Arby’s Grilled Chicken and Pecan Salad is a new menu item at Arby’s. Arby’s is known for their hearty roast beef sandwiches, but they do so much more than roast beef. They make a delicious nut and fruit filled grilled chicken salad like no one else. Many places skimp on the nuts when they go into a recipe, well, Arby’s knows how to make a chicken salad that is packed with all sorts of tasty ingredients. You can try one of their Market Fresh Grilled Chicken and Pecan Salad sandwiches at home.
You don’t need to limit yourself to just a sandwich with this chicken salad; you could put this in a large tortilla for a wrap. This chicken salad would go well in a submarine bun; I loved this with toasted sourdough bread. Honestly, this goes well only scooped out and placed on a salad. If you don’t happen to have any grilled chicken around, you could use leftover chicken that you may have from a baked chicken. If you need to grill your chicken, I will grill up about 1 to 1 1/4 pounds for this recipe. This recipe is very flexible, you could add a little more or a little less of any of these ingredients, and you will come up with a great tasting chicken salad sandwich.
While they do not toast their pecans, I think you could easily bring this salad to the next level by toasting the pecans in a skillet over medium-high heat just until they become fragrant. Allow the pecans to cool completely before preparing the chicken salad.
Do you love Arby’s? Be sure to check out these other copycat recipes.
Arby’s Horsey Sauce
Cherry Turnovers
Arby’s Chocolate Turnovers
Arby's Grilled Chicken and Pecan Salad
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups chicken breast grilled
- 1 cup of diced red apple
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup of grapes sliced in half
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup of mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (juice of one small lemon)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a medium-sized bowl add diced apple and one tablespoon of lemon juice. Stir lemon juice into apples coating them well. This will help keep the apples from turning brown. Add chicken, sliced grapes, diced celery, and pecans. Mix well until everything is mixed through. Add 1/2 cup mayonnaise, if the mixture is too dry you can add another 1/4 cup of mayonnaise. Add salt and pepper to taste. Allow flavors to marry in a covered bowl in the refrigerator for about 1 hour before serving.
- o prepare sandwich like Arby's use thickly sliced wheat bread, add a couple of slices of green leaf lettuce, and add about 1 cup of chicken salad to the sandwich. While they do not toast their pecans, I think you could easily bring this salad to the next level by toasting the pecans in a skillet on medium-high heat just until they become fragrant. Allow the pecans to cool completely before preparing the chicken salad.
Stephanie Kay Shockley says
I can’t have normal mayo. Is it okay to use light? Also I’d rather use white wheat instead of wheat. Should still taste the same.
Stephanie says
I think the sandwich will taste similar to the regular one, but each substitution does change the flavor a bit.
Heidi says
My mom loves Arby’s version, so when I made this and gave her the bowl to taste it and compare, she didn’t want to hand the bowl back. Just kept eating. Thank you for this!!
Stephanie says
Sounds like you made your Mom happy!
Sams katie says
That’s awesome to-do list for this weekend
Phyllis Robinson says
I really enjoyed this chicken salad. I love how your imitations are low sodium and low fat.
I have high blood pressure and I am on a strict diet.
Thanks for these recipes.
Gelliebeans says
I have been making this salad sandwich for years even before I had it at an Arby’s. Then I was disappointed that Arby’s discontinued the sandwich. I can make a batch and buy a whole grain bread, if I have guests that can eat bread freely and still feel we are all sharing a lovely lunch together. I have been eating a low carb for my digestive disease and I just use lettuce wraps (and a fork and knife unless I’m home by myself. 😉 I have experimented with different dried seasonings when I marinate it for the hours (usually I find that 4 hours allows the flavors to incorporate together. Everything from powdered ginger and garlic powder to dill and curry (not all at the same time) but to change it up. I have also used used sugar or Truvia (a sugar substitute) to candy the pecans prior to adding them in the salad. (I do crush the pecans a little in bite sized pieces especially if I candy them. This recipe is really flexible and I find just as good in the spring time as in the fall.
I may try (half pears and half apples) or plumped craisens. Just so versatile. Also I wanted to add that some very high quality all white chicken meat packed in water rather than oil and drained before adding…(like the kind you get at Costco) can be great in a pinch if you don’t have leftover chicken.
Brian says
How long will this keep in h fridge?
Stephanie says
I would keep this about 3 or 4 days in the fridge, and not any longer.
Beth says
Have you tried freezing this, and if so, does it freeze and thaw well?
Stephanie says
I have not tried freezing this recipe. Maybe another person could share that info.
Joyce Ballast says
We still have it in Michigan
DawnRenee' says
Hi there and thank you for doing this site, it is greatly appreciated. I am curious if you may know how to make the BBQ sauce from McDonald’s by any chance please? It is my absolutely my favorite and some of them get pretty stingy with handing it out lol. Thank you again.
