Arby’s Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwich

While Arby’s may be famous for its roast beef, its Market Fresh Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwich has earned its loyal following. This copycat recipe captures the perfect balance of tender chicken, sweet grapes, crisp apples, and crunchy pecans that make the original irresistible. Whether served on honey wheat bread, in a wrap, or over fresh greens, this versatile chicken salad delivers restaurant quality right at home.

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Why This Recipe Works

The success of this chicken salad lies in its balanced combination of textures and flavors – tender chicken, crunchy nuts and apples, sweet grapes, and creamy mayonnaise create a harmonious blend that’s both satisfying and refreshing.

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.

Ingredients You Will Need for Arby’s Chicken Salad Sandwich

For the Chicken Salad

• Cooked chicken, finely diced – Provides the protein base; use grilled or rotisserie for best flavor
• Red delicious apple, diced – Adds sweet crunch and fresh flavor
• Red seedless grapes, halved – Provides bursts of natural sweetness
• Pecans, chopped – Adds rich, nutty crunch
• Celery, finely diced (optional) – Contributes fresh crunch and subtle flavor
• Mayonnaise (Duke’s or Hellmann’s recommended) – Creates creamy binding
• Fresh lemon juice – Prevents apple browning and adds brightness
• Salt and pepper to taste – Enhances all flavors
• Red onion, finely diced (optional) – Adds sharp flavor contrast

For Assembly

• Honey wheat bread – Traditional Arby’s choice
• Fresh leaf lettuce – Adds crunch and freshness
• Mayonnaise for spreading (optional) – Prevents bread from getting 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

1. 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.
2. Add the chicken, grapes, celery, and pecans to the same bowl, and thoroughly mix all the ingredients.
3. 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.
4. Cover the bowl and let the flavors meld together in the refrigerator for about 1 hour before serving.
5. 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.
6. Enjoy your delicious chicken salad sandwich with chips or fries.

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

You should store the chicken salad leftovers in an airtight container in your refrigerator. It will last for three to five days.

Do you love Arby’s? Be sure to check out these copycat recipes

More Chicken Salad Recipes

Be sure to check out more of my copycat restaurant salad recipes and easy chicken recipes.

Arby’s Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwich

Arby’s pecan chicken salad with grapes and apples makes a delicious sandwich.