Strawberry Poppy Seed Chicken Salad (Printer Version)

Tender chicken with sweet strawberries, crisp cucumbers, and creamy poppy seed dressing—a light and refreshing summer favorite.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (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, 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 Prepare:

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 with poppy seed dressing and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Top with crumbled feta cheese if using and toasted almonds. Serve immediately or chill for 20 minutes for a colder salad.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It delivers that rare balance of creamy, crunchy, sweet, and savory all in one bowl without feeling heavy.
  • You can prep the components ahead and toss them together right before serving, making it perfect for potlucks or busy weeknights.
  • The poppy seed dressing is so good you will find yourself making extra just to drizzle on other salads throughout the week.
02 -
  • Do not overdress the salad or it will get soggy, start with three quarters of the dressing and add more only if you need it.
  • Toast the almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat and watch them constantly because they go from golden to burnt in seconds.
  • If you are making this ahead, keep the dressing separate and toss everything together right before serving to keep the greens crisp and fresh.
03 -
  • Let the shredded chicken cool completely before adding it to the salad so it does not wilt the greens or make the dressing runny.
  • If your strawberries are not quite sweet enough, toss them with a tiny pinch of sugar a few minutes before adding them to the salad to bring out their natural flavor.
  • Always taste your dressing before tossing and adjust the honey or vinegar to match your personal preference, because that little tweak makes all the difference.
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