Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad
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This Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad is the perfect blend of sweet and zesty, ideal for those warm summer days or as a lively addition to any meal. With ripe strawberries and crunchy poppy seeds, it’s a simple yet flavor-packed dish that’s sure to be a hit. Quick to prepare and visually stunning, this salad is not just a feast for the taste buds but also a vibrant centerpiece for your dining spread.
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Why You’ll Love This Panera Bread Copycat
- Crowd Pleaser: This salad can be ready in as little as 10 minutes, which makes it a go-to for busy nights! The chicken adds enough protein that it has main dish quality and keeps you full.
- Fresh Flavor: Loaded with FOUR different fruits and grilled chicken, this salad does not lack flavor.
- Healthy Recipe: Homemade means control over the quality of fresh ingredients, making it potentially healthier than the restaurant version.
I have always been a sucker for the Panera poppyseed salad. It is so fresh and inviting and easily one of my favorite salads. The idea of so many fruits together on a salad is almost addicting, which is why I knew I needed to start making this salad recipe at home. It’s surprisingly simple and perfect for meal prep! You will fall in love with this flavor packed salad, especially the poppyseed dressing!
This strawberry poppy seed salad with grilled chicken is a refreshing mix of sweet and savory. Ripe strawberries add a natural sweetness that contrasts beautifully with the smoky, juicy grilled chicken. The delicious poppyseed dressing ties it all together with a hint of tanginess. It’s a simple yet flavorful dish that’s perfect for a light lunch or dinner.
Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad Ingredients
As far as salad recipes go, this recipe is so delicious and saves you money when you make your own at home! You’ll get the same great flavor of dining in but only spend a fraction of the cost! Here’s what you will need to get started:
- Lettuce: According to their menu, romaine lettuce is what is used in the traditional recipe. I chop mine a bit smaller, but you could definitely leave the pieces bigger. Make it how you like your salad. You could also mix in a little baby spinach or mixed greens for an equally delicious experience.
- Grilled Chicken: Here’s where you can start to get really creative. I grill large batches of chicken and keep it in the freezer for salads, but you can find pre-cooked chicken slices in the freezer section of most grocery stores, OR you can use rotisserie chicken or utilize leftovers.
- Fresh Fruit– Specifically, you’ll want mandarin oranges, blueberries, fresh strawberries, and pineapple. Fresh is best, but in a pinch you can use canned pineapple. Both taste equally delicious.
- Pecans: This is technically optional, but it makes all of the difference in the salad texture. Toast them in the oven for a few minutes, just until they are fragrant, and add to the dish. You could swap it for walnuts or almonds as well or if you want more of a sweet note opt for candied pecans.
- Dressing: You for sure could make a homemade poppyseed dressing. I love homemade salad dressings. However, for the sake of time saving, I opt for buying pre-made dressings. There is an entire shelf dedicated to poppy seed dressings. You can even find the Panera Poppyseed Dressing in most grocers!
- Cheese: I don’t include cheese in my recipe, because Panera doesn’t have it on theirs. However, you can always add a feta cheese or blue cheese for a perfect summer salad.
Panera Strawberry PoppySeed Salad
Preparing a chicken salad could not be easier. A few tips before you start:
- Invest in a salad spinner (affiliate) or allow the lettuce to dry completely after washing.
- In fact, let all of the fruits dry as well. Adding less water to the salad will let the dressing shine.
- You can slice the fruit and toast the pecans up to 3 days in advance, which makes prep time even easier.
- Store chopped lettuce with a paper towel to help keep it crisp.
- Combine the romaine, sliced chicken, berries, oranges, pineapple, and pecans, in a large bowl or airtight container, if you are making it in advance.
- Drizzle with salad dressing.
- Toss to combine and serve.
How Do You Grill Chicken Stovetop?
Looking for a way to get that grilled chicken flavor without starting up the grill? I’ve got you covered.
1. Prep your chicken with your favorite marinade or salt and pepper.
2. Generously grease and heat a stovetop grill pan (affiliate) to medium high heat for 5 minutes, or until the pan is nice and hot.
3. Lower the temperature to medium and add the chicken.
4. Let the chicken breast cook for 5 minutes without flipping.
5. After the 5 minutes, use tongs to carefully flip the chicken and cook an additional 4 to 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
6. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
Recipe Notes:
Yes. While I prefer to buy this dressing premade, you can definitely make it yourself. We love using this easy recipe from AllRecipes for a homemade poppyseed salad dressing.
Yes, but it’s best to keep the dressing separate until you’re ready to serve. This prevents the greens from getting soggy.
The best way to keep your salad fresh and from wilting is to assemble just before serving. You could add the fruit and chicken in advance, just make sure to keep the dressing off until just before you serve. You could even serve it on the side!
Light and crisp greens like romaine, spinach, or a spring mix are ideal. They provide a fresh, neutral base that complements the sweetness of the strawberries.
Grilled chicken is a popular choice. Other great options include grilled shrimp, tofu, or even sliced almonds for a crunchy, vegan protein source.
Absolutely! Just omit the nuts or replace them with seeds like pumpkin or sunflower seeds for that crunch.
Yes, but store the components separately and assemble just before eating to maintain freshness and texture. This would work well as a mason jar salad.
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Strawberry Poppyseed Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 4 Cups Romain Lettuce (washed and chopped)
- 1 grilled chicken breast (cut to strips)
- 1/4 cup blueberries
- 1/2 cup mandarin oranges
- 1/2 cup fresh pineapple (cut into pieces)
- 1/2 cup strawberries (sliced)
- 3 tablespoons chopped toasted pecans
- ¼-½ cup poppyseed dressing
Instructions
- Combine the romaine, sliced chicken, berries, oranges, pineapple, and pecans, in a large bowl.
- Top with grilled chicken.
- Drizzle with salad dressing.
- Toss to combine and serve.
Notes
- Invest in a salad spinner or allow the lettuce to dry completely after washing.
- In fact, let all of the fruits dry as well. Adding less water to the salad will let the dressing shine.
- You can slice the fruit and toast the pecans up to 3 days in advance, which makes prep time even easier.
- Store chopped lettuce with a paper towel to help keep it crisp.
Nutrition
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
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