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    Home » Dinners » Waldorf Salad California Pizza Kitchen Copycat

    Waldorf Salad California Pizza Kitchen Copycat

    Published: May 7, 2021 · Modified: May 7, 2021 by Kate · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Waldorf Salad is a California Pizza Kitchen copycat recipe. It is a hearty salad full of fruit, veggies, and flavor!

    White plate with waldorf salad on a marble background.

    When I go out to eat, I rarely order a salad. A couple years ago, though, a co-worker talked me into trying the waldorf salald from CPK, and I was totally hooked!

    This salad is packed with delicious food - crisp apples, juicy grapes, tangy Gorgonzola cheese, and sweet walnuts - all in one fantastic salad.

    The salad is topped with a deliciously tangy balsamic-Dijon dressing. And since you're making it at home, you can easily customize it to your liking.

    Waldorf salad ingredients on a marble background.

    Ingredients and substitutions

    Oil: You can use extra light olive oil or any other type of olive oil that you like.

    Vinegar: This dressing does have a bit of a vinegar-y bite to it. Feel free to start with less vinegar and add in more to taste. 

    Sugar: The dressing isn't very sweet. If you like a sweeter dressing, feel free to add additional sugar to taste. 

    Chicken: Poached or grilled chicken work well in this recipe. This salad is a great way to turn leftover chicken into a new meal. 

    Apple: A good eating apple, like a Honeycrisp or Granny Smith, works well in this salad. There's no need to peel the apple unless you prefer it peeled.

    Salad: A salad green mix with baby lettuce, arugula, and frisee works well.

    Walnuts: Plain (unglazed) walnuts can also be used. 

    Gorgonzola: Blue cheese isn't in the CPK salad, but it makes a good substitute for the gorgonzola. 

    How to make

    Photos of dressing in a glass measuring cup next to a plate of leaves topped with walnuts.

    To make the dressing, whisk oil and vinegar together. Add remaining ingredients, and whisk until combined.

    Cover, and refrigerate until ready to use. To make the salad, gently toss chicken, grapes, apple, celery, and walnuts together.

    Side by side photos of a waldorf salad on a white plate.

    Toss in salad greens and dressing (or if you prefer, you can serve the chicken salad mixture over the greens and then drizzle the dressing over the top).

    Sprinkle with Gorgonzola, and serve.

    Fork holding a bite of waldorf salad.

    How long will the salad keep?

    The salad will keep, covered, in the fridge for 2-3 days. I recommend dressing the salad just before serving so that it doesn't get soggy in the fridge.

    Waldorf salad on white plate with a silver fork in it.

    More salad recipes!

    • Black Bean Salad
    • Broccoli Salad
    • Pasta Salad Recipe
    • Southwestern Layered Salad

    If you’ve tried this Waldorf Salad California Pizza Kitchen copycat recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who've made my recipes!

    You can SUBSCRIBE to receive my latest recipe newsletters or FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for even more delicious food.

    Waldorf salad on a white plate on a marble background

    Waldorf Salad California Pizza Kitchen Copycat

    Copycat CPK Waldorf Salad Recipe
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 722kcal
    Author: Kate @ I Heart Eating

    Equipment

    • Mixing bowl
    • Whisk

    Ingredients

    Dressing

    • ⅔-1 cup olive oil depending on how vinegary you want the dressing to be
    • ½ cup balsamic vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
    • ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    Salad

    • 3 cups chopped cooked chicken chilled
    • 1 cup diced apple
    • ⅔ cup seedless red grapes quartered
    • ½ cup diced celery
    • 6-7 cups mixed salad greens
    • ⅓ cup glazed walnuts
    • ¼ cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

    Instructions

    • To make the dressing, whisk oil and vinegar together.
    • Add remaining ingredients, and whisk until combined.
    • Cover, and refrigerate until ready to use.
    • To make the salad, gently toss chicken, grapes, apple, celery, and walnuts together.
    • Toss in salad greens and dressing (or if you prefer, you can serve the chicken salad mixture over the greens and then drizzle the dressing over the top).
    • Sprinkle with Gorgonzola, and serve.

