Description
Strawberry Poppy Seed Pecan Chicken Salad combines tender cubed chicken breasts with fresh sliced strawberries, toasted pecans, mixed greens, and thinly sliced red onions. Tossed in a creamy plant-based poppy seed dressing with apple cider vinegar, natural honey, and vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, this vibrant salad offers a refreshing and nutritious meal perfect for lunch, dinner, or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cooked chicken breasts, cubed
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1/2 cup toasted pecans
- 4 cups mixed greens (lettuce, spinach, arugula)
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plant-based mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon natural honey
- 1 teaspoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Cook chicken breasts until fully tender and slice into bite-sized cubes. Slice fresh strawberries and thinly slice red onion. Lightly toast pecans in a dry pan until fragrant and set aside to cool.
- Make the Poppy Seed Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together plant-based mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, natural honey, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, and poppy seeds until smooth and creamy. Adjust sweetness or acidity to taste.
- Combine the Salad: In a large bowl, combine mixed greens, sliced strawberries, toasted pecans, and cubed chicken. Drizzle the poppy seed dressing over the salad and gently toss until all ingredients are well coated.
- Serve or Chill: Serve the salad immediately for a fresh crunch or refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld beautifully before serving.
Notes
- Choose ripe, juicy strawberries for natural sweetness.
- Lightly toast pecans to enhance flavor and crunch.
- Adjust dressing consistency by adding water or more plant-based mayonnaise as preferred.
- Chill salad briefly to blend flavors while maintaining crisp texture.
- Use a sharp knife to slice ingredients evenly into balanced, bite-sized pieces.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: Strawberry salad, poppy seed dressing, pecan chicken salad, plant-based mayonnaise, fresh salad, healthy lunch