Strawberry Avocado Chicken Salad (Healthy Poppyseed Dressing)
User Reviews
5
Strawberry Avocado Chicken Salad (Healthy Poppyseed Dressing)
Description
This salad features grilled chicken breast seasoned simply with salt and pepper before grilling to retain juiciness and achieve light grill marks. The dressing is a homemade blend of Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, honey, fresh poppy seeds, and spices, creating a creamy, tangy dressing with subtle sweetness and texture from the seeds.
Baby spinach serves as a fresh base, complemented by ripe strawberries and creamy avocado to add fruitiness and richness. Crumbled feta cheese adds a salty, tangy flavor, while candied walnuts contribute a sweet crunch to the mix. The ingredients are gently tossed with the dressing and served immediately to preserve the crispness of the greens and freshness of the fruit and avocado.
This salad is suitable as a light main or side dish and works well for warm weather meals or when seeking a balanced dish with fruit and protein.
Practical notes emphasize using whole plain Greek yogurt for dressing texture, fresh poppy seeds for crunch, and preparing chicken evenly by pounding. Serving immediately after dressing ensures the best texture. Candied nuts can be homemade or purchased.
Ingredients
For the Dressing:
- ½ cup Greek yogurt plain, whole
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 TB honey plus more to taste, pure
- 1 TB poppy seeds be sure they're fresh
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper freshly ground
For the Salad:
- 2 large chicken breast pounded to even thickness
- kosher salt
- black pepper freshly ground
- 4 cups spinach baby leaves
- 1 cup strawberries freshly sliced
- ½ cup feta cheese
- 1 whole avocado semi-ripe sliced or cubed (sprinkle with lime juice to prevent browning)
- ½ cups walnuts homemade or store-bought, candied or pecans
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients with a hand-whisk until thoroughly combined. Transfer to a dressing container; chill until ready to use (can be made ahead of time.)
- Grease outdoor grill or indoor grill pan. Season chicken with a thin layer of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper on both sides, pressing to adhere.
- Grill chicken just until nice grill marks appear and no longer pink in center; do not over cook and remove immediately from heat once cooked. Let chicken rest at room temp at least 5 minutes; then slice into strips.
- In a large serving bowl, combine spinach leaves, sliced strawberries, feta cheese, and avocado slices. Pour desired amount of dressing onto salad and gently toss to combine. Divide salad into individual serving plates, topped with sliced chicken and candied nuts. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use plain, whole Greek yogurt in the dressing for creamy texture and balanced tang.
- Fresh poppy seeds add a slight crunch and nutty flavor to the dressing.
- Pound chicken breasts to even thickness for uniform grilling and juicy results.
- Add candied walnuts or pecans for a sweet crunch contrast; both homemade or store-bought work well.
- Dress the salad just before serving to keep spinach crisp and ingredients fresh.
- We appreciate your feedback and invite you to rate the recipe if you try it.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 358 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 358kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 27g | 9% |
| Protein | 32g | 64% |
| Fat | 14g | 22% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Trans Fat | 0.02g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 90mg | 30% |
| Sodium | 727mg | 30% |
| Potassium | 748mg | 16% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 21g | 42% |
| Vitamin A | 2932IU | 59% |
| Vitamin C | 31mg | 34% |
| Calcium | 211mg | 21% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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