Strawberry Chicken Salad with Spinach (And Easy Dressing Recipe)

This quick strawberry chicken salad is perfect for an easy, healthy lunch or dinner. Made with rotisserie chicken, spinach, and a yummy homemade dressing, this delicious salad is sure to be on repeat.

Here's a fast and easy summer salad inspired by what I had in the fridge this week — rotisserie chicken, baby spinach, and homegrown strawberries. Add nuts for crunch, and dress it up with a simple vinaigrette. And this chicken salad with spinach and strawberries is ready in about five minutes.

This strawberry chicken salad is proof that you don't need a complicated recipe to create a restaurant-quality meal. Making it at home you're in full control of each ingredient that goes into this healthy salad as well as the simple and zesty salad dressing.

Why You'll Love This Salad

With minimal effort, you can have this salad served in minutes, especially if you have pre-cooked chicken that's ready to go! If not, you can use air-fried chicken breast, grilled chicken or roasted chicken to make this quick main dish salad.

You can swap out the strawberries and use whatever seasonal fruit or berry you have on hand for that juicy bite of sweetness. Same with the nuts - whatever you like or have on hand. And that bed of baby spinach? Swap that out for whatever leafy greens you like.

But for outrageous taste, textures, and flavors, try it according to the recipe to see how delicious and easy it is to make this chicken, spinach, and strawberry salad.

Ingredients Needed

For the salad

• Cooked chicken - You'll need 12 ounces of cooked chicken, chopped or sliced.


• Spinach - I like to use a package or container of organic pre-washed baby spinach. You'll want dry spinach leaves for this salad to avoid the wilting and damage that you'll get if you rinse and dry them in a spinner.


• Strawberries - I love to use homegrown strawberries in season. If you don't have these jewels growing at your house, check your farmer's markets and grocers and opt for fresh, organic strawberries. Rinse and dry them and remove the top stems before cutting them in half, lengthwise.


• Walnuts - I use about half a cup of chopped nuts for texture and crunch.

For the dressing

• Walnut oil - The flavor of walnut oil will enhance the nuttiness factor.


• Champagne vinegar - Use this lighter and more delicate vinegar which works well to enhance the fruit flavor in the salad without overpowering it.


• Honey - just a dash adds a touch of sweetness to this vinaigrette


• Dijon mustard - you'll get a touch of zest and spice with just ½ a teaspoon of this mustard.


• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

How To Make It

1. To a large bowl, add the baby spinach, chicken, sliced strawberries, and chopped walnuts.


2. To a jar with a tight-fitting lid, add the dressing ingredients of walnut oil, champagne vinegar, honey, and Dijon mustard. Secure the lid and shake until the dressing ingredients are well-combined. (Or you can whisk it in a small bowl.)


3. Drizzle the dressing over the salad, to taste.

How To Cook The Chicken For The Salad

There are several ways to add cooked chicken to this salad. Here are a few methods to use to have the chicken ready and waiting to be added to the salad.

• Leftovers - I love to use leftover chicken for this salad because it's one less step I have to do to get this salad on the table. If you have leftover rotisserie chicken, which is what I used here, just cut it into chunks to add to the salad.

Variations

• Greens - The spinach can be replaced with almost any leafy greens. Crisp chopped lettuce is a great alternative because it provides a nice crunch when you bite into it. Spring mix is also a great option. The mix contains a variety of lettuces like butter lettuce, baby red or green romaine lettuce, arugula, and baby spinach, along with other assorted greens.


• Berries - If strawberries aren't available, try fresh and plump blackberries, blueberries, or raspberries. They're equally delicious and each will provide its own sweet flavor to this salad.


• Nuts - Crunchy and nutty alternatives to walnuts are pecans, cashews, or slivered almonds.

To enhance the nutty flavor, toast the walnuts in a frying pan over medium heat without any oil. Keep them moving with a spatula for a few minutes to prevent burning.

If you don't have walnut oil or champagne vinegar, you can use a simple dressing of olive oil and balsamic vinegar for the salad. Consider adding avocado, red onion, or crumbled bacon for extra flavor and texture.

You can prep all the ingredients in advance, but wait to assemble the salad with the chicken and dressing until right before serving to keep everything fresh. When preparing this salad, be mindful that the chicken and dressing can weigh it down and potentially cause the spinach to wilt and become soggy.

If you're thinking of serving bread alongside this dish, consider walnut muffins with a hint of honey for a touch of sweetness.

You could also opt for almond flour biscuits, perfect for a strawberry shortcake dessert in the warmer months.

Alternatively, a paleo cornbread would also complement this salad well.

Whichever way you choose to make it, this salad is a simple, nutritious, and ideal choice for summer meals. The text is missing. Please provide the original text that needs to be rewritten.