Description
Enjoy a vibrant Strawberry Poppy Seed Pecan Chicken Salad featuring tender shredded chicken breast, crunchy toasted pecans, juicy strawberries, and crispy smoked turkey bacon tossed in a tangy natural dressing with plant-based mayonnaise. This refreshing and healthy salad balances sweet, savory, and crunchy textures for an outstanding flavor experience perfect for any season.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cooked chicken breasts, shredded or diced
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced thinly
- 1/2 cup pecans, toasted
- 4 slices smoked turkey bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
- 4 cups mixed greens
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/3 cup plant-based mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (natural)
- 1 teaspoon honey (natural)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (natural)
- 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken and Bacon: Cook chicken breasts until tender, then shred or dice into bite-sized pieces. Cook smoked turkey bacon until crispy and chop into small bits to prepare the savory protein elements.
- Toast the Pecans: Lightly toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat, shaking frequently to prevent burning. Toasting enhances their flavor and adds crunch to the salad.
- Make the Dressing: In a bowl, whisk together plant-based mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar (natural), honey (natural), Dijon mustard (natural), poppy seeds, salt, and freshly ground pepper to create a tangy, slightly sweet dressing that ties all ingredients together.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine shredded chicken, chopped smoked turkey bacon, toasted pecans, sliced strawberries, thinly sliced red onion, and mixed greens. Pour the dressing over the mixture and gently toss to coat evenly.
- Serve and Enjoy: Transfer the salad to a serving dish or individual plates, garnish if desired with fresh mint leaves or extra strawberries, and enjoy the refreshing flavors and textures.
Notes
- Use fresh strawberries and crisp greens for best flavor and texture.
- Add the dressing gradually to avoid overdressing and keep the salad light.
- Toast pecans carefully to prevent bitterness.
- Chill the salad for 30 minutes before serving to let flavors blend.
- Cook and chop chicken and bacon in advance to save preparation time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: Strawberry Chicken Salad, Poppy Seed Dressing, Pecan Chicken Salad, Healthy Chicken Salad, Summer Salad
