A simple balsamic dressing does double duty as a marinade for the chicken in this light and healthy, fresh spinach, avocado and strawberry salad.
The best recipes are made from muscle memory.
These are the recipes you’ve made time and time again, with so much repetition you really don’t even think about what you’re doing when you make it, you just do.
These recipes aren’t really even recipes at all. They’re just the wonderful result of what happens when you take the basics and then add a twist here and a switcheroo there, all depending on what’s fresh and seasonal and hanging out in the fridge.
This spinach salad is exactly one of those recipes and finds itself as my lucky lunch at least once a week. And if I love it that much I’m betting you will too.
Isn’t that the perfect reason to share?
About the Recipe
I always have fresh spinach in the fridge, where it finds its way into everything from my breakfast fritattas, to my lightened up sweet green smoothies and spinach lasagna. So it’s a natural base for this hearty salad, that works for lunch or dinner even. But if you have kale, arugula, romaine, butter or even spring mix mingling in the crisper, by all means, use it up!
As part of my never ending quest to be more prepped for the week when it comes to meal planning, I usually cook up a few chicken breasts on Sunday or Monday to eat during the week in salads like this. I’ve shared how to cook them on the stove top below, but if you’re ready to grill, this technique is always a grilled chicken success.
The ying and yang of sweet strawberries with red onion and avocado is one of my favorite combos ever. You can always swap out raspberries or blueberries for the strawberries and instead of feta, give goat cheese a try. I have and likely will again.
This balsamic tarragon dressing is my standard, go-to-all-the-time salad dressings. I use white balsamic dressing because it’s a bit mellower and doesn’t dominate the flavor of the salad, instead letting all of the other flavors shine through.
Here the dressing does double duty as a chicken marinade too. Remember that after marinading chicken to discard the marinade. You do NOT want to use it for the dressing after soaking in raw chicken. Ew.
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
Strawberry Avocado Spinach Salad with Chicken
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon golden balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon roughly chopped fresh tarragon
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 6 cups loosely packed fresh spinach
- 6-8 large strawberries hulled and quartered
- 1 avocado peeled, seeded and cut into chunks
- 3-4 thinly sliced rings of red onion
- 1/4 cup feta cheese
- 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
Instructions
-
Whisk the extra virgin olive oil with the balsamic vinegar, sugar, tarragon, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper in a small bowl until blended.
-
Place the chicken breasts in a shallow bowl and cover with half of the dressing, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
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Spray a grill pan or 12-inch non-stick pan with cooking spray and heat to medium high. Place the chicken breasts on the hot grill pan. Cook for 3 minutes then flip the chicken breasts. Cook for another 3 minutes, and turn. Reduce the cooking temperature to medium low and cook the chicken for 20-25 minutes more, turning every 5 minutes or so. Cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chicken, but it will be done when it hits 165 degrees internal temperature. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes then slice into 1/4 inch slices.
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Arrange the spinach, strawberries and red onion in a bowl. Lightly toss with the remaining dressing. Add the avocado, sliced chicken and top with feta and almond slices. Serve immediately.
#EatSeasonal May
As we have for the past few seasons, Becky of The Vintage Mixer has posted her list of what’s in season to eat now and from that list, has amassed a group of us who are posting #eatseasonal recipes today. Some are some are sweet, some are savory and they’re all in season now. They’re all good and they’re all seasonal and are listed below.
Please hop over to their sites, say hi and enjoy their seasonal inspiration.
We’d love to see what you’re eating seasonal now, too. Share your eats and follow the #eatseasonal hashtag on Instagram and Twitter to discover more seasonal eats.
Roasted Broccoli and Bacon Crustless Quiche from Completely Delicious
Rhubarb Eton Mess with Coconut Whipped Cream from Vintage Mixer
Lemon Roasted Artichokes from Letty’s Kitchen
Kale, Mushroom & Goat Cheese Quesadillas from Cookin’ Canuck
Rhubarb-Almond Cake from Floating Kitchen
Skinny Pineapple Mint Margaritas from Mountain Mama Cooks
Rhubarb-Wine BBQ Sauce from Kitchen Confidante
Rice Bowls with Quick Pickled Ginger Red Cabbage from Food for My Family
Shaved Asparagus Ricotta Flatbread from Flavor the Moments
And with that, you have no reason to get into the kitchen and cook something seasonal!
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Vivian | stayaliveandcooking says
Now this sounds like a salad I would like to eat today! Love the photos too.
Have a great week!
Annalise @ Completely Delicious says
This is so the salad I want to eat every day all spring and summer long!
