I’ll never forget my first bite of Arby’s Market Fresh Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwich. It was during a cross-country road trip when fast food fatigue had set in, and I was desperately seeking something that didn’t come with fries. That sandwich – with its perfect balance of flavors and textures – was a revelation that made me pull over to savor every bite.
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Table of Contents
Why This Homemade Version Beats the Original
This copycat Arby’s chicken salad elevates the restaurant experience in several key ways:
- Versatile Serving Options – Enjoy it on various breads, as a wrap, or over greens—options not available at the drive-thru
- Superior Chicken Quality – Use perfectly cooked, juicy chicken instead of the sometimes dry, pre-packaged variety
- Freshness Factor – Make it with just-sliced fruit for maximum flavor and crunch
- Customizable Texture – Adjust the chop size of ingredients for your perfect bite feel
- Perfectly Balanced Seasoning – Fine-tune the salt, pepper, and lemon to your exact taste preferences
Arby’s Chicken Salad
With this chicken salad, you don’t need to limit yourself to just a sandwich. You could put it in a large tortilla for a wrap, or it would go well in a submarine bun. I loved it with toasted sourdough bread. Honestly, it’s great with crackers or scooped out and placed on a bed of lettuce for a salad.
The Secret to Perfect Chicken Salad
The magic of this recipe lies in balancing textures and flavors while allowing each ingredient to shine. The key is using high-quality ingredients and taking the time to prepare them properly.
Chicken Salad Ingredients
- Cooked chicken – Provides the tender, protein-rich foundation; rotisserie chicken adds depth of flavor and moist texture
- Red delicious apple – Contributes natural sweetness and a crisp, refreshing bite that brightens the salad
- Red seedless grapes – Adds bursts of juicy sweetness and beautiful color contrast to the salad
- Pecans – Delivers rich, buttery crunch and the distinctive nutty flavor that makes this recipe special
- Celery – Brings a fresh, crisp texture and subtle savory note that balances the sweet elements
- Mayonnaise – Creates the creamy binding that unifies all ingredients while adding richness
- Fresh lemon juice – Prevents apple browning and adds brightness that cuts through the richness
- Salt and pepper – Enhances all flavors and balances the sweetness of the fruit components
- Red onion – Provides a sharp flavor contrast that adds complexity and depth (optional but recommended)
Assembly Ingredients
- Honey wheat bread – Offers a slightly sweet, wholesome base that complements the chicken salad
- Fresh leaf lettuce – Adds a crisp texture contrast and fresh green flavor
- Mayonnaise (for spreading) – Creates a moisture barrier to prevent the bread from becoming soggy
Ingredient Notes
If you don’t have any grilled chicken around, you could use leftover chicken from a baked chicken or leftover rotisserie chicken. If you need to grill your chicken, you should grill 1 to 1¼ pounds for this recipe.
While they do not toast their pecans, you could quickly elevate this salad by toasting the pecans in a skillet over medium-high heat until they become fragrant. Allow the pecans to cool completely before preparing the chicken salad.
How to Make Arby’s Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwich
- Place the diced apples in a medium-sized bowl. Pour one tablespoon of lemon juice over the apples and gently stir to coat them and prevent them from browning.
- Add the chicken, grapes, celery, and pecans to the same bowl, and thoroughly mix all the ingredients.
- Add 1/2 cup of mayonnaise to the mixture and stir until well combined. If the mixture seems too dry, add 1/4 cup of mayonnaise as needed. Season the salad with salt and pepper according to your taste preferences.
- Cover the bowl and let the flavors meld together in the refrigerator for about 1 hour before serving.
- To make the sandwich, take about 1 cup of the prepared chicken salad and place it between two thick slices of honey wheat bread and a few lettuce leaves.
- Enjoy your delicious chicken salad sandwich with chips or fries.
Homemade Arby’s Market Fresh Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwich
Ingredients
- 1 cup diced red apple
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (juice of one small lemon)
- 2 1/2 cups grilled chicken breast
- 1 cup halved grapes
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- salt and pepper to taste
- lettuce leaves optional
- thick-sliced wheat bread optional
Instructions
- Place the diced apples in a medium-sized bowl. Add one tablespoon of lemon juice and stir to coat the apples to prevent them from turning brown.
- Add the chicken, grapes, celery, and pecans to the bowl and mix well.
- Add 1/2 cup mayonnaise and stir to combine. If the mixture is too dry you can add another 1/4 cup of mayonnaise. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Allow the flavors to marry in a covered bowl in the refrigerator for about 1 hour before serving.
- If you would like to serve the chicken salad as a sandwich, place about 1 cup of chicken salad and a few lettuce leaves between two thick slices of wheat bread.
Video
Notes
Troubleshooting
- If too dry: Add mayonnaise 1 tablespoon at a time
- If too wet: Add more diced chicken or nuts
- If too sweet, Add celery or onion for balance
- If not flavorful enough: Add salt and pepper gradually
Pro Tips
- While Arby’s does not toast its pecans, you could easily elevate this salad by toasting the pecans in a skillet on medium-high heat until fragrant. Allow the pecans to cool completely before adding them to the salad.
