Grilled Chicken Strawberry Spinach Salad (Printable)

Light, refreshing salad combining grilled chicken with fresh strawberries, spinach, feta, and tangy poppy seed dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grilled Chicken

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Salad

06 - 6 cups fresh baby spinach
07 - 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
08 - 1/3 cup red onion, thinly sliced
09 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
10 - 1/3 cup toasted pecans or walnuts

→ Poppy Seed Dressing

11 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
12 - 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
13 - 2 tablespoons honey
14 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
15 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
16 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
17 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
18 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
02 - Brush chicken breasts with olive oil and season with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
03 - Grill chicken for 6 to 7 minutes per side until cooked through and juices run clear. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, honey, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, poppy seeds, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
05 - In a large salad bowl, combine spinach, strawberries, red onion, crumbled feta, and toasted nuts.
06 - Arrange sliced grilled chicken on top of the salad.
07 - Drizzle with poppy seed dressing just before serving and gently toss to combine.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The sweet strawberries and tangy poppy seed dressing create this unexpected flavor balance that makes you want another bite.
  • Grilled chicken means you can prep this in under 35 minutes, making it perfect for nights when you want something restaurant-quality but actually have time to eat it.
  • It's naturally gluten-free and feels like a treat rather than a diet decision.
02 -
  • Slice the strawberries right before you eat, not hours ahead, or they'll release juice and turn the whole salad into a soggy mess by dinner time.
  • The poppy seed dressing actually tastes better the next day after the flavors meld, so if you have leftovers, keep them separate and dress at the last second for fresh salads.
03 -
  • Pound your chicken breasts to even thickness before grilling so they cook at the same rate and don't end up with one side rubbery and one side raw.
  • If strawberries aren't in season or you can't find good ones, fresh raspberries or even thin apple slices will give you a similar sweet element without tasting wrong.
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