Sonoma Chicken Salad (Whole Foods Copycat) (2024)

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This Whole Foods copycat Sonoma chicken salad combines shredded chicken with grapes, pecans, red onion and celery all tossed in a creamy, sweet poppy seed dressing. It’s easy, flavorful and the perfect make-ahead lunch recipe.

I have a few different chicken salad recipes on the blog like this greek yogurt chicken salad and tarragon chicken salad, but this Sonoma chicken salad might just be my new fave!

This chicken salad was inspired by my love for the Whole Foods salad bar. Even though I haven’t been in forever, I vividly remember always getting the Sonoma chicken salad every time I stopped by Whole Foods (along with the garlicky kale salad and crackling cauliflower). I was craving this salad the other week, so I thought it was about time to recreate this dish at home so I could make it whenever my heart desires.

As soon as I made it, I remembered why I loved this chicken salad so much! It’s SO flavorful and has the perfect balance of savory, sweet and crunchy. Plus, just like with all my chicken salads this recipe is super easy to make, especially if you use a store-bought rotisserie chicken or prep your shredded chicken in advance. I love meal prepping my slow cooker shredded chicken to have on hand for salads like this one throughout the week.

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Table of Contents

• Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Ingredients Needed
• Recipe Substitutions
• How to Make Sonoma Chicken Salad
• Brittany’s Tip!
• Serving Suggestions
• Storing Leftovers
• Frequently Asked Questions
• More Protein Salad Recipes to Try
• Sonoma Chicken Salad (Whole Foods Copycat) Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Easy to make – This salad comes together in about 10 minutes with simple ingredients.
• Flavorful – The juicy red grapes paired with crunchy pecans and tender chicken all tossed in a sweet, creamy poppy seed dressing creates the perfect balance of flavors.
• Versatile – You can enjoy this salad so many ways – on its own, with crackers, as a sandwich, or over a bed of greens – the options are endless!
• Great for meal prep – Make a batch over the weekend so you have lunches ready to go for the week.

Ingredients Needed

• shredded chicken – I love using rotisserie chicken for this recipe because it’s quick and easy, but you can also use my foolproof method forslow cooker shredded chickenorinstant pot shredded chicken.
• red grapes – halved grapes add a burst of sweetness and juicy texture that pairs perfectly with the savory chicken.
• pecans – adds a delightful crunch and a nutty flavor. I suggest toasting them for extra flavor!
• red onion and celery – these veggies add a little texture, crunch and color to the salad.
• mayonnaise and greek yogurt – the combo of the two binds the ingredients together with a creamy texture. I love using greek yogurt as a sub for some of the mayo because it has less fat and calories and more protein. When it comes to mayo, I love using thePrimal Kitchen avocado oil mayo, which is sugar-free, dairy-free and refined oil-free.
• apple cider vinegar – helps by balancing the sweetness of the grapes and honey.
• honey – just a touch to add natural sweetness to the dressing.
• poppy seeds – these add a bit of texture and a subtle nutty flavor to the salad.

How to Make Sonoma Chicken Salad

Step 1: Whisk together mayo, greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, salt and pepper in a small bowl.

See Also

Italian Pasta Salad | The Mediterranean DishChicken Caesar SaladSimple Shirazi Salad (Persian Recipe) - Little Sunny KitchenEasy Greek Chicken Pasta Salad

Step 2: Pour the dressing over all your ingredients. Stir to combine. Enjoy right away or store in the fridge for later.

Serving Suggestions

There are so many ways to serve this rotisserie chicken salad. Here are some serving suggestions:

• With crackers: Serve this chicken salad with crackers for a snack or light lunch. Try myalmond flour crackers.
• As a sandwich:Make sonoma chicken salad sandwiches by serving it onsourdough breador croissants. I love adding tomato slices, red onion and lettuce or spinach to make it a full sandwich.
• Lettuce wraps: If you prefer a low-carb and gluten-free option, use large lettuce leaves (such as iceberg or butter lettuce) as wraps and fill them with the chicken salad.
• Over greens:Top a bed of greens with this chicken salad for ameal-sized salador serve it in lettuce leaves for lettuce wraps.

Storing Leftovers

Store any leftover chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

When ready to serve, give the salad a good stir and add any additional seasoning if needed. If it seems a bit dry, you can add a little more Greek yogurt or mayonnaise to freshen it up.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Protein Salad Recipes to Try

• Tuna Salad
• Rotisserie Chicken Salad
• Healthy Egg Salad
• Curry Chicken Salad
• Salmon Salad
• Buffalo Chicken Salad

Be sure to check out the full collection ofsalad recipeson EBF!