Panera Caesar Salad with Chicken: Price, Calories and Nutrition (2026)

Caesar Salad with Chicken is Panera’s straightforward answer to the classic Caesar: crisp romaine, grilled chicken, shaved parmesan, and caesar dressing, with none of the fussy extras. It is the salad for people who find the Fuji Apple too busy, the reliable order that tastes the same every time. Panera does not overthink it, and that restraint is the appeal. In 2026 a half runs from $6.29 at most US cafes, with 220 calories per half according to Panera’s official menu boards and product pages.

Panera prices vary by cafe and market, and delivery orders run higher with fees and tips. Menu aggregators have listed the half at $6.29 in 2026, so the from $6.29 figure is a market-varied estimate. The whole runs 440 calories, per Panera’s official product page. The half is the lightest of Panera’s signature salads and the standard Pick Two size.

Last updated: June 14, 2026

Table of contents

• What is in the Caesar Salad with Chicken
• Caesar Salad with Chicken nutrition facts
• Caesar Salad with Chicken ingredients and customization
• Allergens
• Caesar Salad with Chicken vs Fuji Apple Chicken Salad
• Getting the best value on the Caesar Salad with Chicken
• Frequently asked questions

What is in the Caesar Salad with Chicken

Romaine lettuce, grilled chicken breast, shaved parmesan cheese, and caesar dressing. That is the entire build, and Panera keeps it that way. The romaine is chopped and crisp, the chicken is grilled and sliced, the parmesan is shaved rather than grated, and the dressing is the classic creamy caesar. No croutons in the standard build, no anchovy theatrics, no extras competing for attention.

At 220 calories for a half with 16 grams of protein, it is the leanest of Panera’s chicken salads. The 14 grams of fat comes almost entirely from the dressing and the parmesan, which means dressing portion is the whole nutritional story here. The 8 grams of carbs and single gram of sugar make it the lowest-carb salad option of the signature lineup, and the 1 gram of fiber is the honest trade-off: this is a simple salad, and simple salads have less going on.

The whole at 440 calories is a full meal that stays reasonable. But the half paired with a soup in the Pick Two is the classic order, and at roughly 320 calories with a cup of Chicken Noodle Soup, it is one of the lightest complete lunches Panera sells.

Caesar Salad with Chicken nutrition facts

Full nutrition breakdown for one half Caesar Salad with Chicken, based on Panera’s official nutrition values, consistent with 2026 menu boards.

Nutrient	Amount per half salad
Calories	220
Total fat	14g
Saturated fat	3.5g
Trans fat	0.1g
Cholesterol	50mg
Sodium	390mg
Total carbohydrates	8g
Dietary fiber	1g
Sugars	1g
Protein	16g

The 220 calorie half is 11 percent of a 2000 calorie day, and the 16 grams of protein is the best protein count of the two signature salads. The 390 milligrams of sodium is moderate for a restaurant salad. The 1 gram of sugar is the lowest sugar figure in the batch, which is what you would expect from a caesar with no fruit and no sweet dressing.

Context against the whole: 440 calories per Panera’s official product page, which keeps the same clean profile at double the portion. The 0.1 gram of trans fat is a trace amount from Panera’s official values. Compared with the Fuji Apple’s 280 calories and 10 grams of sugar, the caesar is the leaner, simpler, less sweet option.

Caesar Salad with Chicken ingredients and customization

The standard build is romaine lettuce, grilled chicken, shaved parmesan, and caesar dressing.

Customization follows the usual Panera salad playbook. Dressing on the side is the calorie move, and with a caesar it matters more than most: the dressing is the main fat source. Light dressing is available on request. Extra chicken adds protein for a few dollars. Croutons can be added, though they are not in the standard build and they add carbs fast. The Pick Two with a cup of Broccoli Cheddar Soup is the comfort pairing; with Chicken Noodle Soup it is the light pairing.

Allergens

This salad contains milk (parmesan, dressing), egg (caesar dressing), and fish (the traditional anchovy in caesar dressing), so guests with those allergies need to take it seriously. Soy may be present in the dressing depending on the recipe. Panera’s kitchens handle wheat, tree nuts, peanuts, and sesame, so cross-contact is possible. The grilled chicken is not breaded, which keeps wheat out of the standard build, but shared prep areas apply. Guests with severe allergies should speak to the cafe staff before ordering.

Caesar Salad with Chicken vs Fuji Apple Chicken Salad

Panera’s two signature salads, settled with numbers. Caesar Salad with Chicken (half): 220 calories, 14g fat, 3.5g saturated fat, 50mg cholesterol, 390mg sodium, 8g carbs, 1g fiber, 1g sugar, 16g protein, from $6.29. Fuji Apple Chicken Salad (half): 280 calories, 17g fat, 3.5g saturated fat, 40mg cholesterol, 310mg sodium, 17g carbs, 3g fiber, 10g sugar, 15g protein, from $6.29.

The caesar wins on calories, protein, carbs, and sugar: it is the leaner salad across the board except for sodium, where the Fuji Apple’s 310 milligrams beats the caesar’s 390. The Fuji Apple wins on fiber and flavor complexity. The caesar is the disciplined order; the Fuji Apple is the interesting one.

Pick the Caesar when you want the lightest salad, the most protein, and the lowest sugar count. Pick the Fuji Apple when you want the sweet-savory balance, more fiber, and the salad with more going on. Both halves cost the same, so the choice is purely about taste and macros.

Getting the best value on the Caesar Salad with Chicken

• The Pick Two is the value play: a half salad plus a cup of soup or half sandwich costs less than the items separately. With Chicken Noodle Soup the combo lands around 320 calories.
• Dressing on the side is free and it is the calorie move: the dressing is the main fat source, so controlling the pour controls the macros.
• MyPanera rewards run salad promotions and free bakery items. A free baguette with your caesar is a common offer and rounds out the meal.
• Skip delivery for a single half salad. Fees and tips can add 30 to 40 percent to a $6.29 salad, which is a steep premium for lettuce and chicken.

Frequently asked questions

ManuBite Team. We track fast food prices and nutrition across the USA so you always know what your meal really costs, in dollars and in calories.