Strawberry Chicken Salad (Printable View)
Tender chicken and sweet strawberries on fresh greens with tangy poppy seed dressing.
# What You 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. Place the chicken breasts in the pan and cook for 6 to 7 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the juices run clear. Transfer to a cutting board and let 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 until well emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste and 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 the ingredients 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 the ingredients and serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The poppy seed dressing tastes like something you would pay sixteen dollars for at a bistro but it comes together in about sixty seconds.
- It walks that perfect line between lunch and dinner, light enough for a hot day but hearty enough to actually satisfy you.
02 -
- Do not skip the resting step for the chicken because cutting immediately lets all the juices run out and you end up with dry meat.
- Taste the dressing before adding it because strawberries vary wildly in sweetness and you may need to adjust the honey.
03 -
- Let the strawberries sit at room temperature for fifteen minutes before slicing because cold fruit has muted flavor and you want every bit of sweetness to come through.
- Toast the pecans in a dry pan for three minutes, stirring constantly, because that one small step transforms them from background noise into something guests will ask about.