    Video

    Notes

    • Oil: You can use extra light olive oil or any other type of olive oil that you like.
    • Vinegar: This dressing does have a bit of a vinegar-y bite to it. Feel free to start with less vinegar and add in more to taste. 
    • Sugar: The dressing isn't very sweet. If you like a sweeter dressing, feel free to add additional sugar to taste. 
    • Chicken: Poached or grilled chicken work well in this recipe. This salad is a great way to turn leftover chicken into a new meal. 
    • Apple: A good eating apple, like a Honeycrisp or Granny Smith, works well in this salad. There's no need to peel the apple unless you prefer it peeled.
    • Salad: A salad green mix with baby lettuce, arugula, and frisee works well.
    • Walnuts: Plain (unglazed) walnuts can also be used. 
    • Gorgonzola: Blue cheese isn't in the CPK salad, but it makes a good substitute for the gorgonzola.
    • Nutrition values are estimates. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 722kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 58g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 440mg | Potassium: 546mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 915IU | Vitamin C: 16.7mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 2.6mg
    Tried this recipe? Rate it below. Mention @i_heart_eating on Instagram & tag #ihearteating!

    Originally published 5/20/13. Updated with new photos, tips, and video 5/7/21.

    dressing adapted from food.com

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    About Kate

    Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rae Ann

      November 21, 2020 at 9:14 am

      Started making this then realized I don’t have the garlic clove. Do you think garlic salt or garlic powder or garlic granules would work instead? The garlic granules bottle reads 1/8 teaspoon = 1 whole clove. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. Definitely our favorite CPK salad.

      Reply
      • Kate

        November 21, 2020 at 3:35 pm

        I think that you could use either garlic powder or garlic granules. I would tend to shy away from garlic salt just because of the extra salt in it. Hope that helps! =)

        Reply
    2. Gale Abernathy

      April 29, 2019 at 12:06 am

      Next time, try the Thai Crunch Salad!!!! I'll be eating the third meal of mine bought yesterday!!!!!

      Reply
      • Kate

        April 29, 2019 at 8:51 am

        I'll have to try that one! I love anything Thai. =) Thanks for the suggestion!

        Reply
    3. Jess

      April 26, 2018 at 2:45 pm

      5 stars
      Yummy!! This salad tastes like the salad at CPK!

      Reply
    4. Susan

      October 21, 2017 at 1:39 am

      I love this salad and can't wait to bring it next time to a BBQ or other outing! Thank you very much for sharing. I had made vegan gorgonzola for a pear/walnut salad, which was great but I wanted to try something new when I ran out of pear but still had gorgonzola and all the other ingredients left and so happy I found this recipe. I further veganized it with MorningStar Chick-N Strips. Even before I became vegan, I never liked gorgonzola and blue cheese (the mold was too strong for me), but I love my vegan version. Has similar taste but much less pungent.

      Reply
      • Kate

        October 23, 2017 at 11:06 pm

        Glad you were able to customize it to your tastes! =)

        Reply
    5. Shelby @ Go Eat and Repeat

      January 23, 2015 at 7:40 pm

      Waldorf salad is probably my favorite salad to order anywhere so I am definitely a big fan of this recipe.

      Reply
      • Kate

        January 25, 2015 at 10:04 pm

        I love them, too! You can't go wrong with a good Waldorf salad! Thanks!

        Reply
    6. karen gray

      July 12, 2013 at 12:01 pm

      For the Waldorf salad--are glazed walnuts available pre-packaged in the grocery store?

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        July 12, 2013 at 12:13 pm

        Yes, they're available pre-packaged. My favorite brand is Blue Diamond, and I've found their glazed walnuts at the grocery store and at Sam's Club. I've found other brands in the produce section at the grocery store, too, but I've found them to be more hit or miss as far as their taste (and they were more expensive, too). I hope that helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions!

        Reply
      • Cheryl

        July 05, 2021 at 11:35 pm

        5 stars
        I’ve never been to a California Pizza Kitchen, but this salad was so good. Everyone gave it two thumbs up.

