Description
This Strawberry Chicken Salad is a fresh and vibrant dish combining juicy grilled chicken breasts with sweet strawberries, creamy avocado, tangy feta cheese, crunchy nuts, and crisp mixed greens. Topped with a luscious creamy maple dressing, it’s a perfect light lunch or dinner that delivers a balance of juicy, sweet, and savory flavors with a satisfying texture contrast.
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 6 cups mixed greens
- 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
Creamy Maple Dressing
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Sprinkle both sides of the chicken breasts evenly with salt and black pepper to enhance the flavor.
- Cook the chicken: Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat and place the chicken breasts in the pan. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes on each side until the chicken is cooked through and has nice grill marks.
- Rest and slice the chicken: Remove the chicken from the heat and let it rest for 5 minutes to retain juices, then slice the chicken into thin strips.
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, pure maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble the salad: In a large salad bowl, spread out the mixed greens evenly. Add the sliced strawberries, avocado, crumbled feta cheese, chopped pecans, and sliced red onion on top of the greens.
- Add chicken and dressing: Arrange the sliced grilled chicken over the salad, then drizzle the creamy maple dressing over everything.
- Serve: Toss the salad gently just before serving to combine all the flavors and textures.
Notes
- Use grilled or leftover roasted chicken as a convenient alternative.
- Substitute pecans with almonds, walnuts, or sunflower seeds based on preference.
- For extra fruity sweetness, add blueberries or sliced apples to the salad.
- If preparing ahead, keep the dressing separate until ready to serve to maintain freshness and texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
