Description
A refreshing and flavorful Strawberry Poppy Seed Pecan Chicken Salad that combines tender shredded chicken with crunchy celery and pecans, sweet strawberries, and a creamy poppy seed dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or picnic, this salad offers a delightful balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors with a satisfying crunch.
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- 2 celery stalks, chopped into 1/4 inch pieces
- 1 green onion, thinly chopped
- 5-6 large strawberries, diced
- ⅓ cup chopped pecans
Dressing
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Cut and chop the celery stalks into 1/4 inch pieces, thinly slice the green onion, dice the strawberries, and shred the chicken to ready all ingredients for mixing.
- Mix Dressing and Base Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, chopped celery, green onion, chopped pecans, mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, poppy seeds, pepper, and salt. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated and the mixture reaches a consistent creamy texture. Adjust the amount of mayonnaise or Greek yogurt as needed to achieve your desired consistency.
- Fold in Strawberries: Gently fold in the diced strawberries to the salad mixture to avoid breaking them down. Alternatively, you may choose to add the strawberries just before serving if preparing the salad ahead of time to maintain their bright color and fresh texture.
- Chill or Serve: You can serve the salad immediately or cover and chill it in the refrigerator for 10 to 20 minutes to let the flavors meld and serve chilled, which enhances the refreshing taste.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-5 days.
- If not serving the salad immediately, delay adding strawberries until about 10-15 minutes before serving to prevent the red juice from bleeding into the salad and affecting its color.
- Optional add-ins to customize the salad include sliced almonds, sunflower seeds, chickpeas, raisins, dried cranberries (craisins), chopped boiled eggs, or grapes for added texture and flavor variations.
