Strawberry Chicken Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette (Easy Recipe)

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This strawberry chicken salad with balsamic dressing is deliciously fresh and tasty. It's topped with sweet strawberries, crunchy pecans, flakes of parmesan and drizzled with a creamy balsamic vinaigrette.

About This Recipe

This recipe is a classic combination! It's chicken, strawberries, avocado, and sweet balsamic dressing. And because it has so many familiar flavors, this salad is a favorite for picky eaters or large families.

This recipe is hearty enough to be served as a main course but can also be a side dish. It's also festive enough to be impressive for special occasions but easy enough (and quick!) to make as a busy weeknight dinner.

Strawberry Chicken Salad Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make this recipe. The full recipe and ingredient list can be found at the bottom of the page.

Boneless skinless chicken breasts
Romaine lettuce
Strawberries
Avocado
Parmesan
Pecans
Red onion

Creamy Balsamic Dressing:

Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Honey
Dijon

How to Make Strawberry Chicken Salad

Here's how to make this recipe in 6 simple steps:

Cut the chicken: slice the chicken breasts in half horizontally to make 4 chicken cutlets.
Mix the dressing: in a small bowl, add all of the dressing ingredients and stir or whisk until emulsified and completely mixed.
Cook the chicken: heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Place the chicken in the skillet and cook for 5-6 minutes on each side, until cooked through to 165°F. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes and then slice into thin strips.
Make the salad: add all of the salad ingredients, including the cooked chicken, to a large bowl.
Add the dressing: drizzle as much of the dressing as desired over the top and toss to mix.
Serve: serve immediately.

Variations

Here's some of the most popular substitutions and additions for this recipe:

Chicken: you can swap out chicken breasts for chicken thighs. Cook your chicken on the stovetop or on the grill.
Nuts: swap out pecans for your favorite alternative like sliced almonds or walnuts.
Lettuce: spinach or a spring mix could be used instead of romaine.
Cheese: the recipe calls for parmesan; but any cheese would be tasty. Creamy options like feta, goat cheese or gorgonzola are popular.
Fruit: if you have other fruit on hand (like berries, oranges, peaches) it would also be delicious on this salad!

About The Dressing

This recipe uses a simple 4-ingredient balsamic vinaigrette dressing. It's everything you want in a dressing: it's flavorful, sweet, creamy and thick.

You can make your own balsamic vinaigrette or use your favorite store-bought version.

Dressing Options

Sweet-flavored dressings go best with this salad because they compliment the fruit. Here's a few ideas for dressing options:

Strawberry vinaigrette
Poppyseed vinaigrette
Any fruit-based vinaigrette (like orange or raspberry vinaigrette)

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I cook the chicken for this recipe?

You'll want to slice your 2 chicken breasts in half horizontally into 4 thin chicken cutlets. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper and then cook it in 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes, until cooked through to 165°F. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes and then slice it into thin strips.

What kind of parmesan is best for this recipe?

I've used pre-sliced parmesan cheese but you could use any type! You could use shredded parmesan cheese or buy a block (like Parmigiano Reggiano) and thinly slice it with a sharp knife or mandolin.

Can I make this salad ahead of time?

This salad is best made just before eating; but if you need to make it ahead of time store the avocado, strawberries, and dressing separately and toss together before serving (to keep it as fresh as possible).

How to Thinly Slice Parmesan Cheese

You can buy thinly sliced parmesan pre-sliced for this recipe or slice it yourself. To slice it yourself use a sharp knife or a mandolin. A mandolin is best for getting even, thin sliced flakes. Set it on the lowest setting for the thinnest slices.

Here's my go-to mandolin: OXO Good Grips Handheld Mandolin. It's a must-have tool for making tasty salads! You can also use it to thinly slice vegetables, which adds delicious texture to salads.

How to Serve

This salad is best served immediately after tossing it together. It's hearty enough to be a main course for lunch or dinner. You could also serve it as a side salad and it's versatile enough to go with almost any main dish.

Similar Recipes

For more chicken salads, check out these favorites:

If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment & rating at the bottom of this page!