Chick-fil-A Carrot Raisin Salad Copycat Recipe

Alright, buckle up buttercup, because we’re about to dive into a world of sweet, tangy, scrumptiousness that yanks at those nostalgia strings like no other — we’re talking about the Chick–fil-A Carrot Raisin Salad Copycat Recipe. Now, I know what you might be thinking, “Another salad? Really?” But hear me out! This one’s different. It’s got that crisp, tender carrot crunch mingling with plump raisins and dressed in this slightly sweet and tangy emulsion that makes you question why you ever needed lettuce in a salad. Seriously, it’s like eating sunshine. You gotta try it.

So guys, here’s a little story about the miraculous way this salad waltzed into our lives. Picture this: Sunday picnic, overly excited kids, and hubby trying to play master griller — a scene that unfolds more chaotically than I’d like. One such picnic, a kind soul brought this carrot raisin salad into our lives, forever changing our family’s outdoor snacking game. Now, if I so much as hint we’re making anything besides burgers, my family demands this be our go-to side dish. It’s become such a staple that my little ones request it for their lunchboxes, much to the joy of their teachers who often end up getting a forkful or two. Hey, sharing is caring, right?

Why You’ll Love This Chick-fil-A Carrot Raisin Salad Copycat Recipe

1. **It’s Retro Cool:** You remember eating this a million years ago whenever you dared to deviate from waffle fries. Didn’t know veggies could taste this good.

2. **Foolproof Recipe:** Trust me, I’ve messed up a lot in the kitchen, but this baby is as goof-up-tolerant as they come.

3. **A Salad Even Kids Munch On:** Zero complaints from the peanut gallery makes it a dinner winner.

How to Make It

Imagine we’re just hanging out in the kitchen together, you’re holding the carrots, I’m digging out the raisins, and it smells like, well, carrots and raisins. Here’s how we pull the magic together…

Start by grabbing a handful of firm carrots and apologizing in advance for the peeling mess we’re about to make. Now, I don’t have a fancy shredder, so I just grate those bad boys until they look like a messy carrot pile. Toss them into a big, friendly bowl. Add in those gooey raisins — the ones sticking together cause, hello sugar clumps!

Let’s prep the dressing. Stir some mayo and sugar (or honey, or maple syrup, or whatever sugar replacement kept you somewhat healthy this week) with freshly squeezed lemon juice until smooth-ish. Spice it up with a little salt for balance cause life needs it. Dump the dressing onto the carrot chaos and mixy-mix-mix until every orange bit is shiny.

Throw in your peeps’ favorite nuts if you want. Give it a taste, and do a little happy dance before serving it chilled. Done! Salad’s up.

Ingredient Notes

– **Carrots:** If you shred a finger, just wash it well, no need for stitches. And wear that scar like a badge of carrot pride.
– **Raisins:** The fatter the better, but if they’re squashed and forgotten at the back of a pantry, that’ll do fine.
– **Mayonnaise:** Absolute must-have. But hey, we’re friends here, so you make it work however you tolerate mayo’s richer sibling, Greek yogurt, if that’s more your jam.

Recipe Steps:

1. Peel and grate carrots.
2. Combine carrots and raisins in a bowl.
3. Mix mayo, sugar, and lemon juice for dressing.
4. Toss dressing with carrot-raisin mix.
5. Chill before serving.

What to Serve It With

Tips & Mistakes

My Rookie Mistake: I used lime instead of lemon once — neon green salad is not appetizing. Also, not chilling it enough can result in… well, lukewarm feelings.

Storage Tips

Once you’ve tasted this snack-on-crack dreamboat, you’ll probably eat the entire batch before leftovers even become a concept. But if you’ve got some stubborn survivors, just slide them into an airtight container and let them nap in the fridge. Disclaimer: Yes, it still tastes pretty legit cold, even at breakfast. Don’t judge.

Variations and Substitutions

For goodness’ sake, go crazy with what you got. If there’s an outburst of cranberries instead of raisins, roll with it! I’ve played mixologists by swapping out sugar for honey, and even maple syrup on a hey-let’s-pretend-to-be-Canadian day. On desperate days, I’ve just left out sugar entirely meeting the barely-sweet-ones halfway.

Frequently Asked Questions

Chick-fil-A Carrot Raisin Salad Copycat Recipe

This light and refreshing Chick-fil-A Carrot Raisin Salad copycat combines sweet carrots, juicy pineapple, and crunchy pecans in a creamy dressing for a perfect side dish.

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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 120kcal

Ingredients

 

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Main Ingredients

• ▢ 4.5 cups shredded carrots
• ▢ 0.75 cups miniature marshmallows
• ▢ 0.5 cups chopped pecans toasted
• ▢ 0.75 cups pineapple tidbits drained
• ▢ 0.5 cups raisins
• ▢ 0.5 cups mayonnaise regular or light
• ▢ 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• ▢ 1 teaspoon lemon juice freshly squeezed

Instructions

Preparation Steps

• In a large bowl, combine shredded carrots, miniature marshmallows, toasted pecans, pineapple tidbits, and raisins.
• In a separate small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, sugar, and freshly squeezed lemon juice until smooth.
• Pour the dressing over the carrot mixture and gently stir to combine all ingredients.
• Cover the salad and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.

Notes

For best flavor, prepare the salad a few hours ahead and allow it to chill well. The pecans can be replaced with walnuts if preferred.