Strawberry Poppy Seed Chicken Salad (Print version)

Refreshing mix of shredded chicken, fresh strawberries, crisp cucumbers, and mixed greens 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 Components

04 - 1 cup strawberries, hulled and sliced
05 - 1 medium cucumber, thinly sliced
06 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (spinach, arugula, 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 Steps:

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 and let cool slightly.
02 - Using two forks, shred the cooled chicken into bite-sized pieces. Set aside for assembly.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, honey, apple cider vinegar, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
04 - In a large salad bowl, combine mixed greens, shredded chicken, sliced strawberries, cucumber, and red onion.
05 - Drizzle the poppy seed dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
06 - Top with crumbled feta cheese (if using) and toasted almonds. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for 20 minutes for a chilled salad.

# Tips from the pros:

01 -
  • The poppy seed dressing comes together in seconds but tastes like something from a fancy restaurant
  • Every bite has crunch, sweetness, and creaminess without feeling heavy
02 -
  • Overcooking the chicken will make it dry and difficult to shred nicely
  • The dressing can be made up to three days ahead and kept in the refrigerator
03 -
  • Pat the strawberries dry with paper towels after slicing to prevent a watery salad
  • Toasting the almonds in a dry pan over medium heat takes just three minutes and makes a huge difference
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