Strawberry Spinach Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 6 cups fresh baby spinach washed and dried
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast sliced or chopped
- 2 cups fresh strawberries hulled and sliced
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 cup sliced cucumber
- 1 avocado sliced
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans walnuts, or sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Place the washed and dried spinach in a large salad bowl.
- Add the sliced chicken, strawberries, red onion, cucumber, avocado, feta cheese, and nuts.
- In a small jar or bowl, combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.
- Shake or whisk the dressing until smooth and well combined.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving.
- Toss gently to coat the ingredients without bruising the spinach or breaking the strawberries.
- Taste and adjust with extra salt, pepper, lemon juice, or a small drizzle of honey if needed.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Use grilled, baked, pan-seared, rotisserie, or leftover chicken for this salad.
Swap feta cheese for goat cheese, blue cheese, mozzarella pearls, or shaved Parmesan.
Pecans, walnuts, and almonds all work well, especially if lightly toasted.
Keep the dressing separate until serving to prevent the spinach from wilting.
For meal prep, store the spinach, chicken, strawberries, toppings, and dressing in separate containers.
Once dressed, the salad is best eaten the same day.
Add quinoa, farro, or brown rice to make the salad even more filling.
For a sweeter variation, add blueberries, mandarin oranges, or dried cranberries.
For a creamier dressing, whisk in 1 tablespoon of Greek yogurt.
Store leftover undressed ingredients in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Nutrition information is estimated per serving. Calories: 430
Protein: 32g
Carbohydrates: 22g
Fat: 26g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Fiber: 7g
Sugar: 11g
Sodium: 430mg
Swap feta cheese for goat cheese, blue cheese, mozzarella pearls, or shaved Parmesan.
Pecans, walnuts, and almonds all work well, especially if lightly toasted.
Keep the dressing separate until serving to prevent the spinach from wilting.
For meal prep, store the spinach, chicken, strawberries, toppings, and dressing in separate containers.
Once dressed, the salad is best eaten the same day.
Add quinoa, farro, or brown rice to make the salad even more filling.
For a sweeter variation, add blueberries, mandarin oranges, or dried cranberries.
For a creamier dressing, whisk in 1 tablespoon of Greek yogurt.
Store leftover undressed ingredients in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Nutrition information is estimated per serving. Calories: 430
Protein: 32g
Carbohydrates: 22g
Fat: 26g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Fiber: 7g
Sugar: 11g
Sodium: 430mg