Arby’s Vegan Pecan Chicken Salad :: As a vegan, it can be so frustrating when you see a commercial or advertisement for a chain restaurant food that looks incredible but you know you don’t dare eat it because it is made with animals.
Arby’s has a Limited Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwich that just came back out (June 2020) and it is mouthwatering–full of apples, grapes and pecans. I knew immediately that I had to recreate it but vegan-style!
How do we create a Chicken-Less Pecan Salad?
Easy! We replace the chicken with chickpeas and the mayonnaise with vegan mayonnaise.
What ingredients will you need?
- Chickpeas (aka Garbanzo Beans)
- Green Onions
- Celery
- Gala Apple
- Red Grapes
- Pecans
- Vegan Mayonnaise (we like Follow Your Heart’s Vegenaise)
- Dijon Mustard
- Dried Dill
- Garlic Powder
- Salt
- Pepper
Are these ingredients easy to find?
Every ingredient, even vegan mayonnaise, is available at all major grocery stores nowadays.
Vegan mayonnaise brands to look for:
- Follow Your Heart Vegenaise
- Hampton Creek Just Mayo Spread & Dressing
- Hellman’s Vegan Mayonnaise
- Spectrum Eggless Vegan Light Canola Mayo
- Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Vegan Mayo
- Sir Kensington’s Avocado Oil Vegan Mayo
Be aware some of these are shelf stable and others, like Vegenaise, will be found refrigerated. The first three will be the most common.
Now that we have all of that out of the way, how do we create it?
- Mash your rinsed chickpeas in a large bowl
- Add the mayo, mustard, dill, garlic powder, salt and pepper
- Mix well
- Add the diced celery, sliced green onion, chopped pecans, sliced red grapes and diced apple
- Mix well, gently
- Refrigerate for at least an hour in a covered bowl
An alternative method using a food processor with an ‘S’ blade
- Add the chickpeas, mayo, mustard, dill, garlic powder, salt and pepper to the food processor
- Pulse until the chickpeas are broken down and the mayo & spices are mixed together; scaping down the sides as necessary
- Place into a large bowl
- Add the diced celery, sliced green onion, chopped pecans, sliced red grapes and diced apple
- Mix well, gently
- Refrigerate for at least an hour in a covered bowl
How do you serve this Vegan Pecan Chicken Salad Arby’s style?
BREAD :: Arby’s uses a thick Honey Wheat Bread. As a vegan, we do not use honey so honestly, I say you pick whichever bread is your favorite. I used Nature’s Own Thick Sliced White
. I also love using Dave’s Killer Good Seed Bread for sandwiches. That bread is just good, period.
LETTUCE :: Arby’s uses green leafy lettuce. I used green leafy lettuce. I think the large green leaf from a head of romaine would also be nice.
Place the lettuce on top of the bottom piece of bread. Spread the chickpea salad over the lettuce. Top with the other piece of bread.
Arby's Copycat Vegan Pecan Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cans chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained & rinsed
- 1/2 cup celery, diced small (1-2 stalks)
- 2 green onions, sliced thin
- 3/4 cup grapes, sliced
- 1 gala apple, cored & diced small
- 6 tbsp pecans, chopped (1/4 cup + 2 tbsp)
- 1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise (we like Follow Your Heart's Vegenaise)
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 tbsp dry dill
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper, ground
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mash the rinsed chickpeas with a potato masher until mostly broken down.
- Add the vegan mayo, mustard, dill, garlic powder, salt & pepper. Mix well.
- Add the rest of your ingredients. Mix well but very gently.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour.
Nutrition
and let us know how it turned out!How else can you serve it?
- wrapped in a tortilla with green leafy lettuce
- on top of crackers
- with veggies like carrots and celery
- on top of a salad
- in lettuce cups
Curious if Arby’s serves any Vegan Options at their restaurant?
Visit our Arby’s Cheat Sheet!
