This recipe for Strawberry Chicken Salad Goat Cheese and Spring Greens is a great entree salad for lunch, dinner or even a festive brunch idea for Mother’s Day. The tangy apple cider vinaigrette, crunchy cashews, sweet berries and creamy goat cheese are a delicious sweet and savory combination that will have everyone raving.

a blue and white plate with the salad on it, in a composed rows with dressing drizzled over it

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I originally shared this recipe on June 19, 2010. I have updated the images and some of the text today.

Why We Love This Strawberry Chicken Salad

I love to serve my family salad as a meal, but in order to pull it off it has to be crazy good and this one fits the bill. I’m getting some really gorgeous baby greens in my CSA right now… score! My family loves chicken, so that was a no-brainer. 

Then I topped all that loveliness with a super simple vinaigrette. This one only has 4 ingredients! I added a little minced shallot to amp up the flavor a bit and used honey mustard instead of the traditional dijon so the subtle sweetness would play well with the strawberries.

But I have all these dressing recipes here so feel free to choose another one if you prefer. This lemon salad dressing would be great with this Strawberry, Goat Cheese and Chicken Salad. Or if you like a creamy dressing, this light Creamy Italian Dressing or our Low-Calorie Ranch is lovely. Or come up with your own using these tips for a great dressing. 

To really take this salad over the top I threw in some meaty cashews for a little crunch. You can go crazy here… I love pecans, pistachios, cashews, walnuts to name just a few. And all of the crunch is complimented by the creamy dreamy goat cheese. This Green Salad with Goat Cheese really has it all!

a platter with the salad comosed on it with a separate plate with a serving on it overhead on a table with salad tongs

Key Ingredients For This Strawberry Chicken and Goat Cheese Salad

Chicken Breasts

Adding lean protein to a salad takes it from a side dish to a meal by making it filling and yummy. Leftover steak, chicken, salmon or tofu are perfect additions, as well.

Strawberries

Fruit adds such an awesome pop of sweetness to salads. In addition to strawberries, blueberries, clementines, pears and apples are also great options. As an added bonus strawberries provide 160 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin C. Make sure to check out our Strawberry Coulis for another great way to use them this picking season.

Goat Cheese

I added a little goat cheese for a tangy contrast in both color and texture. Cheese adds a creaminess and depth of flavor that can’t be beat. Try sharp cheddar, blue cheese, and feta, too.

Other Ingredients For This Recipe

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 8 cups mesclun greens or baby lettuces
  • 1/3 cup roasted unsalted cashews
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon minced shallot
  • 2 teaspoons honey mustard
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1: Poach and slice the chicken.

Place chicken in a medium skillet and cover with water. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low to maintain simmer and cook until chicken is cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove chicken from the poaching liquid and cool completely before slicing.

Step 2: Arrange the remaining salad ingredients on a platter.

Meanwhile, arrange greens, strawberries, goat cheese and cashews on a large platter.

Step 3: Make the vinaigrette, finish assembling the salad and serve.

Whisk the vinegar, shallot, honey mustard and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Whisk in oil and season with pepper. Top salad with chicken and drizzle with dressing.

FAQs and Expert Tips

Why do people put strawberries in salad?

Strawberries or other fruits are great in salads because their sweetness compliments herbs like basil and tarragon and offsets the tanginess of the vinaigrette and bitterness of the greens.

What is the difference between goat cheese and feta?

The main difference is that goat cheese is made from goats’ milk and feta is made from sheeps’ milk and cured in a brine. Goat cheese has a more earthy flavor while feta is more tangy and salty from the brining process.

Can this salad be made ahead?

All of the components can be made and prepared up to 3 days in advance and stored in separate containers. Assemble the salad and drizzle with the vinaigrette just before serving.

a platter with the salad comosed on it with a separate plate with a serving on it overhead on a table with pitcher of dressing and bowl of strawberries

If you love this spring salad with strawberries, chicken and goat cheese check out this Blackberry Chicken with sweet, tart and savory blackberry butter sauce. It’s a real show-stopper!

Additional Salad Recipes To Try

At Healthy Seasonal Recipes, we specialize in cooking with fresh veggies and creating weeknight meals. Sign up HERE to get more produce-forward dinner ideas for FREE! If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought! Happy Cooking! ~Katie

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This Green Salad with Chicken, Strawberries and Goat Cheese is an awesome entree salad for your next brunch, lunch or dinner. #lowcarb #glutenfree #saladmonth #entreesalad |Healthy Seasonal Recipes

Strawberry Chicken Salad with Goat Cheese

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5 from 3 reviews

  • Author: Katie Webster
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 4 entree servings 1x
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Description

This Green Salad with Chicken, Strawberries and Goat Cheese is an awesome entree salad for your next brunch, lunch or dinner. 

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 pound chicken breast
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 8 cups mesclun greens or baby lettuces
  • 1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled (about 1/2 cup)
  • 1/3 cup roasted unsalted cashews
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon minced shallot
  • 2 teaspoons honey mustard
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Place chicken in a medium skillet and cover with water. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low to maintain simmer and cook until chicken is cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove chicken from the poaching liquid and cool completely before slicing.
  2. Meanwhile, arrange greens, strawberries, goat cheese and cashews on a large platter.
  3. Whisk vinegar, shallot, honey mustard and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Whisk in oil and season with pepper. Top salad with chicken and drizzle with dressing.

Notes

To Make Ahead

All of the components can be made and prepared up to 3 days in advance and stored in separate containers. Assemble the salad and drizzle with the vinaigrette just before serving.

0.8 g added sugar, 105 mg cholesterol

  • Prep Time: 35 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Calories: 444
  • Sugar: 6g
  • Sodium: 534 mg
  • Fat: 23.8g
  • Saturated Fat: 5.8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 10.6 g
  • Fiber: 4.5 g
  • Protein: 42.6 g

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