Strawberry Chicken Salad with Tomato-Balsamic Vinaigrette

Ripe, juicy strawberries are arranged with sliced avocado, red onion, candied pecans, feta, and grilled chicken marinated in a tomato-balsamic vinaigrette, exploding with flavor. You might even find yourself dipping a piece of bread into it as it is passed around the table. Yeah, it’s that good.

The original recipe called for plain grilled chicken breast (or pulled meat from a rotisserie chicken as a time saver), but I like to marinate the chicken in a little bit of the vinaigrette before grilling it. The grill adds a nice smoky flavor that pairs well with the tomato-balsamic flavor. 

Strawberry Chicken Salad with Tomato-Balsamic Vinaigrette

By Nicole Prep: 15 minsCook: 20 minsMarinate Time: 1 hrTotal: 1 hr 35 mins Servings: 4 This is a seasonal salad at its finest!

Ingredients 

For the Vinaigrette

• 2 large Roma tomatoes, diced
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• ¼ cup minced shallots
• ½ cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• ¾ cup Safflower oil or other neutral oil, or other neutral oil
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Cayenne pepper to taste, optional

For the Candied Pecans

• 1 cup pecans
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• Pinch of kosher salt
• Cayenne pepper to taste, optional

For the Salad

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 6-12 ounces baby spinach and mixed greens blend
• 1-2 cups thinly sliced fresh strawberries
• 1-2 ripe avocados, thinly sliced
• ½-1 cup crumbled Feta cheese
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced

Instructions 

For the Vinaigrette

1. Combine the tomatoes, garlic, shallots, vinegar, and mustard in a blender and puree until smooth. With the motor running, add the oil in a slow, steady stream to emulsify. Add the salt and pepper and taste for seasoning. The vinaigrette can be covered and refrigerated for up to 5 days.

For the Candied Pecans

1. In a non-stick skillet over medium low heat, add the sugar. Once the sugar starts to melt, add the pecans and toss to coat. Continue to cook until the sugar is caramelized and the pecans are toasted and coated in the sugar. Transfer the pecans to a sheet of parchment paper and carefully separate the pecans using two forks. Allow the pecans to cool completely. (Pecans can be made up to 5 days in advance.)

For the Salad

1. In a resealable plastic bag, combine the chicken breasts and ¼ cup of the vinaigrette.Marinate the chicken for at least 1 hour.
2. Meanwhile, prepare a charcoal or gas grill for medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Lightly oil the cooking grates and grill the chicken until cooked through, about 6-8 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the grill and cover lightly with a sheet of aluminum foil; let rest for at least 20 minutes. (Chicken can be made up to 1 day in advance.)
3. When ready to serve, thinly slice the chicken. In a large bowl, toss the spinach and greens with ½ cup of the vinaigrette. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Divide the spinach among chilled plates. Arrange the chicken, avocado, strawberries, and onion on top of the greens. Sprinkle with the feta and candied pecans. Drizzle a little of the vinaigrette over the chicken and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 956kcal, Carbohydrates: 50g, Protein: 33g, Fat: 72g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g, Monounsaturated Fat: 47g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 82mg, Sodium: 645mg, Potassium: 1113mg, Fiber: 9g, Sugar: 37g, Vitamin A: 3537IU, Vitamin C: 40mg, Calcium: 79mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.