Grilled Chicken Strawberry Spinach (Printable version)

Juicy grilled chicken with fresh strawberries, spinach, and creamy poppy seed dressing for a light meal.

# What you need:

→ Grilled Chicken

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Salad

06 - 6 cups fresh baby spinach
07 - 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
08 - 1/3 cup red onion, thinly sliced
09 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
10 - 1/3 cup toasted pecans or walnuts

→ Poppy Seed Dressing

11 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
12 - 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
13 - 2 tablespoons honey
14 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
15 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
16 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
17 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
18 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
02 - Brush chicken breasts with olive oil and season with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
03 - Grill chicken for 6 to 7 minutes per side until cooked through and juices run clear. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, honey, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, poppy seeds, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
05 - In a large salad bowl, combine spinach, strawberries, red onion, crumbled feta, and toasted nuts.
06 - Arrange sliced grilled chicken on top of the salad.
07 - Drizzle with poppy seed dressing just before serving and gently toss to combine.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent way more effort than the 35 minutes it actually takes.
  • The warm grilled chicken against the cool, crisp spinach feels like a small act of kindness to yourself.
  • You can prep everything ahead and assemble it when people are actually hungry, which is basically magic on a weeknight.
02 -
  • Adding the dressing right before serving is non-negotiable; if you do it ahead, the spinach wilts and becomes a sad, soggy mess—lesson learned at a potluck I'd rather forget.
  • The warm chicken makes a difference worth mentioning; letting it cool completely changes the whole experience and mutes the flavors somehow.
03 -
  • Toast your own nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for just 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly, and the difference in flavor is worth every second.
  • Pat the strawberries dry after slicing them; any excess moisture will dilute your dressing and make the salad watery by the time you eat it.
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