O’Charley’s California Chicken Salad is one of those menu items that sticks with you because every bite is calibrated: juicy chicken, sweet strawberries, tangy blue cheese, crunchy candied pecans, and a sweet-tart dressing that pulls it all together. This copycat version is built to recreate the same balance and texture you remember from the restaurant, using the same flavor logic and the same style of ingredient layering that makes the original so satisfying.
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Why This Recipe Works
The key to getting it right at home is focusing on the details that make restaurant salads taste different than everyday ones: properly cooked chicken, fruit that stays fresh and bright, the right amount of blue cheese, and a honey balsamic dressing that is sweet enough to complement the fruit but still tangy and savory. When those elements are in sync, you get the same “I should order this again” experience, only made in your own kitchen.
Why This Is the Recipe You Should Try
You can make something wonderful from leftover chicken in just a few minutes. Alternatively, turkey would be a good option for this creamy salad.
You can serve this over mixed greens as a delicious lunch. Or scoop it onto a croissant for a wonderful sandwich treat you can take with you.
Ingredients For O’Charley’s California Chicken Salad
For this recipe, you’ll need the following:
For the Salad:
- Olive oil – Creates a non-stick surface for perfectly cooked chicken
- Boneless, skinless chicken breast – Provides a lean protein base for the salad
- Salt and pepper – Season chicken and enhance all other flavors
- Shredded romaine lettuce – Offers crisp texture and fresh base for toppings
- Roma tomatoes – Add juicy sweetness and vibrant color
- Blue cheese crumbles – Contribute sa harp, tangy flavor that balances sweetness
- Candied pecans – Provide sweet crunch and rich nutty flavor
- Fresh strawberries – Add natural sweetness and bright color
- Mandarin oranges – Contribute citrusy sweetness and tender texture
- Dried cranberries – Offer a chewy texture and concentrated tart-sweet flavor
For the Balsamic Dressing:
- Balsamic vinegar – Forms a tangy base of dressing with a complex flavor
- Honey – Adds natural sweetness and helps emulsify dressing
- Brown sugar – Deepens sweetness with molasses notes
- Minced garlic – Provides aromatic depth and savory balance
- Salt – Enhances all flavors and balances sweetness
- Pepper – Adds subtle heat and complexity
- Olive oil – Creates a smooth texture and helps blend ingredients
How To Make O’Charley’s California Chicken Salad
To prepare this recipe, here are the instructions:
- Combine all dressing ingredients in a small mixing bowl. Set the dressing aside until you’re ready to use it.
- Over medium heat, add olive oil to a medium-sized cooking skillet. Heat the oil for about 2-3 minutes.
- The chicken should be cooked through after 6-8 minutes of cooking in the skillet, tossing frequently. Allow the chicken to cool after removing it from the heat.
- Put the lettuce in a large mixing or salad bowl.
- Scatter the salad toppings over the lettuce.
- Top salad with homemade dressing before serving.
- Garnish with additional blue cheese crumbles, pecans, strawberries, oranges, and dried cranberries (optional if desired).
What can you serve with this salad?
Love O’Charley’s? Be sure to try out O’Charley’s Baked Potato soup, or the Caramel Pie, both of these would be a good addition to your lunch or dinner.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Refrigerator Storage: Store dressed salad in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Note that avocado (if added) may brown after the first day.
- Component Storage: Store components separately for best quality. Dressing lasts 1 week, while cooked chicken lasts 3-4 days.
- Food Safety: According to FDA guidelines, never leave salad at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Favorite Salad Recipes
- Apple Pecan Chicken Salad
- BBQ Chicken Salad
- Chicken Caesar Salad
- Fajita Salad
- Greek Salad
- Shrimp Pasta Salad
- Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
- Taco Bell Salad
- Thai Noodle Salad
- Wedge Salad
Popular Chicken Recipes
Check out more of my easy salad recipes and the best chicken recipes on CopyKat!
O’Charley’s California Chicken Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Dressing
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Salad
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized cubes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 cups shredded romaine lettuce
- ½ cup canned mandarin oranges drained
- 2 Roma tomatoes diced
- ½ cup fresh sliced strawberries
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ⅓ cup candied pecans
- ⅓ cup blue cheese crumbles
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, combine all the dressing ingredients and mix well. Cover and refrigerate until ready for use.
- Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat for about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chicken, salt, and pepper and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, tossing frequently, until the chicken is cooked through. When done, remove from the heat and allow to cool.
- Place the lettuce in a large salad bowl and top with the oranges, tomatoes, strawberries, cranberries, pecans, and blue cheese crumbles. Toss to combine.
- Just before serving, pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine, or you can serve the dressing on the side.
I used to be a Kitchen Manager for O’Charley’s and the recipe doesn’t call for tomatoes and the salad mix is romaine lettuce and spring mix equal portions mixed together.