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Applebee's Salad Recipe
Pamela Dunlap

Applebee's Salad Recipe

The Applebee's salad is a delightful creation that captures the essence of comfort food while being light and refreshing. A combination that celebrates the crispiness of fried chicken, the crunch of fresh vegetables, and the zing of homemade dressing, it’s a dish that can stand on its own or be part of a larger feast. 
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American

Ingredients
  

Dressing:
  • - 6 tablespoons honey
  • - 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • - ½ cup mayonnaise
  • - 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • - ¼ teaspoon sesame oil
  • - 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice adding zest
Salad:
  • - 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into strips)
  • - 2 large eggs
  • - 1 cup milk
  • - 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • - 1 cup cornflake cereal crushed into crumbs
  • - 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • - 1 cup chopped red cabbage
  • - 1 cup shredded napa cabbage
  • - 2 carrots shredded
  • - 2 green onions chopped
  • - ½ cucumber chopped
  • - ¼ cup slivered almonds
  • - ½ red bell pepper diced (adding a pop of color)

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • frying pan
  • Whisk
  • cutlery
  • salad bowl

Method
 

Step 1: Prepare the Dressing
  1. In a mixing bowl, combine 6 tablespoons of honey, 3 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar, ½ cup of mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard, ¼ teaspoon of sesame oil, and 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice. Whisk together until smooth. Transfer to the refrigerator while you prepare the salad. This dressing can also be made a few days in advance to save time.
Step 2: Heat the Oil
  1. Grab a medium-sized pot and preheat 3 cups of vegetable or canola oil over medium heat. You want this oil to reach about 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If you're unsure, drop in a small piece of torn bread; if it sizzles, your oil is ready for frying.
Step 3: Coat the Chicken
  1. In a small mixing bowl, beat together 2 large eggs and 1 cup of milk until well blended. In another shallow dish, mix 1 cup of all-purpose flour with a sprinkle of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cut the chicken breasts into thin strips, dip them in the egg mixture, and then coat thoroughly in the flour mixture.
Step 4: Fry the Chicken
  1. Once your oil is hot, carefully add the coated chicken strips to the pot. Fry them for about 3-4 minutes or until they are cooked through and reach a lovely golden-brown color. Be cautious about overcrowding the pot; you may need to do this in batches. Once finished, use a slotted spoon to remove and place on a paper towel-lined plate.
Step 5: Assemble the Salad
  1. In a large bowl, combine the 6 cups of chopped romaine lettuce, 1 cup of chopped red cabbage, 1 cup of shredded napa cabbage, the 2 shredded carrots, chopped green onions, and the ½ chopped cucumber. Toss gently to combine. Top with the crispy chicken strips and ¼ cup of slivered almonds. Drizzle the homemade dressing over the salad just before serving and toss again!

Nutrition

Carbohydrates: 69gProtein: 37gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 185mgSodium: 485mgPotassium: 1105mgFiber: 6gSugar: 34g

Notes

- Use leftovers: If you have leftover rotisserie chicken, this is a great time to use it and save some cooking time!
- Customize your veggies: Feel free to swap out any vegetables for those you love or have on hand to make your salad best suit your taste.
- Make it spicy: If you enjoy some heat, add sliced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to the dressing.
- Crunch factor: For more texture, consider adding crushed tortilla chips or crispy chickpeas.
- Prepping in advance: Most of this salad can be prepped in advance. Slice and dice your veggies a day ahead and store them in the fridge!

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