8 Best Salads at Panera Bread
Panera offers a variety of delicious salads to be enjoyed as a meal or paired with one of their soups or sandwiches.
From protein-packed blends to fresh and sweet toppings, the Panera salad menu offers a unique mix of fresh ingredients and bold flavors to help you make healthier choices.
Panera salads are made with various mixed greens, crunchy toppings, and signature dressings. Many come with chicken, and all can be customized to your liking.
Half and whole-sized salads are available, and each comes with a complimentary side of a French baguette, chips, or apple.
We love hearty and healthy salads, so we’re excited to share our list of the best Panera salads, ranked by flavor and overall experience.
Read on to find out about their fresh ingredients, customization options, and our top picks!
8. Caesar Salad
Panera’s Caesar Salad is simple and classic.
It combines crisp romaine lettuce with grated Parmesan cheese, a creamy Caesar dressing, and homemade black pepper focaccia croutons.
It’s an easy meal, especially when paired with a French baguette, but it also tastes great with one of Panera’s soups or sandwiches.
A whole Caesar salad has 330 calories with 25g fat, 18g carbs, and 10g protein.
You can always customize your salad for extra nutrients by adding veggies, proteins, or other toppings.
When ordered without customizations or pairings, it includes the common allergens egg, fish, milk, and wheat.
This salad is also part of Panera’s Value Duet, where a half-size comes paired with a cup of homestyle chicken noodle soup.
7. Asian Sesame Salad with Chicken
Panera’s Asian Sesame Salad with Chicken is light yet hearty and flaunts a combination of sweet and savory flavors.
We love this salad because it feels like we’re indulging, though this is actually one of the lighter options on the Panera salad menu.
It starts with a base of fresh romaine lettuce and savory chicken.
Cilantro gives it a fresh herbal flavor, while toasted almonds, sesame seeds, and wonton strips give the salad its crunch.
Everything is then tossed in an Asian sesame vinaigrette to combine all flavors into one satisfying dish.
A whole Asian Sesame Salad with Chicken salad has 410 calories with 22g fat, 29g carbs, and 27g protein.
The common allergens in this salad are sesame, tree nuts, and wheat.
6. Caesar Salad with Chicken
A classic Caesar salad will always hit the spot, which is likely why it is one of the most popular salads at Panera.
Panera’s version delivers all the creamy crunch you want and added protein and homemade croutons give it a unique touch.
The Caesar Salad with Chicken starts with a base of romaine lettuce and classic Caesar dressing.
Chicken pieces add some protein, while grated Parmesan cheese and homemade black pepper focaccia croutons round it off.
A whole salad has 440 calories with 27g fat, 21g carbs, and 29g protein.
The common allergens in this salad are egg, fish, milk, and wheat.
Although possible, leaving out any ingredients to avoid these allergens would drastically change its flavor, so we recommend choosing a different salad.
5. Greek Salad
Panera’s Greek Salad doesn’t automatically come with chicken, but the light and fresh mix combine the Mediterranean flavors to create a hearty vegetarian meal.
This salad tops a romaine lettuce base with juicy grape tomatoes, red onions, kalamata olives, and zesty pepperoncini peppers.
Feta cheese crumbles add a savory touch, while salt, pepper, and a Greek salad dressing add just the right amount of flavor.
A whole salad has 400 calories with 35g fat, 16g carbs, and 8g protein.
The common allergen in this salad is milk, though it could easily be made vegan by holding the Feta cheese.
While it doesn’t need any extra flavor, you can add chicken for an additional charge.
This salad is also part of the Value Duet, which means a half portion can be paired with a cup of creamy tomato soup.
4. Fuji Apple Salad with Chicken
The sweet taste of apples goes perfectly with sharp cheese and savory chicken, and you can find them all in the Fuji Apple Salad with Chicken.
It’s sweet, savory, and tangy, making this salad a Panera original.
This salad starts with Panera’s blend of arugula, romaine lettuce, baby kale, and a red leaf blend.
It is then topped with savory chicken pieces, red grape tomatoes, and gorgonzola cheese.
Toasted pecan pieces and dried Fuji apple chips add a sweet touch, and everything is tossed in a sweet white balsamic apple vinaigrette.
A whole Fuji Apple Salad with Chicken salad has 560 calories with 34g fat, 38g carbs, and 27g protein.
Milk and tree nuts are the common allergens in this salad. Although this could be remedied by holding the toasted pecans and gorgonzola, removing either would detract from the overall flavor balance.
3. Citrus Asian Crunch Salad with Chicken
If you’re looking for a salad to energize your body and stimulate your tastebuds, there’s the Citrus Asian Crunch Salad with Chicken.
It combines hearty vegetables with tangy toppings and savory chicken to create a loaded meal that will keep you full for the rest of the day.
This Panera salad starts with a blend of chopped broccoli, green cabbage, carrots, and kale.
The mix is tossed in a tangerine soy ginger dressing with soft edamame, tangy pickled red onions, and fresh chopped cilantro.
Everything is then topped with seared chicken pieces, crispy carrots, and a drizzle of teriyaki sauce.
The common allergens in this salad are sesame, soy, and wheat.
A whole Citrus Asian Crunch Salad with Chicken Salad has 600 calories with 33g fat, 46g carbs, and 36g protein.
This salad has the highest calories of all Panera salads but mainly comes from hearty and healthy ingredients.
2. BBQ Chicken Salad
The BBQ Chicken Salad from Panera turns savory southern flavors into a crisp and fresh salad.
With two different sauces and protein-packed ingredients, this salad is the perfect comfort food that won’t leave you feeling guilty.
It is made with a romaine lettuce base and chicken breast pieces. Frizzled garlic, pepper onions, and black bean and corn salsa are added to the mix.
Everything is then topped with BBQ ranch dressing and apple cider vinegar BBQ sauce.
Without any customizations, a whole BBQ Chicken Salad has 490 calories with 23g fat, 45g carbs, and 29g protein.
The common allergens in this salad are egg, milk, and wheat.
1. Green Goddess Cobb Salad with Chicken
Panera’s Green Goddess Cobb Salad has everything you could want in a salad.
From the blend of mixed greens to the hearty toppings and creamy dressing, this salad is fresh and delicious.
Plus, it’s packed with protein to keep you full longer.
This salad starts with a base of fresh greens, including arugula, romaine, baby kale, and a red leaf blend.
It is topped with juicy grape tomatoes and pickled red onions, all of which are covered and tossed in a Green Goddess dressing.
To make it a hearty meal, this fresh produce base is then loaded with avocado, savory chicken, chopped Applewood-smoked bacon, and a hard-boiled egg.
A whole salad has 500 calories with 29g fat, 27g carbs, and 36g protein.
The common allergens in this salad are egg and milk; however, you can customize it to avoid these ingredients.
Simply request a non-dairy dressing instead of the Green Goddess dressing to avoid dairy and ask to hold the egg.
Panera’s dairy-free salad dressing options include:
- Caesar
- Greek
- Asian Sesame
- White Balsamic Apple
Conclusion
The Panera salad menu has an option for every appetite.
From the classic Caesar salad to the power-packed Citrus Asian Crunch with Chicken, Panera salads offer a variety of flavors, ingredients, and portion sizes.
While we think the Green Goddess Cobb Salad with Chicken is the best Panera salad, each option brings a unique flavor to the menu.
For more information about Panera Bread, check out the articles below.
