This strawberry chicken salad with spinach and white balsamic dressing is the high-protein salad I crave all spring and summer! Fresh strawberries, tangy goat cheese, and perfectly grilled chicken breast come together in this easy, leafy summer salad recipe.
Strawberry Salad With Grilled Chicken
This strawberry chicken salad is fresh, light, and packed with flavor from juicy strawberries, tender grilled chicken, and creamy goat cheese tossed with a simple white balsamic dressing. It’s not just a pretty salad, either! It’s also high in protein, which makes it filling enough to serve as a main dish or easy lunch. The grilled chicken adds staying power, while the fruit and greens keep it bright and refreshing.
Why I’m a Fan of This Strawberry Chicken Salad
I love that this strawberry spinach salad is the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and satisfying while keeping things light. I always make it with grilled chicken during grilling season, but it’s delicious year-round with a grill pan or air fryer chicken breast, too. Here’s why it works, and why I have this salad recipe on repeat.
- Grilled chicken makes this a complete and filling main salad, not just a side.
- Sweet strawberries, fresh spinach, crunchy nuts, creamy cheese, and tangy dressing offer contrasting flavors and textures.
- Easy to customize with different cheeses, nuts, or proteins and veggies I have in the fridge.
- Great for meal prep!
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need 5 ingredients for the salad, and just a few more to make the white balsamic dressing. See the recipe card below for the exact measurements.
For the Salad
- Boneless, skinless chicken breast, seasoned with salt and fresh garlic.
- Baby spinach – You can also use kale, arugula, or any salad greens you prefer.
- Strawberries – Sliced or chopped. My easy trick for hulling strawberries is to use a sturdy straw and press it through the bottom of the berry, right through the top, so the green stem pops off. This preserves as much of the red berry as possible if you don’t have a specialty hulling tool.
- Goat cheese or another cheese, like feta, shaved parmesan, or gorgonzola.
- Almonds, pistachios, pecans, or walnuts are all great options for adding crunch.
Balsamic Dressing
- Golden balsamic vinegar – You could also use regular, good-quality balsamic here.
- Olive oil – Like the vinegar, choose a high-quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
- Shallots or finely minced spring onion or red onion.
- Honey – You could also use agave or maple syrup.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
Variations
I also love how easy it is to customize depending on what I have on hand. I have my strawberry cucumber salad, or this other easy strawberry salad with goat cheese that you can try. This is the kind of salad that you can really make your own.
- Dressing: Swap the balsamic dressing with homemade lemon vinaigrette or the poppy seed dressing from my strawberry gorgonzola salad recipe.
- More crunch: In addition to nuts like almonds or walnuts, try adding crispy chickpeas or croutons for crunch.
- Add-ins: Try making this salad with dried cranberries, raisins, and different berries. Raspberries or blackberries also go well here!
Meal Prep This Strawberry Chicken Salad
This strawberry chicken salad with balsamic dressing is easy to prep ahead of time. I’ll grill and chop the chicken, slice the strawberries, and whisk the dressing beforehand, and store everything in separate containers in the fridge. This way, it’s ready to toss together. This salad tastes best when you add the dressing just before serving, so the greens don’t become soggy.
Serving Suggestions
Pair this strawberry spinach salad with chicken fresh off the grill, with pasta, burgers, or grilled vegetables for a refreshing summer dinner.
More Summer Salad Recipes
Strawberry Chicken Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 3 tbsp golden balsamic vinegar
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp shallots, chopped
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon water
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- fresh black pepper, to taste
For the chicken:
- 16 oz boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt, to taste (I used Montreal Steak Grill Mates)
For the Salad:
- 6 cups baby spinach
- 3 cups sliced strawberries
- 2 ounces soft goat cheese
- almonds, pistachios or walnuts, optional for topping
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients.
- For the chicken: Season the chicken with seasoned salt, then mix in crushed garlic.
- Light the grill or indoor grill pan on medium heat, when hot spray the grates with oil and grill the chicken about 10 to 11 minutes on each side until charred on the outside and cooked through in the center. Set aside on a cutting board and slice on an angle.
- In a large bowl, toss the spinach with the dressing. Divide between 4 plates and top with strawberries, goat cheese, and grilled chicken.
