This Strawberry Chicken Salad is fresh, flavorful, and anything but boring. Juicy strawberries, tender chicken, crisp cucumbers, creamy avocado, and crunchy candied pecans come together with a bright strawberry basil dressing that makes this feel just a little special—without being complicated.
I love a salad that feels fresh and light but still leaves you full, and this Strawberry Chicken Salad does exactly that. The combination of sweet berries, savory chicken, creamy avocado, crunchy pecans, and tangy cheese makes this one especially hard to stop making once summer arrives.
Looking for more easy summer recipes? Browse all my favorites here → Easy Summer Recipes
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Chicken Salad
- Fresh but satisfying. Sweet strawberries and crisp greens pair perfectly with tender chicken and creamy avocado.
- Great texture in every bite. Crunchy cucumbers and candied pecans balance perfectly with creamy avocado, juicy berries, and tangy cheese.
- Two delicious dressing options. Choose between a fresh strawberry basil dressing or a creamy poppy seed dressing depending on your mood.
- Perfect for spring and summer. This colorful salad is light enough for warm days but filling enough for lunch or dinner.
- Easy to customize. Use grilled or rotisserie chicken, swap the cheese, or add crispy bacon for extra flavor.
Ingredients in Strawberry Chicken Salad
For the Salad
- Cooked chicken (grilled or rotisserie)
- Fresh strawberries, sliced
- Mixed greens (spring mix or spinach)
- Cucumbers, chopped or sliced
- Celery, thinly sliced
- Avocado, sliced or cubed
- Candied pecans
- Goat cheese or feta cheese
- Thinly sliced red onion (optional)
- Cooked and chopped bacon (optional)
Dressing Options
The Best Dressings for Strawberry Chicken Salad
Strawberry Basil Dressing
Fresh, lightly sweet, and packed with bright basil flavor, this dressing gives the salad a fresh summer feel and pairs beautifully with strawberries and avocado.
Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing
A classic choice for strawberry salads, creamy poppy seed dressing adds a slightly sweet finish that works perfectly with berries, chicken, crunchy pecans, and crisp greens.
You really can’t go wrong with either dressing, so choose the one that sounds best to you—or try both.
How to Make Strawberry Chicken Salad
Cook the Chicken
Grill chicken breasts until cooked through, then let rest before slicing. Rotisserie chicken also works well for an easy shortcut.
Prep the Salad Ingredients
Slice the strawberries and cucumbers, slice the celery, cube or slice the avocado, thinly slice the onion, and crumble the cheese if using.
Assemble the Salad
Add the greens to a large serving bowl, then top with chicken, strawberries, cucumbers, avocado, candied pecans, cheese, onion, and bacon if using.
Add Dressing and Serve
Drizzle with your favorite dressing just before serving and toss lightly to combine.
Tips for the Best Strawberry Chicken Salad
- Dry the greens well so the dressing coats the salad instead of watering it down.
- Slice avocado just before serving to keep it fresh and green.
- Let grilled chicken rest before slicing to keep it juicy.
- Dress the salad lightly at first—you can always add more.
- Candied pecans add the best sweet crunch, but toasted pecans also work beautifully.
Variations and Substitutions
- Use rotisserie chicken for a quick weeknight version.
- Swap goat cheese for feta depending on your preference.
- Add crispy bacon for a sweet-and-savory twist.
- Try almonds or walnuts instead of pecans.
- Use spinach, arugula, or spring mix for the greens.
- Skip the cheese for a dairy-free option.
- Add blueberries or blackberries for even more summer flavor. Kumquats or orange segments are bright and pretty.
What to Serve with Strawberry Chicken Salad
This salad is hearty enough for a meal on its own, but it also pairs beautifully with simple summer sides and fresh breads:
- Garlic Parmesan Cheese Bread
- Fresh fruit salad
- Grilled corn on the cob
- A light summer soup
- Sparkling lemonade or iced tea
FAQ
Whether you’re making this for lunch, dinner, or entertaining, these quick tips will help you get the best results.
Can I make strawberry chicken salad ahead of time?
Yes, but store the dressing separately and add the avocado just before serving for the freshest texture.
What dressing goes best with strawberry chicken salad?
Both strawberry basil dressing and creamy poppy seed dressing pair wonderfully with this salad.
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Absolutely. Rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut and works perfectly in this recipe.
What cheese works best?
Goat cheese adds a creamy tangy flavor, while feta gives the salad a saltier bite.
What greens are best for strawberry chicken salad?
Spring mix, spinach, or arugula all work well depending on the flavor you want.
Can I make this salad dairy-free?
Yes. Simply leave out the cheese or use a dairy-free alternative.
This Strawberry Chicken Salad is the kind of meal that feels fresh and a little special while still being easy enough for everyday lunches or simple summer dinners. Between the juicy strawberries, creamy avocado, crunchy pecans, and flavorful chicken, every bite has the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and fresh. Whether you serve it with the strawberry basil vinaigrette or creamy poppy seed dressing, this is one of those salads that’s hard to stop making once strawberry season arrives.
Strawberry Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound cooked chicken breast grilled or rotisserie works best
- 6 slices bacon cooked and rough chopped
- 12 oz fresh strawberries sliced or quartered
- 2 avocados sliced
- 1 cucumber sliced and chopped
- 2 stalks celery sliced
- 1 small red onion thinly sliced
- 6 oz. feta cheese crumbled
- 8 cups mixed greens or chopped red and green leaf lettuce
- 1 cup candied pecans
- 1 tbsp fresh basil thinly sliced
Instructions
- Cook the chicken if needed. Grill chicken breasts until cooked through, then let rest for a few minutes before slicing. Rotisserie chicken also works well for a quick shortcut.1 pound cooked chicken breast
- Cook the bacon until crispy. Chop into desired bite-size pieces.6 slices bacon
- Slice the strawberries, cube or slice the avocado, cut up the cucumber, slice the celery, thinly slice the red onion, and crumble the feta cheese if using.12 oz fresh strawberries, 2 avocados, 2 stalks celery, 1 small red onion, 6 oz. feta cheese, 1 cucumber
- Assemble the salad. Add the greens, cucumber, and celery to a large serving bowl or platter. Top with chicken, strawberries, avocado, candied pecans, cheese, onion, and bacon if using.8 cups mixed greens, 1 cup candied pecans
- Sprinkle the sliced basil leaves on top. Crack fresh black pepper and flaky salt over the salad.1 tbsp fresh basil
- Serve with Strawberry Basil Vinaigrette, Poppy Seed Dressing, or your favorite dressing of choice.
Notes
- Grilled chicken adds the most flavor, but rotisserie chicken works perfectly for a quick shortcut.
- Slice the avocado just before serving to keep it fresh and green.
- Candied pecans add a sweet crunch, but toasted pecans or almonds also work well.
- Dry the greens well before assembling the salad so the dressing coats evenly without watering it down.
- Both feta and goat cheese are delicious here. Feta gives the salad a saltier bite, while goat cheese adds a creamier texture.
- This salad is best served fresh, but you can prep the ingredients ahead of time and assemble just before serving.
- Strawberry Basil Vinaigrette and Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing are both excellent choices for this salad.
The absolutely screams summer. Looks very refreshing, specially for a hot day! Can’t wait to make this.
Thanks, Jaclyn! I hope you love it.