Liz @ Floating Kitchen says
Couldn’t agree more, Heidi. My “non-recipes” are hands down my all time favorite recipes. This salad is gorgeous and that tarragon dressing sounds great. I don’t use white/golden balsamic very often. I need to give it a go!
Cecile - My Yellow Farmhouse says
Lovely looking salad – and I’m sure it tastes as good as it looks!! ; o )
Laura | Tutti Dolci says
Such a gorgeous salad, I see myself living on this all summer long!
Becky says
This looks so good Heidi!! Making this for the family this week or next and you know who will love it… Everett!! He loves strawberries and avocado! Thanks for the idea!
Gayatri Mantra says
Looks to good to eat
Trina and Tina says
Last Sunday we went strawberry picking and now we have loads of strawberries to create wonderful dishes with. This is a perfect recipe! Dinner=done!
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Hello , I’m Thanks you so much for sharing my favorite items .
Jeny says
Yeay, avocado are great in salad!
Eva says
Looking so yummy! I am pinning all your salad recipes.
heidi says
Thank you Eva! I’m sort of a salad freak.
Linda says
Wow! This salad was even better than I was anticipating! Amazing blend of flavors.
Maren says
Fabulous summer salad. A new favorite for the whole family. Thank you so much for the recipe!
heidi says
I’m so glad you like it Maren.
Emily says
This was delicious!!!! I didn’t have golden balsamic vinegar so I just used regular?? I thought the flavor were excellent! Perfect for a warm summer night.
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Kristi says
I LOVE this strawberry avocado salad, totally delicious!!!!
-Kristi
Timothy Miller says
That looks both delicious and healthy!
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Pamela A. Graham says
Strawberry avocado spinach salad with chicken very Yummy item .
suz says
great salad how many calories, protein, fat, carbs breakdown????
heidi says
Hi Suz, at this time I don’t calculate serving sizes for my recipes but if you’d like to, try My Fitness Pal to do so.
Merny says
Due to health isssues, I’m not able to eat dark green veggies….Is there a lettuce I could use to substitute ? (Romaine is out)…TIA
Jessica says
I have made this salad twice now and I LOVE it. I made one for my husband today also, and he thought it was amazing. He texted me from work to tell me how good it was.
I entered the recipe into myfitnesspal, using the specific brands that I used and it was 675 calories!! I was shocked. It’s still amazing, but with that many calories, I’ll be having this a lot less than I planned. The olive oil accounts for 240 calories alone.
heidi says
Well Jessica, a lesson in watching the amount of oil we consume when counting calories. Thanks for sharing your calorie info.
Jennifer says
Hi! Was this calorie breakdown for the entire salad (2 servings) or 1? Thank you kindly!
Jennifer
five nights at freddy's says
This is great, That’s a great website, it really is what I was looking for, thank you for sharing!
Farashadiet says
So great
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witproit says
I think this recipe is Full of Nutritions and Healthy for us.
witproit says
great salad. Because it is full of Nutrients.
Julia Kruz says
I ate a similar strawberry avocado spinach salad in the restaurant yesterday, but slightly the recipe is different. So I’ll try your version of the recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Kokabora says
I think that Salad is really good looking and more importantly tasty to eat.
Bluestacks Downloading says
We all team saw your page and love to good dressing of salad
clipsit says
good job on the recipe. I don’t see any flaws with it, looks so good I’m going to try it.
Lisa says
I just made this last night. It was so good! My husband said it tasted like it was from a restaurant ! Haha! I think this is our new favorite meal! The chicken tasted so good with the marinade, that could be a meal in itself!
Lary brown says
Indeed you provided really great article. I was actually looking for the same kind of information.
Ana says
This turned out well! I have never cooked with tarragon and wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out, but the flavor combinations once all of the ingredients were put together worked nicely.
Amy Fuller says
The salads look really delicious, I’m a big fan of chicken in salad. thank you for the recipes. I will give them a try this weekend.
Cristina Ayala says
I love love this salad. I’ll have it for lunch and or dinner i change it up with the whatever i have in the fridge and have enjoyed them all. Thank you for this fantastic flavorful and healthy recipe that I enjoy with my family!!
Jennifer says
One word: delicious! My family and I loved this salad. I’ll definitely make it again.
Robert says
Love strawberries. Love avocados. Love strawberry and avocado salads!
Mariana says
How many servings is this?
Heidi says
Hi Mariana, the salad serves two as a main meal, or can be divided up among 4-6 as a side salad.
David says
I never try this . My family and I loved this salad. I’ll definitely make it again.
Merri says
Crazy good…..flavors worked perfectly together. Used regular balsamic.
Heidi says
So glad you liked it Merri!