Strawberry Poppy Seed Chicken Salad (Printable)

Tender shredded chicken, sweet strawberries, and crisp vegetables tossed with creamy poppy seed dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 14 oz)
02 - 1 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

→ Salad

04 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
05 - 1 medium cucumber, thinly sliced
06 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (spinach, arugula, or romaine)
07 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
08 - 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese, optional
09 - 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds

→ Poppy Seed Dressing

10 - 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
11 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
12 - 2 tablespoons honey
13 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
14 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
15 - 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
16 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
17 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Place chicken breasts in a saucepan and cover with water. Add salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 12-15 minutes until fully cooked. Remove chicken, let cool slightly, and shred using two forks.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, honey, apple cider vinegar, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined.
03 - In a large salad bowl, combine salad greens, shredded chicken, strawberries, cucumber, and red onion.
04 - Drizzle the poppy seed dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Top with crumbled feta cheese if desired and toasted almonds. Serve immediately or chill for 20 minutes for a colder salad.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The Greek yogurt dressing is lighter than traditional creamy dressings but still feels indulgent and satisfying
  • Everything comes together in under 40 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknight dinners or meal prep for the week ahead
02 -
  • The salad can sit dressed for about 30 minutes without getting soggy, but add the almonds at the very last second to maintain their crunch
  • Poaching liquid can be saved and frozen for future soups or used to cook grains for an extra layer of flavor
03 -
  • Dry your greens thoroughly after washing, either with a salad spinner or by patting them gently with towels, because wet greens will make the dressing slide right off
  • Let the dressed salad sit for 10 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to marry and the greens to soften slightly
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