This strawberry chicken salad is the perfect balance of fresh, sweet, and savory flavors. Made with fresh strawberries, tender chicken, creamy avocado, and a simple homemade strawberry balsamic vinaigrette, it’s a light yet satisfying meal. Whether you’re enjoying it during strawberry season or looking for a fresh option for busy weeks, this is one of those favorite salads you’ll come back to again and again.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fresh, vibrant flavors with sweet strawberries and savory chicken
- A hearty salad that works as a full meal or light dinner
- Made with fresh ingredients and simple pantry staples
- Packed with healthy fats from avocado and pistachios
- Perfect for summer months or anytime you want a lighter meal
- One of those salad recipes that never feels like a boring salad
- Easy to customize with your favorite toppings and greens
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Ingredient Notes
This strawberry chicken salad recipe is simple, but a few ingredients can be adjusted to fit your preferences.
- Chicken - Use grilled or baked skinless chicken breasts, or save time with leftover rotisserie chicken. We love our easy grilled balsamic chicken with this recipe (can also be baked).
- Greens - A base of spring mix works well, but you can also use fresh spinach/tender baby spinach or romaine lettuce.
- Strawberries - Use ripe, juicy strawberries for the best flavor—this is the best part of the salad.
- Pistachios - Add crunch and richness, but you can swap for crunchy almonds if needed.
- Cheese (optional) - Feta cheese or tangy goat cheese are a great addition for extra flavor.
- Dressing - This homemade strawberry balsamic vinaigrette uses strawberries, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, and dijon mustard for a classic, balanced flavor.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Cook the chicken well - Cook over medium heat or on an outdoor grill or grill pan for extra flavor, then let the chicken rest before slicing.
- Use room temperature ingredients - Let the chicken sit at room temperature briefly before slicing for better texture.
- Blend the dressing smooth - Use a blender or food processor for a creamy, well-emulsified balsamic dressing.
- Add extra fruit - Try adding fresh blueberries for even more fresh fruit flavor.
- Switch up the cheese - Swap for blue cheese or even fresh mozzarella balls.
- Add more texture - Toss in seeds or nuts for extra crunch and a ton of flavor.
- Make it your own - This is one of those favorite combos you can easily adjust based on the time of year and what you have on hand.
How to Make Strawberry Chicken Salad
For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Step 1: Cook the chicken if needed. Season and cook skinless chicken breasts in a skillet over medium heat or on a grill until fully cooked (try our easy grilled balsamic chicken). Let the chicken rest, then slice into strips or bite-sized pieces.
In a blender or food processor, combine the dressing ingredients (strawberries, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper). Blend until smooth and creamy.
Step 2: In a large bowl or salad bowl, add the bed of greens (mixed greens or your preferred leafy greens).
Top with sliced fresh strawberries, pistachios, diced avocado, cooked chicken, and optional cheese.
Step 3: Drizzle the dressing over the rest of the salad and toss gently to combine. You will not need all of the dressing at once, lightly dress and serve immediately.
Strawberry Chicken Salad FAQs
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2–3 days. For best results, store the dressing separately and add just before serving to keep the greens fresh. This salad is best served cold and does not require reheating.
You can use leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken if you are trying to cut down on time. Otherwise, you can grill or bake your favorite chicken. We love our easy grilled balsamic chicken for this recipe!
This recipe is gluten free. It can be dairy-free with the omission of cheese. It can be vegetarian with the omission of chicken. It can be vegan with the omission of chicken and cheese and use of maple syrup in the dressing.
Other Recipes With Strawberries
If you make this strawberry chicken salad with pistachios and avocado recipe, please let us know how it turns out in the comments below and/or rate the recipe! Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram to show us your finished product—it makes our day every time we see you trying the recipes we love!
Strawberry Chicken Salad With Pistachio and Avocado
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 8 cups mixed greens or spinach
- 1 ½ pounds cooked chicken (leftover, rotisserie, etc.) (try our easy grilled balsamic chicken!)
- 1-1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, sliced
- ⅓ cup roasted and salted pistachios
- 1 avocado, diced
- Optional: goat cheese or feta cheese for topping
For the salad dressing:
- 1 cup strawberries
- ⅓ cup olive oil or avocado oil
- ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the chicken if needed. Season and cook skinless chicken breasts in a skillet over medium heat or on a grill until fully cooked (try our easy grilled balsamic chicken). Let the chicken rest, then slice into strips or bite-sized pieces.
- In a blender or food processor, combine the dressing ingredients (strawberries, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper). Blend until smooth and creamy.
- In a large bowl or salad bowl, add the bed of greens (mixed greens or your preferred leafy greens).
- Top with sliced fresh strawberries, pistachios, diced avocado, cooked chicken, and optional cheese.
- Drizzle the dressing over the rest of the salad and toss gently to combine. You will not need all of the dressing at once, lightly dress and serve immediately.
Notes
- Save time/prep ahead:
- Use pre-cooked chicken - Leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken makes this a quick and easy meal.
- Prep components ahead - Slice strawberries and cook chicken in advance for easy assembly.
- Store separately - Keep ingredients in separate containers for best texture during meal prep.
- Make dressing ahead - Store the dressing in the fridge and shake before using.
- Perfect for busy weeks - Assemble quickly for lunches or dinners throughout the week.
- This recipe is gluten free. It can be dairy-free with the omission of cheese. It can be vegetarian with the omission of chicken. It can be vegan with the omission of chicken and cheese and use of maple syrup in the dressing.
- The recipe can be found on My Fitness Pal by searching "BWB Strawberry Chicken Salad." The nutrition content provided for each recipe is an estimate created through the My Fitness Pal database. Please be aware that the nutritional content of each recipe may vary based on the products you use, the precision of your measurements, and the source you use to obtain nutrition data. While we try to provide accurate information, we give no guarantee regarding the accuracy of the nutritional information provided.
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