Here’s the story and how to make it at home: Hy-Vee’s Napa Valley Cashew Chicken Salad became a cult favorite in their Market Grille and deli sections. It’s a creamy, slightly sweet, and crunchy chicken salad that uses Napa cabbage (instead of just lettuce or celery) for an extra crisp, fresh bite. The “Napa Valley” name evokes the California wine country vibe—light, fresh, with nuts and grapes. The combination of cashews , red grapes , and poppy seed dressing gives it a signature sweet-and-savory balance.
I don’t have the exact proprietary recipe for Hy-Vee’s store-made Napa Valley Cashew Chicken Salad, because it’s a deli item they prepare in-house and don’t fully publish. However, I can give you a that tastes very close to the Hy-Vee version, based on ingredient lists and copycat attempts from home cooks. hy-vee napa valley cashew chicken salad recipe