Copycat Chick-fil-A® Zesty Apple Cider 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.

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)!

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.

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.

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!