Strawberry Chicken Salad (Printer-friendly)
Tender chicken, sweet strawberries, fresh greens, and tangy poppy seed dressing come together in a vibrant summer salad.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Salad
05 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (spinach, arugula, or spring mix)
06 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
07 - 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
08 - 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
09 - 1/2 cup candied or toasted pecans
→ Poppy Seed Dressing
10 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
12 - 1 tablespoon honey
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
15 - Salt and pepper to taste
# How To Make It:
01 - Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season both sides evenly with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sear the chicken breasts for 6 to 7 minutes per side until golden and cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F. Transfer to a cutting board and rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, and poppy seeds. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
04 - In a large salad bowl, combine the mixed greens, sliced strawberries, red onion, crumbled feta cheese, and pecans. Toss gently to distribute evenly.
05 - Arrange the sliced chicken over the top of the salad.
06 - Drizzle the poppy seed dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly and serve immediately.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The sweet and savory combo of strawberries and balsamic will make you rethink everything you know about salads.
- It comes together in thirty minutes flat, which means less time cooking and more time actually enjoying your afternoon.
02 -
- Slice the chicken on a slight diagonal for the most tender, attractive pieces that lay nicely on the greens.
- Tossing the strawberries in a tiny drizzle of honey before adding them intensifies their sweetness tenfold.
03 -
- Pound the chicken to even thickness before cooking so the thin end does not dry out while the thick end finishes cooking through.
- A tiny splash of orange juice in the dressing adds brightness that most people cannot quite identify but always love.