This strawberry chicken salad is packed with fresh strawberries, tender cilantro-lime chicken, and chunks of avocado. Drizzled with a citrusy cilantro dressing, this summer salad makes such a refreshing and bright meal on sunny days!
In case you haven’t figured it out by now, I really LOVE berries. Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and of course, strawberries! While it’s great to make sweet treats with fresh berries, it’s also fun to add them to savory dishes like this salad. With juicy, citrusy chicken, crunchy sourdough croutons, and creamy avocado, this strawberry salad definitely hits the spot on a warm summer day.
You’ll love that this salad is full of nutritious ingredients and easy to customize if you have allergies. It doesn’t contain any dairy or nuts, and you can also make it gluten-free by omitting the croutons. The avocados provide some healthy fats, and the strawberries are full of antioxidants and vitamin C. The spinach packs in some iron while the protein from the chicken will keep you full for a long time. All in all, you can enjoy this yummy salad knowing you’re nourishing your body well too!
How to season chicken for strawberry salad
Lots of seasonings pair well with chicken and strawberries – basil and lemon, balsamic vinegar and honey, mint and dill. It just depends what other ingredients you’re using in the salad and what kind of dressing you want to make.
In this recipe, the chicken is marinated in lime juice and cilantro to add some citrusy flavor. Paired with a cilantro dressing, fresh avocados, and strawberries, it’s absolutely delicious!
Tips for making Strawberry Chicken Salad
- If you want to save time, you can used rotisserie chicken instead of cooking your own chicken. This makes it super easy to assemble the salad when you’re in a rush!
- To keep the croutons from getting soggy, make sure to wait to pour the dressing on until you’re ready to serve the salad. You can have the salad all ready to go in the fridge, and then pour the dressing on right at the end.
- Want to make this salad look extra fancy when you serve it? Combine all the ingredients for the salad except the dressing and chicken in a bowl. Spread the salad on each plate, top with 1 sliced chicken breast, and drizzle with the dressing. Your family and friends will be wowed with how beautiful their dinner looks!
- Store any leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. It makes a fantastic lunch the next day!
Flavor Variations
Want to get creative? Here are a few fun flavor variations to try:
- Add your favorite cheese – Crumbled feta or goat cheese would be delicious!
- Change the dressing – Poppyseed or balsamic dressing or a lemony vinaigrette would all taste amazing too.
- Use seasoned croutons – Make your own sourdough croutons and season them with everything bagel seasoning.
- Add in chopped nuts – Candied pecans, slivered almonds, or lightly salted pistachios would all work well.
Tools you will need
To make this salad, you’ll need a blender, cutting board and knife, large skillet, and a bowl with tongs for serving.
Ingredients you will need
This looks like a long list but it’s actually only 11 ingredients!
For the Cilantro-Lime Chicken:
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/3 cup lime juice – 2 small limes or 1 large lime should be enough.
- 1 tbsp honey – Adds just a little sweetness to balance out the lime!
- 1 tbsp olive oil – You can also use avocado oil if you prefer.
- 2 tsp dried cilantro – You can also use fresh cilantro – just increase the amount to 2 tbsp.
For the Salad:
- 2 cups strawberries – The star of this dish 🙂 Make sure they’re super ripe and fresh!
- 2 avocados – Try to find ones that are ripe, but still hard enough that you can cut them into bite sized pieces.
- 4 cups spinach – You can also use romaine, arugula, or mixed greens if you like.
- 1 cup sourdough croutons – Store bought croutons will work too, but if you have some sourdough bread on hand, you might as well make your own croutons. They taste so much better!
For the Cilantro Dressing:
- 1 cup fresh cilantro – This is equivalent to about 1 large bunch of cilantro.
- 2 tbsp olive oil – Again, feel free to substitute avocado oil here if you prefer.
- 1/4 cup lime juice – You’ll need 1-2 limes for this, depending on how large they are.
- 1 clove of garlic – Feel free to add more than 1 clove for extra flavor!
- 1 tsp honey – To balance out the garlic and lime.
- 1 tsp salt – Kosher salt works well for this.
How to make Strawberry Chicken Salad
At least 30 minutes before you want to cook the chicken, prepare the marinade. Combine the lime juice, honey, olive oil, 1 tsp of salt, and 2 tsps dried cilantro in a bowl.
Cut the chicken into 8 roughly equal pieces and place them in a zip-lock bag. Pour the marinade over the chicken and let it sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours.
When you’re ready to cook the chicken, preheat the skillet to medium-high heat and grease it with a little olive oil. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook for 3 minutes on each side to brown the outsides. Turn the heat down to medium and cook for another 5-7 minutes until the chicken reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
While the chicken is cooking, remove the stems from the spinach and put it in a large bowl. Slice the strawberries and avocados and add them to the bowl along with the croutons.
To make the dressing, add the fresh cilantro, clove of garlic, olive oil, honey, lime juice, and salt to a blender. Blend the ingredients for about 30 seconds to a minute until they make a smooth dressing.
Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces, then add it to the salad. Drizzle the dressing over top and toss with salad tongs before serving!
Did you enjoy this summer meal?
If so, you can find lots of other easy dinner recipes at the Kitchen Counter! Here are a few you might enjoy:
- Tomato Galette with Ricotta
- Hearts of Palm Salad
- Peach and Burrata Salad
- Zucchini Lasagna
- Mediterranean Stuffed Peppers
- Focaccia Sandwiches
If you make these this recipe and enjoy it, let me know in the comments section below! You can also tag me on instagram @oldfashionedinspiration with a picture of your creation.
Strawberry Chicken Salad
This strawberry chicken salad is packed with fresh strawberries, tender cilantro-lime chicken, and chunks of avocado.
Ingredients
- Cilantro Lime Chicken:
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/3 cup lime juice
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp dried cilantro
- Salad:
- 2 cups strawberries
- 2 avocados
- 4 cups spinach
- 1 cup sourdough croutons
- Cilantro Lime Dressing:
- 1 cup fresh cilantro
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
At least 30 minutes before you want to cook the chicken, prepare the marinade:
- Combine the lime juice, honey, olive oil, 1 tsp of salt, and 2 tsps dried cilantro in a bowl.
- Cut the chicken into 8 roughly equal pieces and place them in a zip-lock bag.
- Pour the marinade over the chicken and let it sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours.
- When you're ready to cook the chicken, preheat the skillet to medium-high heat and grease it with a little olive oil. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook for 3 minutes on each side to brown the outsides.
- Turn the heat down to medium and cook for another 5-7 minutes until the chicken reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- While the chicken is cooking, remove the stems from the spinach and put it in a large bowl. Slice the strawberries and avocados and add them to the bowl along with the croutons.
To make the dressing:
- Add the fresh cilantro, clove of garlic, olive oil, honey, lime juice, and salt to a blender. Blend the ingredients for about 30 seconds to a minute until they make a smooth dressing.
Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces, then add it to the salad. Drizzle the dressing over top and toss with salad tongs before serving!
Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 391Total Fat 17gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 13gCholesterol 97mgSodium 495mgCarbohydrates 21gFiber 7gSugar 7gProtein 40g
Leave a Reply