Strawberry Chicken Salad Balsamic Dressing (Print-Friendly Version)

High protein salad with tender chicken, strawberries, avocado, and homemade balsamic vinaigrette for a fresh, flavorful meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette

01 - 1 cup strawberries, halved or quartered
02 - 1/4 cup olive oil or avocado oil
03 - 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar or white balsamic vinegar
04 - 1 Tablespoon honey
05 - 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
06 - 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Salad

08 - 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, pounded to an even thickness
09 - 6 cups spring mix or baby spinach
10 - 1 1/2 cups strawberries, sliced or diced
11 - 1 small avocado, sliced or diced
12 - 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (optional)
13 - 1/4 cup finely diced red onion or a few slices of red onion cut in half
14 - 1/4 cup toasted almonds
15 - 1/4 cup feta cheese (optional)
16 - flaky salt & black pepper

# How to Make It:

01 - Add 1 cup strawberries, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, dijon, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a blender or food processor. Puree until very smooth.
02 - Place chicken in a shallow dish. Drizzle 1/3 cup of the dressing over the chicken and stir to coat evenly. Cover and let marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes or in the refrigerator up to 2 hours.
03 - Grill the chicken 6-8 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Alternatively, air fry at 380°F for 15-18 minutes until internal temperature reaches 164°F, working in batches if needed. Let rest 5 minutes before thinly slicing.
04 - In a large bowl, combine spring mix, sliced chicken, strawberries, avocado, red onion, bacon, almonds, and feta cheese. Drizzle with about 1/3 cup dressing and gently toss to coat. Finish with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt and fresh black pepper.
05 - Enjoy immediately. If preparing in advance, store all ingredients separately in the refrigerator and combine just before serving, adding avocado last to prevent browning.

# Additional Tips:

01 - Pound chicken to an even thickness of about 3/4-1 inch for uniform cooking
02 - Brianna's red wine vinaigrette makes a good store-bought alternative to the homemade dressing
03 - Leftover dressing will keep about 5 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator