Subway Apple Orchard Chicken Salad Sub
Subway ran the Apple Orchard Chicken Salad as a seasonal sandwich, and plenty of people discovered it the same week it disappeared from the menu. This copycat pairs chopped chicken breast with two kinds of apple, crisp celery, and cherry-infused dried cranberries in a light mayonnaise dressing. Using a sweet apple and a tart one together gives the salad a range the restaurant version never quite had. It takes 10 minutes to mix, needs an hour in the refrigerator, and holds for days as a make-ahead lunch on a sub roll or over greens.
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Subway built this one around fruit rather than the usual deli-case formula, which is why it stood out on a menu of cold cuts. Chicken and celery form the base, apple and dried cranberry carry the sweetness, and a light mayonnaise holds it together without burying the flavors.
The version below uses two apples instead of one. A Honeycrisp or other sweet red apple brings juice and sugar, and a Granny Smith brings acid and a firmer bite that survives a night in the refrigerator.
The dried cranberries matter more than they look like they should. Cherry-infused Craisins carry a darker, slightly sour note that plain sweetened cranberries do not, and readers have consistently said that is the ingredient that makes the salad taste like the sandwich.
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe perfectly balances sweet and savory elements while delivering multiple texture experiences in each bite. The combination of two apple varieties provides both sweetness and tartness, while the cherry-infused cranberries add unexpected depth. The light mayonnaise binds everything together without overwhelming the delicate flavors, allowing the fresh ingredients to shine through. The lemon juice not only prevents the apples from browning but adds a subtle brightness that elevates the entire dish.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Chicken Salad:
- Cooked chicken breast – Provides lean protein and a hearty base
- Red apple (Honeycrisp recommended) – Adds sweet crispness and juicy texture
- Granny Smith apple – Contributes tart flavor and firm texture
- Lemon juice – Prevents browning and adds brightness
- Celery – Delivers refreshing crunch and subtle savory notes
- Cherry Craisins – Offer sweet-tart flavor with cherry undertones
- Light mayonnaise – Binds ingredients without heaviness
- Salt – Enhances all flavors
- Black pepper – Adds gentle spice and depth
Optional Add-ins:
Toasted almond slivers – Provide nutty crunch and complementary flavor
How to Make Subway’s Orchard Chicken Salad
- Chop both apples into small cubes and place them into a bowl.
- Sprinkle lemon juice over the apples.
- Add chicken, celery, and cranberries. Stir to combine.
- Add mayonnaise and stir well.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper.
- Refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour before serving.
Orchard chicken apple salad stays fresh in your refrigerator for several days. It’s a great make-ahead chicken salad. Then, you can quickly make a delicious sandwich when you are ready.
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Subway Apple Orchard Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 1 red apple Honeycrisp recommended
- 1 granny smith apple
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 cups cooked chicken breast chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1/2 cup cherry Craisins
- 1 cup light mayonnaise
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Chop both apples into small cubes and place them into a bowl.
- Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of lemon juice over the apples. This will help them from turning brown.
- Add chopped chicken, chopped celery, and Craisins. Stir to combine.
- Add 1 cup of light mayonnaise and stir well.
- Depending on how the salad is coated, you may want to add an additional 1/2 cup of light mayonnaise.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Refrigerate the salad in an airtight container for 1 hour before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Serving Suggestions & Pairings
The obvious build is a sub roll with lettuce and tomato, which is how Subway served it. It is equally good on a croissant, in a wrap, on toasted sourdough, or scooped over greens.
For sides, keep them plain so they do not compete with the fruit. Kettle chips, a bowl of fresh fruit, potato salad, or a dill pickle spear all work.
For drinks, unsweetened iced tea with lemon is the natural match. If you want wine, a dry Riesling or an unoaked Chardonnay handles both the apple and the mayonnaise.
Storage and Reheating
Store any leftover chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. This recipe does not freeze well due to the mayonnaise and fresh apple content. No reheating necessary – enjoy the salad cold!
Love chicken salad? Try these recipes!
- Chicken Salad Chick Chicken Salad
- Chicken Salad with Grapes
- Chicken Salad with Mandarin Oranges
- Jason’s Deli Chicken Salad
- Newks Chicken Salad
- Pecan Chicken Salad
Favorite Fast Food Recipes
- Burger King Whopper
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Check out my easy sandwich recipes and the best fast food recipes here on CopyKat!
Great recipe. Flavors are perfect together and the cherry juice infused Craisins are amazing!
I work at subway and you forgot the white raisins.
I would think you could use vanilla or honey greek yougurt instead of mayonaise as well if you wanted to make it even healthier. 🙂
I’m gonna try it with walnuts too.
Our subway salad had golden raisins in it too.
I made this and it was delicious! I used a red delcious apple & a granny smith apple and used the juice from a whole lemon to prevent darkening. Thought it needed more cherry infused craisins so I probably used 3/4 cup. Instead of almonds, I used toasted pecans.. This salad tasted better the next day. This was better than SUBWAY!
I bet your salad is very tasty with pecans!
This was really good in a cressent roll, yum!
My local Subway’s has grapes in it’s OCS, never has had raisins. Perhaps it is the location, D/FW TX. This is one recipe I will try, Ty for sharing!
Laura Lee
I had this Subway sandwich on Sat Jun 4, 2011 and enjoyed it on Omega 3 grain bread at the Hollywood Bowl, Star Wars in Concert. (I had no idea it was a temporary sandwich, but just found out from my sister that she went to lunch today, 6-13-11 and it’s no longer avail… it was just a “seasonal” sandwich. Glad to see that this COPYKAT recipe very closely mimics it. I’ll be definitely making this at home. (as someone suggested, might add some walnuts to it as well).
I love your recipies…love this salad but you guys need to do a friendlier print version. Four pages for a 1 page recipe is a waste of my paper.
I responded to you via email, but didn’t hear back from you. This is a video I put together so people could print easily.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMDrggpTT-4
Miss Stephanie, YOU SAID TO ME ONCE THAT YOU ARE NOT A CHEF
HOW COME YOU CAN LOOK AT A DISH AND RUN HOME AND COPY IT PERFECTLY? HUH? HUH? YOU CANT FOOL ME YOU ARE A COPYKAT CHEF! THERE I SAID IT AND I AM GLAD YOU ARE THERE
I AM PROUD THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT A GOOD RECIPE AND COPY IT,
THIS LOOKS GOOD. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK U HAVE THE BEST WEB ON THE AIR…..
Thanks so much 😉 I do taste the recipes too 😉 Thanks for the lovely compliment.
I had it once from the restaurant. This is really delicious and now I can enjoy it without all the bread. I will definitely try the Cherry juice infused rather than the plain Craisins.Thanks for sharing this
I grew up eating this salad and still love it. My mother always made it with chicken, celery, apples, grapes, walnuts, and mayo.
Great job! I can’t wait to make it! Yum!