Strawberry Chicken Salad

5 from 1 vote

This Strawberry Chicken Salad is fresh, colorful, and full of bright summer flavor. Made with juicy strawberries, tender chicken, creamy avocado, crunchy pecans, and your choice of dressing, it’s an easy meal that feels both light and satisfying.

Prep Time10

Grill chicken20

Total Time30

Servings: servings

Calories: 458kcal

Author: Sally Humeniuk

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.

Nutrition