Strawberry Poppy Seed Chicken Salad (Print Version)

Tender chicken combined with fresh strawberries, cucumber, greens, and a creamy poppy seed dressing.

# 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 Make It:

01 - Place chicken breasts in a saucepan and cover with water. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 12–15 minutes until fully cooked. Remove chicken and shred once slightly cooled.
02 - Whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, honey, apple cider vinegar, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
03 - Combine salad greens, shredded chicken, strawberries, cucumber, and red onion in a large bowl.
04 - Drizzle the poppy seed dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat evenly.
05 - Top with crumbled feta cheese if desired, and sprinkle toasted sliced almonds. Serve immediately or chill for 20 minutes for a colder presentation.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The creamy poppy seed dressing strikes that perfect balance between tangy and sweet, making even salad skeptics ask for seconds
  • It comes together in under 40 minutes but tastes like something from a restaurant that actually knows what they're doing
02 -
  • The salad gets soggy if dressed too far ahead, add the dressing right before serving or keep it on the side
  • Toasting the almonds in a dry pan for just 2-3 minutes until fragrant makes a huge difference in the final dish
03 -
  • Rotisserie chicken works perfectly if you want to skip the poaching step entirely
  • Let the dressing sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, the flavors meld together beautifully
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