may be representative of the recipe and not the actual finished dish. All photo licenses listed were correct at the time of the posting of the page. Recipe is original to Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes. Recipe created by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes based on information from the restaurant and other sources on the internet – many courtesy of the Wayback Machine. Additional Information is from original research done by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes and/or courtesy of Wikipedia and is used by permission.
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