- Dice chicken and vegetables uniformly for the best texture
- Toast nuts for enhanced flavor
- Chill salad before serving to develop flavors
- Keep ingredients cold while preparing
- Use fresh, crisp apples for the best texture
- Pat chicken dry before dicing to prevent excess moisture
Nutrition
Arby’s Chicken Salad Recipe Variations
Protein Options
- Grilled chicken breast (recommended)
- Rotisserie chicken
- Baked chicken
- Poached chicken
- Canned chicken (in a pinch)
Nutritional Notes
- For lower calorie version:
- Use light mayonnaise or Greek yogurt
- Reduce nuts
- Serve on lettuce instead of bread
- For lower carb version:
- Skip bread
- Use lettuce wraps
- Reduce grapes and apples
- For higher protein:
- Increase chicken ratio
- Use Greek yogurt for part of mayo
Substitutions
- Bread alternatives: Croissants, wraps, submarine rolls, or lettuce wraps
- Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, or pine nuts
- Fruit: Green grapes, dried cranberries, or raisins
- Mayo alternatives: Greek yogurt, light mayonnaise, or a mixture of both
How to Store Arby’s Chicken and Pecan Salad
Store your chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. For best results, keep the chicken salad separate from the bread and assemble sandwiches just before serving to prevent sogginess.
The chicken salad does not freeze well due to the mayonnaise and fresh fruit components, which can separate and become watery upon thawing
Do you love Arby’s? Be sure to check out these copycat recipes
More Chicken Salad Recipes
- Subway Salad
- Jason Deli Salad
- Newks Salad
- Chicken Salad Chick Fancy Nancy
- Chicken Salad Chick Classic Carol
- Chicken Salad with Dried Cherries
- Restaurant Chicken Salad
- Fruity Chicken Salad
- Mango Curry Chicken Salad
Be sure to check out my copycat restaurant salad recipes and easy chicken recipes.
Will green apples work okay? Does adding Greek yogurt throw it off at all or add to the flavor? I’m going to try it for the first time. I love it from Arby’s!
It should work ok, it will be more tart than their usual recipe.
If I put all the ingredients into the chicken salad how long can it last in the refrigerator.
It will last three to five days.
What brand of mayonnaise? I’m a Duke’s lover, but I know others, like Hellman’s gives a whole different flavor…
I am sure they use neither Hellman’s nor Dukes. I would use the kind that you like the best. I am sure they use an inexpensive Kraft restaurant version.
It’s not Dukes that’s for sure cuz dukes isn’t sold nationwide. It’s mayo( Kraft but Hellman’s is close enough)
I used to make this at Arby’s all through high school. It’s just mayo, apples, grapes celery, chicken, and pecans. Nothing else. Nothing fancy.
I think this is a good recipe, and light, but I know from making my own chicken salad that Arby’s must use half sour cream, like I do. I can tell by the taste and the texture. There’s also a flavour that appears to be added, but I don’t know what. I just had one of their sandwiches last night and I think they’ve changed the recipe. Still tastes like half sour cream or Greek yogurt, but the extra flavor was gone.
Nope Arby’s is just mayo, grapes, pecans, apples, celery, and chicken. The chicken is seasoned but nothing else goes into it. I was the chicken salad girl all through high school.
Thank you for your service.
Much love to the chicken salad girl, because these sammiches got me through a lot of long tiresome days and nights working in a law firm back when I discovered these.
What do they season the chicken with and what brand of Mayo was used? Thank you
I don’t know if it normally goes or not but I tasted mine and decided to add some sour cream just to bring it up a notch. I did like the recipe already, but I’m a seasonings gal, and I screwed up by making mine with plain, canned chicken.
I thought this recipe was very close to the real thing. I like to use cotton candy grapes in mine.
I wish they would fyi the wrap….it is fabulous with the chicken pecan salad!!!!!
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.
I think the sandwich will taste similar to the regular one, but each substitution does change the flavor a bit.
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!!
Sounds like you made your Mom happy!
That’s awesome to-do list for this weekend
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.
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.
How long will this keep in h fridge?
I would keep this about 3 or 4 days in the fridge, and not any longer.
Have you tried freezing this, and if so, does it freeze and thaw well?
I have not tried freezing this recipe. Maybe another person could share that info.
We still have it in Michigan
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.
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.
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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They discontinued the chicken pecan sandwich last year.
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?
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.
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
I use this method with ALL my apple recipes!!! Hope it helps YOU, TOO!
Thank you for that suggestion, I will have to give it a try.
I worked for Arby’s and we used to soak the apples in Sprite or Sierra Mist.
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.
I will have to go back and try it again, I didn’t detect any herbs or spices. Thank you for your suggestion.
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.
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
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
No spices or herbs. My nephew worked for Arby’s and he showed us the recipe
I used poultry seasoning
I think it honey mustard. Lightly coat the bread with honey mustard and I think that is what gives it a little zest
Do you leave the skin on the apples?
They lightly spread honey mustard on the bread and that gives it that awesome tastethey
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.
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