Stephanie says
I don’t happen to have this recipe. I agree they are stingy with the number of sauces they hand out. Chick Fil A will give you all of the sauce you need.
jane says
yesterday my neighbor and I went to the Arbys in Waukee for their chicken salad with grapes, apples, pecans, etc, and was told they no longer carry it. We left. we were looking forward to the salad and nothing could take it’s place. Sorry, Arby’s.
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Sue Leinaar says
They discontinued the chicken pecan sandwich last year.
Theresa from Ohio says
Hello, this sounds so.good that im making it today but my question, I forgot to get lemons, do I.have to add the lemon juice and is it ok to add dry dill from my seasonings instead of fresh dill?
Stephanie says
You don’t have to add the lemons but they will keep the apples looking fresh. You are free to add dill if you desire.
Alice States says
I have found IF YOU SOAK YOUR APPLES IN SALT WATER FIRST,(cut up apple to whatever size- then soak for a few minutes) Rinse apples a little, then drain. You wont need lemons Or Salt added to your recipes!!! Alice States
Alice States says
I use this method with ALL my apple recipes!!! Hope it helps YOU, TOO!
Stephanie says
Thank you for that suggestion, I will have to give it a try.
Danelle says
I worked for Arby’s and we used to soak the apples in Sprite or Sierra Mist.
Stephen Athans says
Pretty sure there is some kind of spice in Arby’s Chicken Salad recipe. Could be Thyme, Tarragon or Parsley. does anyone know for sure. Maybe an Arby’s Employee? This is an Awesome Chicken Salad Recipe. Love it with Walnuts and diced Granny Smith Apples.
Stephanie says
I will have to go back and try it again, I didn’t detect any herbs or spices. Thank you for your suggestion.
Eugene says
I worked at an Arbys for several years as a line cook. Your recipe is close. However we used Sierra mist syrup from the soda machine as a sweetener for the apples, so maybe a soak the apples in some water with sugar and lemon to replicate that flavor. Helps to keep them from browning as well. Reduce the sugar for sweeter apples.
As far as spices, I believe the chicken came packed in a blend that contained some rotisserie seasoning, including tarragon. Smelled lovely when it was being roasted.
As a former employee, I still eat there often. They do make quality stuff still, and it’s made with a lot more care than other places.
SD says
Hmm- As someone who worked for Arby’s for 10 years and counting- We do not soak the apples in anything… and there is no seasoning added to the recipe. Our chicken came pre-packaged and pre-cooked. Maybe not all Arby’s are the same
Jim Bob says
as a former employee i can tell you nope there was not it was only the apples grapes pecans mayo chicken and celery, there is no lemon or salt or pepper
Linda says
No spices or herbs. My nephew worked for Arby’s and he showed us the recipe
Chea says
I used poultry seasoning
Mary J Thompson says
I think it honey mustard. Lightly coat the bread with honey mustard and I think that is what gives it a little zest
Tamara says
Do you leave the skin on the apples?
Mary J Thompson says
They lightly spread honey mustard on the bread and that gives it that awesome tastethey
Sheherazahde says
Thanks! I love Arby’s Chicken salad and this tastes just like it.
I simmered my chicken breasts in plain water and they tasted just fine in this recipe. I think chicken breast just simmered in plain water tastes amazing already.
Your instructions in the recipe are repeated, you should probably fix that. And the part about roasting the the pecans is repeated after the recipe.
Sharla Arter says
The Arbys’ near me closed.My hubby and I would share 1 chicken salad sandwich.I brought mine home once and went through the ingredients in it.I used to make it but lost the recipe.I’m having compan for lunch tomorrow and I have some frozen chicken breasts and walnuts in the freezer so I’m making this.How could any one not love it.Thanks a bunch.. I
Bettye says
Can you make anything from Raffertys restaurant like their potato soup ????
I know you can do it Stephanie
Stephanie says
I would need to try it before I can say, and I don’t know where one is located near me.
Bobbi says
I used to work at Arbys and there is no other spice…. This recipe is it to a T 😀
Mary J Thompson says
They use honey mustard lightly on the bread for that great taste
Stephanie says
This is awesome! Arby’s no longer has this sandwich anymore. So now I can still enjoy it.
Anne deller says
It’s a summer sandwich at Arby’s…….the chicken pecan saladanne
Tamara says
It used to be called the Market Fresh chicken salad sandwich.
Blueigirlz says
There are dried cranberries in salad also.
Susan says
Our Arby’s does have it, so maybe it’s just your store. If you have a number of them in your area, you might want to “shop around.”
Robin Shipman says
Thank you so much for this recipe!! I love Arby’s salad but HATE my neighborhood Arby’s! This way I can have it MINUS the attitude! Tasted EXACTLY like their’s! I didn’t add the apples or celery but didn’t miss it at all. Imho, the pecans and the grapes make it perfect!
Lauren @ HealthyDelish says
I haven’t been to an Arby’s in years. I had no idea they made things like this!
Carrie Anne Betts says
Thanks for this recipe! I don’t eat chicken so I slice tempeh thinly and marinate with soy sauce, microwave, then let cool. So. Good. And I add a bit of dill.
I really appreciate you posting this. 🙂