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Copycat Chick-fil-A® Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette

Copycat Chick-fil-A Apple Cider Vinaigrette
February 28, 2017RecipesChick-fil-A, Dressing, Salad, Vinaigrette

It was love at first bite. I am a big fan of Chick-fil-A® Grilled Market Salad and their signature Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette! So, I went on a search for a recipe to fill that craving.

Copycat Chick-fil-A Apple Cider Vinaigrette

Hand-whisked vinaigrette looks closer to what is served at the restaurant.

During my search, I found a lot of good copycat Chick-fil-A® Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette recipes. However, all of the copycat recipes I tried were not quite right. Many of them use olive oil, which has its own distinct taste and is not an ingredient listed on the dressing packet you get at the restaurant. Besides, many of the dressings while they tasted OK, tended to separate and become globby (you may have to consult the urban dictionary for that word folks) when stored in the fridge – not good.

So, I set out to recreate this beloved vinaigrette using only the ingredients listed on the dressing packet, and I must say – I hit the mark. This dressing is amazing…the zing of the apple cider vinegar, hint of sweet pineapple and tangy lime juice, and warm heat of the freshly-cracked black pepper is a sure winner!

To boot, the dressing does not separate and remains silky, even after several days in the fridge. Enjoy!

Makes: 10 2-Tablespoon servings
Calories: 200 per serving
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes

Ingredients:
10 tablespoons soybean oil (I use Wesson® vegetable oil)
4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
4 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons pineapple juice
2 teaspoons lime juice
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly-cracked black pepper, course
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum*
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon sugar

Directions:
Combine xanthan gum, sugar and water into a small bowl, and whisk to create a smooth gel, removing any lumps. Combine all other ingredients into a medium size bowl, and gently whisk in the xanthan gum gel until dressing is smooth and all ingredients are incorporated. Transfer dressing to a vinaigrette bottle, and store in the fridge until ready to use.

Now, how easy was that? Enjoy this vinaigrette dressing over my Spiced Glazed Pecan, Berries & Goat Cheese Salad or Copycat Chick-fil-A® Grilled Market Salad (recipe coming soon)!

Copycat Chick-fil-A Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette - Bottled

I store my vinaigrette in a squeeze bottle for convenience. While the xanthan gum keeps the dressing from separating, you will need to give a little shake before each use to make sure the spices are well dispersed.

*Notes: Xanthan gum is a bit of a mysterious ingredient, and can be a little hard to find. It is becoming more accessible and can be found in the health food section of the store, close to the specialty flours like gluten free, tapioca and almond flour. I was actually surprised to find xanthan gum at my local Walmart, of all places! Do not use more than 1/8 teaspoon of xanthan gum, or your dressing will become dreadfully slimy – definitely not what we are going for here.

Xanthan Gum Gel

Whisk xanthan gum, sugar and water into a smooth gel, removing any lumps, prior to adding to vinaigrette.

Also, if you prefer a creamier dressing, use a blender (I use a Ninja®) to emulsify the ingredients. The resulting dressing will be creamier, lighter than that served in the restaurant, but the taste is just the same. I have included an image below to show you the difference in appearance.

Copycat Chick-fil-A Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette - Creamy

Blender-emulsified dressing is lighter and creamier, while retaining the same flavor.

Click the image below to add this recipe to Pinterest! Once you make it, be sure to leave a review!


Copycat Chick-fil-A Apple Cider Vinaigrette - Nutrition

Comments

Emma Illguth August 4, 2023 at 9:31 pm - Reply

I am a newlywed, so we can’t afford Chick Fil A. I LOVE this dressing just worry about how long it will be good for. I know vinaigrettes tend to be good for a long while but how long would you say this recipe will last?

    Lisa B August 5, 2023 at 4:35 pm - Reply

    Emma, congratulations on your wedding! If you consider the ingredients themselves, many of them have a very long shelf life unrefrigerated. It is also fairly acidic between the vinegar and lime juice. So, I typically keep the dressing in the fridge and use it for about a month with no issues. Best wishes!

Michelle McDaniel June 9, 2023 at 2:17 am - Reply

The only thing I did differently was add a touch more salt and lime juice. It was very close to their dressing. I will definitely make again. I would give it 5 stars. Thanks!

    Lisa B June 9, 2023 at 2:46 am - Reply

    Glad you liked it. I LOVE the idea of adding more lime juice. I think it would be so refreshing on a summer salad. I am going to give this a try!

Aly January 17, 2023 at 12:05 am - Reply

I substituted chia seeds instead of xanthan gum and it was great!

Sarah February 22, 2022 at 3:10 am - Reply

Could you use avocado oil instead of soybean oil? I have Hashimotos and am trying to avoid soybean oil.

    Lisa B February 23, 2022 at 4:33 am - Reply

    I do not cook with a lot of avocado oil, so I have not tried to substitute avocado oil for the soybean oil. It may not taste exactly the same, but I am sure it would be great. Give it a try and let me know how it turns out!

Peggy W. July 29, 2021 at 9:18 pm - Reply

I cannot find canned or bottled pineapple juice so I used the juice from a can of pineapple in it’s natural juices. Not a great idea!! What kind of pineapple juice do you use and where can I find it? Do you have to order it online? I have looked in several grocery stores for plain pineapple juice. The Fresh Market Salad with Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette is one of my favorites. I really want to make this dressing taste like the one a Chick-Fil-A. Thank you for your help and for coming up with the recipe.

    Lisa B February 23, 2022 at 4:49 am - Reply

    I typically buy the 6-pack of Dole pineapple juice in 6-ounce cans. I can find them locally at Walmart, Target and Krogers. You might ask your local grocery service desk to help you locate them or see if they can stock them. I often use the juice from a can of pineapple, if that is all I have on hand, and it tastes great. You might make sure that you are using a good quality brand like Dole or perhaps strain the juice if there is a lot of sediment. Good luck!

    Kelly N. Hockett June 20, 2023 at 10:52 pm - Reply

    I usually find the Dole Pineapple juice in the fruit juice aisle at Walmart ir on the water/juice/Gatorade aisle at the grocery store.

Anissa June 11, 2020 at 3:00 pm - Reply

I love the CFA Zesty Vinaigrette! I was so excited to try this recipe! Made it without the xantham gum (because I didn’t have it) and the taste was superb! The oil and vinegar does separate in the fridge, but that’s an easy fix. It’s thinner that the CFA dressing, but I think I actually use less that way. Thanks for this great copycat recipe! It’s my new favorite dressing!

    Lisa B June 12, 2020 at 6:42 pm - Reply

    Thanks for the feedback, Anissa – glad you liked it! The xanthan gum acts as a thickener, so that is why it was a little thinner, but glad it worked to your advantage! Best wishes!

Kathy Duffy November 12, 2019 at 1:53 am - Reply

How about a low cal???

    Lisa B November 12, 2019 at 4:20 am - Reply

    Do you mean a low calorie alternative to this dressing? I am not aware of any substitutes that would result in the same flavor, but you can always cut back on your serving size. Best wishes.

Lynn February 2, 2019 at 10:44 pm - Reply

Did you try it without gum stuff?

    Lisa B February 4, 2019 at 4:03 am - Reply

    I have not tried this recipe without the Xanthan gum, but I have made other vinaigrettes without it and they turned out just fine. The consistency will be a little thinner and the oil and vinegar will separate, but just give it a little shake before using and it should taste great. Once you make the recipe – let me know how it turned out. Enjoy! Lisa B

Chris Stanley November 12, 2018 at 11:14 pm - Reply

This is a lovely recipe, thank you for the brilliant write up.

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