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Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad with Roast Chicken

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This fresh and vibrant Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad with Roast Chicken is the perfect mix of sweet and savory! Juicy strawberries, crunchy almonds, and a tangy poppy seed dressing pair beautifully with tender roast chicken, creating a light yet satisfying meal that’s perfect for anytime of day.

I love to make this salad when I’m dying for something fresh and zingy but I’m limited on time. You can prepare the salad and poppy seed dressing right in the bowl in a single serving, or you can prepare it for your family or for entertaining.

What ingredients are necessary for Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad with Roast Chicken?

  • strawberries
  • rotisserie chicken
  • salad mix and fresh basil
  • red onions
  • feta cheese
  • sliced almonds
  • poppy seed dressing: champagne vinegar, agave, mayo, lemon juice, poppy seeds, avocado oil, shallots, salt and pepper

The only equipment you’ll need is mostly for preparing the delicious Poppy Seed Dressing!

I like to use these mini whisks for preparing my salad dressings! Alternatively, if you like to shake your salad dressings, check out this neat juicer dressing bottle!

How to Prepare Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad with Roast Chicken:

Chop all of the ingredients and drop the onions into a small bowl of water if desired. (Placing raw red onions in water just helps remove a little bit of the bite and hydrates them slightly.)

Start with preparing the Poppy Seed Dressing. Combine the vinegar, agave, mayo, poppy seeds, ground mustard, salt, and pepper. Whisk to combine and slowly add in the avocado oil in a thin drizzle while whisking until you’ve added it all. Whisk vigorously, shake, or blend until the dressing is fully emulsified (it will change slightly in color). Add in the minced shallot and stir. Season to taste if necessary with additional salt and pepper. (If preparing the single serving, this entire process can be done within the bowl. If preparing a larger portion, prepare and store in a small mason jar with an airtight lid.)

Place desired amount of dressing and the strawberries into the serving bowl and toss to combine.

Combine the salad mix, arugula, and basil and add to the strawberries. Toss to lightly coat the lettuce with dressing.

Layer the red onion, chicken, almonds, and feta cheese and enjoy!

Storage:

If you plan to store this salad, prepare the dressing separately from the rest of the ingredients. I actually recommend storing all of the ingredients separately for this. Arugula can be a fragile herb, so it wilts quickly.

If you’re headed to work, the mason jar method is a great way to store a salad! Place the chicken, almonds, and cheese (the things less likely to wilt) at the bottom of the jar, then layer with the red onion, salad mix, then arugula. Store the dressing in a small serving cup or in one of these cool mason jars made specifically for mason jar salads!

Ways to Customize this Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad Further:

  1. Swap the champagne vinegar for balsamic! Balsamic and strawberries are just a match made in heaven! It’s fun to try this salad both ways, as the slight change in just one ingredient completely changes the way the whole salad tastes! I’d recommend some crust bread alongside this salad if you go the balsamic route!
  2. Add mustard instead of mayo to the dressing! Mayo smooths this dressing out and makes it more creamy, but if you appreciate a zesty, tangy style of vinaigrette, Dijon mustard is also a great option!
  3. Swap the nuts for another type! Pecans or Macadamia nuts would be amazing in this salad!
  4. Bring on the berries! For fourth of July I love to add blueberries to this salad to make it more festive! Check out this picture from a hundred years ago on Instagram!

I hope you loved this Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad with Roast Chicken recipe! If you try it, be sure to leave a comment or tag me @atoastedcrumb on all socials! I’d love to see your work!

Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad with Roast Chicken

Recipe by Amber Bogardus
Course: MainCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: easy
Servings

1

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Total time

10

minutes

This Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad with Roasted Chicken is a delightful mix of flavors and textures! Juicy strawberries are paired with tender roasted chicken, all tossed in a light, tangy poppy seed dressing. Topped with crunchy almonds and creamy feta, this refreshing salad is perfect for a light lunch or a vibrant dinner option!

Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

  • Poppy Seed Dressing

  • 2 tbsp champagne vinegar

  • 2 tsp agave (honey or maple syrup may be substituted)

  • 2 tsp mayo

  • 1 tsp poppy seeds

  • 1/2 tsp ground mustard

  • 2 tbsp avocado oil

  • 1 tbsp shallot, minced

  • Strawberry Salad

  • 1/2 cup strawberries, quartered

  • 2 cups 50/50 salad mix

  • 1 cup arugula

  • 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped

  • 1/4 cup red onion, sliced

  • 1/3 cup leftover rotisserie chicken, shredded

  • 1 tbsp slivered almonds

  • 1 tbsp feta cheese

Directions

  • Slice the red onion and place it into a small bowl of water if desired. (This will help remove a little bit of the bite from the raw red onion and rehydrate it a bit.)
  • Prepare the Poppy Seed Dressing
  • (This recipe is written for a single serving, so the dressing is prepared directly within the serving bowl. If you’d like to increase the serving size to prepare more dressing, use the tool at the top of the recipe card or increase it to your preference and store it in a jar with a lid for up to 1 week in the fridge.)
  • To a serving bowl, add the vinegar, agave, mayo, poppy seeds, and ground mustard. Whisk to combine.
  • Slowly drizzle in the avocado oil while continuously whisking until dressing is fully emulsified. It will change color slightly. (This process usually takes me about 30 – 45 seconds of vigorous whisking. Alternatively, and if you’re making a larger portion, using a hand bender for this process may also help.)
  • Add the minced shallot and stir into the dressing.
  • Prepare the Strawberry Salad
  • Add the strawberries into the dressing and stir to coat.
  • Add the salad mix, arugula, and basil and stir to coat in the dressing slightly.
  • Add the rotisserie chicken, if desired.
  • Garnish with the drained red onion, slivered almonds and feta cheese and enjoy!

Recipe Video

@atoastedcrumb

Coming this week to atoastedcrumb.com, Strawberry Poppyseed Salad with Roast Chicken! 🍓 Subscribe before my Wednesday email to get the full detailed recipe delivered straight to your Inbox! http://eepurl.com/hgm_wr #saladrecipe #saladsoftiktok #lunchideas #easylunchideas #30minorlessmeals #lunchin30min #strawberrypoppyseedsalad #atcfoodie #poppyseeddressing #strawberrypoppyseed

♬ In The Kitchen – Giulio Cercato

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Amber is a passionate home cook, devoted mom to a lively toddler, and enthusiastic food blogger. By day, she works in the home services industry, but her true love lies in the kitchen, where she crafts delicious, family-friendly recipes. Balancing work and motherhood, she pours her heart into every meal, striving to make cooking both fun and approachable. Readers can join her on her culinary journey as she shares tips, recipes, and the joys of home cooking—one dish at a time!

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