        Reply
        • Kate

          July 06, 2021 at 11:41 am

          Thank you!

          Reply
    7. Charlene wells

      June 20, 2013 at 2:14 pm

      I love Waldorf salad, thank you!

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        June 20, 2013 at 6:17 pm

        Isn't it great?! I hope you enjoy this one! Thanks for coming by to check it out!! =)

        Reply
    8. Anyonita

      June 03, 2013 at 5:24 pm

      Mmm, I love Waldorf Salad and your looks amazing! :) Thank you so much for linking up with me this week at Tasty Tuesdays! I’ve pinned this & shared it with my followers! Please be sure to stop back by tomorrow & link up your best “man food” recipes in honor of Father’s Day!

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        June 04, 2013 at 1:19 am

        Thanks! And thanks for hosting!! =)

        Reply
    9. Linda@With A Blast

      June 03, 2013 at 4:26 am

      We eat loads of salads all year round and this looks great, Kate ! I shared this on Google+ today :-) Thank you for sharing at our ALL MY BLOGGY FRIENDS party !

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        June 04, 2013 at 1:15 am

        Thanks!! I appreciate the share! And thanks so much for hosting, too! =)

        Reply
    10. Raquel @ Organized Island

      June 01, 2013 at 9:30 am

      This salad looks great! Pinning from the Pin Me Party!

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        June 02, 2013 at 10:35 am

        Thanks! And thanks so much for coming by!! =)

        Reply
    11. Julie @ This Gal Cooks

      May 30, 2013 at 8:45 pm

      Great salad! I'm not a fan of Gorgonzola cheese but that is easily replaceable! I love the homemade dressing! Pinned!

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        May 31, 2013 at 9:11 am

        Thanks! It is. Blue cheese would work really well, but you could just leave it out, too. Thanks for pinning and for stopping by!! =)

        Reply
    12. Jenna

      May 28, 2013 at 1:05 pm

      Yum, thank you! I love this kind of salad and the dressing sounds perfect, a wonderful summer meal!

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        May 28, 2013 at 8:02 pm

        Thanks so much!! =)

        Reply
    13. Heather @ French Press

      May 27, 2013 at 10:12 pm

      what a beautiful salad

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        May 28, 2013 at 10:20 am

        Thank you so much! =)

        Reply
    14. Jackie

      May 27, 2013 at 6:22 pm

      I love that salad! I would love for you to share at my Tried and True party! I found you from the Marvelous Monday party! https://rediscovermom.blogspot.com/2013/05/tried-and-true-recipe-14.html

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        May 27, 2013 at 9:28 pm

        Thanks so much!! =)

        Reply
    15. Krista @ joyfulhealthyeats

      May 27, 2013 at 8:53 am

      Kate, this salad looks amazing! I love all the different textures in it. Not sure if you saw, but I featured it in a Summer Salad Recipe Roundup today! :) Congrats!

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        May 27, 2013 at 9:39 pm

        Thanks so much!! You had a bunch of great-looking salads in your roundup! I pinned it so I can make them later. =)

        Reply
    16. Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet

      May 20, 2013 at 2:21 pm

      I love Waldorf salads!

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        May 20, 2013 at 10:56 pm

        I hope you enjoy this one if you try it! =)

        Reply
    17. Bettie

      May 20, 2013 at 5:57 am

      really good salad love the dressing

      Reply
      • kateheartseating

        May 20, 2013 at 10:56 pm

        Thanks!! =)

        Reply
      • C. Cubby

        August 19, 2014 at 2:46 pm

        Delicious! Recipe made double the amount of dressing needed for listed ingredients, easy enough to save in a jar for another "batch" soon. Also, I glazed the walnuts rather than run back to the store. It was lovely. On an outdoor buffet table!

        Reply
        • Kate

          August 20, 2014 at 10:42 am

          I'm so glad that you liked it! Making a double batch of dressing is smart; it never hurts to have extra! =)

          Reply

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