This Strawberry Avocado Salad is the perfect way to use up all of those beautiful spring and early summer berries. Crisp veggies pair with tender chicken, sweet strawberries, candied pecans, and tangy feta. Then, it’s topped with a vibrant lemon poppyseed dressing that pulls everything together.

Why I Love This Strawberry Avocado Salad

It’s easy to make – I feel like big beautiful salads always feel just slightly intimidating but this one really couldn’t be any easier. All you need are a few simple ingredients for the salad and the poppyseed dressing takes no time to make! You can even use leftover chicken to make things even easier.
It’s the perfect savory way to use strawberries – I love that this salad is a more savory way to use strawberries. I’m all about strawberry desserts but strawberries are more versatile than we think. Sometimes it’s nice to switch things up with a more savory dish.
It’s easy to customize – this salad has all my favorite things but it’s also incredibly easy to customize based on your preferences. Feel free to add your favorite veggies or toppings to really make this recipe your own.

Watch How to Make This Recipe

Ingredients

Boneless skinless chicken breast: you’ll need a pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast for this recipe. Feel free to swap it for boneless, skinless chicken thighs if you prefer.

Lemon juice and zest: fresh lemon juice and zest help to give the chicken breast a bright lemon flavor.

Seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika add a warm, savory flavor to the chicken.

Greens: we’re using chopped Romaine lettuce and mixed salad greens to form the salad base.

Strawberries: ripe, juicy strawberries are the star of this show in this dish. Not only do they add a pop of color, they’re also add that perfect bright and sweet flavor to the salad.

Avocados: adds a bit of creaminess and healthy fats.

Candied pecans: for a bit of crunch and even more sweetness. These really make the salad extra tasty.

Feta cheese: creamy feta is always my go-to in salads and it woks SO WELL int his one.

Olive oil: forms the base of the poppyseed dressing.

Dijon mustard: adds a bit of tang to the poppyseed dressing.

Honey: this adds the perfect touch of sweetness to the dressing. Maple syrup will also work.

Poppy seeds: you’ll stir these into the dressing last.

Recipe Variations

Protein – Not a fan of chicken? Swap it out for steak, salmon, or grilled shrimp instead.
Add extra flavor – incorporate different toppings and mix-ins for even more flavor. Some great additions include mint, parsley, croutons, sunflower seeds, and crispy chickpeas.
Swap the dressing – substitute any store-bought or homemade dressing you like best. Dairy free Ranch dressing, lemon herb tahini dressing, or a Greek salad dressing all work well.

seasoned chicken breast cooking in skillet

How to Make a Strawberry Salad with Avocado

Step One: Add all the dressing ingredients to a small mixing bowl or mason jar with a lid. Whisk or shake the ingredients until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Step Two: Next, add the chopped romaine and mixed greens to a large mixing bowl. Toss with a few spoonfuls of the prepared vinaigrette until lightly dressed. Then, top the salad with the remaining veggies and toppings.

Step Three: Add the chicken breast to a large mixing bowl. Then, add the salt, pepper, lemon juice, lemon zest, and seasonings. Toss to coat the chicken evenly.

Step Four: Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, and cook for 5 to 6 minutes on each side. The chicken will be golden brown and reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Transfer the chicken to a plate, and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.

Step Five: Top the strawberry avocado salad with the sliced chicken, and serve with additional vinaigrette. Enjoy!

Meal Prep Tips

This strawberry salad is great to prepare for your weekly meal prep! Here are my top tips to meal prep it in advance:

Make the dressing: prepare the dressing up to a week in advance, and store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
Chop and store your produce: wash and chop all the produce in advance, and store everything in separate airtight containers in the fridge. Then, all you have to do is toss everything together when you’re ready to eat!
Store the chicken: cook and dice the chicken ahead of time, and store it in an airtight container in the fridge.

How to Store

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days.

More Delicious Salad Recipes

I hope you give this Strawberry Avocado Salad a try! It’s so easy to make and full of flavor! If you do give this recipe a try, let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @allthehealthythings on INSTAGRAM. Your reviews and ratings help support All the Healthy Things and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you trust and love.