Strawberry Poppy Seed Chicken Salad (Print)

Tender shredded chicken, fresh strawberries, and crisp cucumbers tossed in a 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 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

# Directions:

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 to 15 minutes until fully cooked. Remove chicken and let cool slightly, then 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 poppy seed dressing over salad ingredients and toss gently to coat evenly.
05 - Top with crumbled feta cheese if using and toasted almonds. Serve immediately or chill for 20 minutes for a colder presentation.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The creamy tangy dressing balances the sweet strawberries in a way that feels like someone finally understood what fruit and greens were meant to be
  • Its the kind of salad that actually fills you up while still making you feel light and refreshed
02 -
  • Dont overcook the chicken during poaching or it will be dry and tough to shred nicely
  • The dressing tastes better after sitting for at least 10 minutes so the flavors can marry
03 -
  • Toast your almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat just until fragrant—about 2 to 3 minutes—watch them closely because they go from perfect to burned fast
  • Let the salad sit for 10 minutes after tossing to let the flavors meld before serving
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