Chick Fil A Market Salad Recipe
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Chick Fil A Market Salad is crisp and refreshing but hearty enough for a meal. Sweet and tangy flavors play off of each other, thanks to fresh fruit and an apple cider Dijon vinaigrette. And with this copycat recipe, you can enjoy a market salad like Chick Fil A any time of year and any day of the week… even on Sundays!
Chick Fil A Market Salad
We all know the feeling… you’re hungry enough for a hearty meal but also craving something fresh. Or maybe it’s just too hot to cook!
Salads are my go-to choice for both summer and lazy days. They’re easy enough to throw everything together, plus they tick all the boxes and are easy to customize with what I have on hand.
Most recipes lean savory, like this BBQ chicken salad or my copycat Panera Green Goddess salad.
Instead, the Chick Fil A Market Salad is deliciously sweet thanks to juicy apples and fresh summer berries with some tang from the blue cheese and dressing.
Try my peach salad with honey lime dressing or a strawberry panzanella next!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Mixed Greens – Use your favorite: spring mix, romaine, baby spinach, or a mix of all three!
- Grilled Chicken – All you really need is a simple salt and pepper seasoning, but I do think my honey balsamic chicken breasts would go really well with the other ingredients.
In a pinch, you could use a rotisserie bird or leftovers from another meal… it just won’t technically be a Chick Fil A grilled market salad. Just as tasty, though! - Fresh Fruit – Grab both red and green apples — I like Fuji and Granny Smith — plus juicy strawberries and blueberries.
These add plenty of texture and sweetness to the bowl and are chock-full of vitamins too! - Blue Cheese – You need some tang to balance all that natural sweetness, and blue cheese does the job so well!
Another crumbly cheese like feta or goat cheese would work too. - Granola and Sliced Almonds – These add loads of crunch to each bite.
Roasted almonds will have the best flavor, and feel free to use your favorite homemade or store-bought granola.
You could also swap the almonds for walnuts, pecans, or pumpkin seeds instead. - Dressing – Mix together apple cider vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, honey, and Dijon mustard, plus some salt and pepper.
It’s a simple combination that packs a big punch of flavor, complementing the ingredients in this Chick Fil A market salad without overwhelming them.
Tips and Tricks to Make a Market Salad Like Chick Fil A
- Choose the freshest produce you can get.
Lettuce should be vibrant and not bruised or wilted. If using romaine, it should be nice and crisp too. I like to snap longer stems off baby spinach leaves, but that’s an optional step.
As far as berries go, look for strawberries with a deep ruby color — they’ll be much sweeter and juicier than lighter-colored berries with white near the stem.
Blueberries should be plump and firm, not squishy.
- Allow the chicken to cool a bit first.
If they’re still hot, the chicken slices will cause the greens — especially spinach and spring mix — to wilt!
That’s why I like to start with the chicken and work from there. I can prep the produce as it cools, then slice up the meat just before putting it all together.
- Use a very large bowl or arrange individual salads.
Make sure there’s plenty of room to toss the salad ingredients without them spilling out.
Or, layer the ingredients in shallow bowls or on large plates so you can get a little bit of everything in each bite — no tossing required!
You could even set up a salad bar for guests to pick and choose their favorite toppings!
This recipe makes enough for two servings, so you scale things up based on how many you plan to feed.
Prep Ahead
- Rinse and dry salad greens (if needed)
- Grill and slice chicken breast
- Core and chop apples
- Hull and slice strawberries
- Mix dressing
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Salad Bowl and Salad Tongs – These bamboo hands help to toss everything gently and are attractive enough for serving as well.
- Quality Knives and a big solid Cutting Board make prepping a breeze and are well worth the investment.
- Mason Jar – I usually make salad dressing in these — all you have to do is shake to mix!
Variation Ideas for Chick Fil A Grilled Market Salad
- Boost the Protein: Add cooked quinoa, kidney beans, or chickpeas, or swap them in for the chicken to make a vegetarian version.
- Try Different Mix-Ins: There’s plenty of fruit in this salad, but veggies can have their place too!
Cucumbers, carrots, red onion, and even mushrooms would all taste great. And instead of apples and blueberries, try some pears and dried cranberries! - Use Another Dressing: Chick Fil A Market Salad dressing is quite tangy, thanks to the apple cider vinegar and Dijon mustard.
If you’re not a fan, balsamic vinaigrette or even a fruit-based version (like raspberry vinaigrette) would pair well with the salad ingredients. - Dairy-Free Option: Leave out the blue cheese or substitute a plant-based alternative that mimics the crumbly texture and tangy flavor.
Storing Leftovers
It’s best to plan ahead if you plan on having leftovers or are making this market salad Chick Fil A recipe for meal prep.
Store the greens and toppings in separate containers and make the dressing in a jar.
Keep everything in the refrigerator — salad components will keep for about 3 days, while the dressing should last up to a week.
If you’ve already mixed everything up, you can still chill Chick-Fil-A grilled market salad for a day or so, but the lettuce will start to wilt and become soggy.
Chick-Fil-A Grilled Market Salad FAQ
Typically, a market salad features fresh greens and a variety of in-season fruits and veggies. It may also contain cheese and some crunchy toppings, plus the chef’s choice of dressing.
It’s basically a hearty bowl of whatever is available from the farmers market!
As for the Chick Fil A grilled market salad, it contains mixed greens, sliced grilled chicken, crumbled blue cheese, a mix of red and green apples, strawberries, and blueberries. It comes with Harvest Nut Granola and Roasted Almonds and is typically served with Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette.
The chicken is typically grilled, though you can substitute any other type of chicken available. It’s just as delicious with tenders, nuggets, a crispy filet, or a spicy grilled filet!
The restaurant provides Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette, but you can swap it for any of their other dressings. Light Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing or Fat-Free Honey Mustard Dressing are two of the most popular alternatives.
I love using a homemade version of the apple cider vinaigrette, but you can dress your Chick-Fil-A grilled market salad with whatever you would like!
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Chick Fil A Market Salad Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- For the Salad:
- 2 cups mixed salad greens, e.g., spring mix, romaine, baby spinach
- 1 cup grilled and sliced chicken breast
- 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
- 1/2 red apple, chopped
- 1/2 green apple, chopped
- 1/2 cup sliced strawberries
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1/4 cup granola
- 1/4 cup roasted sliced almonds
For the Dressing:
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large salad bowl, combine the mixed salad greens, grilled and sliced chicken breast, crumbled blue cheese, chopped red apple, chopped green apple, sliced strawberries, and blueberries.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Drizzle the Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat all the ingredients.
- Sprinkle the Granola and Roasted Almonds over the salad before serving. Enjoy!
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 May 2024
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Absolutely love this Chick-fil-A Market Salad recipe! So easy to make and tastes just like the restaurant version.
Hi Grace!
We’re so glad you enjoyed.
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn