Get ready for summer in a bowl! This salad is topped with strawberries, grilled chicken, baked goat cheese and a balsamic vinaigrette that does double duty as dressing and marinade. This salad has become one of my weekly go-to meals in the summer and is sure to add a little brightness to your day!
If you want to try another salad that incorporates fresh strawberries, try this California Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad.
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The first time I saw someone eating a similar salad, I remember thinking strawberries and chicken together in salad seemed a little weird...which is a surprising thought coming from a California girl who loves strawberries! To me, strawberries were something that you ate either alone or as a topping for some sweet dessert.
Well, after testing it out a few times, it turns out that delicious is actually the word that should come to mind!! It's the ultimate summer salad - beautiful, juicy strawberries and a balsamic marinated grilled chicken.
Just like this one, a lot of my recipes are inspired by something I had in a restaurant or saw in a magazine. I like to add my own unique take to dishes I've enjoyed, to create something a little different.
Ingredient Notes
The full list of ingredients and quantities can be found in the recipe card below.
- Goat cheese: You want to use a log of goat cheese so you can easily slice it to make the rounds.
- Panko breadcrumbs: Unseasoned panko breadcrumbs are ideal for breading. Substituting seasoned standard breadcrumbs won't result in the same crispy, golden brown texture.
- Salad greens: Mixed baby greens work well in this recipe. In the summer, I often use a mix of whatever lettuce I have growing in my garden.
How to make this recipe
Pro Tip ⇢ If you don't want to fire up your oven on a hot summer day, you can make the goat cheese rounds in an air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 410°F and then cook the prepared rounds for 3-5 minutes. I currently use this Breville Air Fryer and it takes just over 3 minutes for them to get golden brown.
Recommended Tools
I'm not a huge fan of kitchen gadgets, especially those that have only one purpose, however, I am a huge fan of kitchen "tools" - things that can make cooking easier and typically have multiple uses.
This salad dressing mixer, which doubles as a storage container, is a great tool if you like to make your own salad dressing. This provides an easy way to store, then remix the dressing after a few days in the refrigerator.
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Strawberry Chicken Salad
Ingredients
For the dressing + marinade:
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ cup olive oil
For the goat cheese rounds:
- ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs
- dash ground pepper
- pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh herbs such as sage, basil, thyme, tarragon, chopped
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 oz goat cheese, cut into rounds
For the salad:
- 2 (3 -4 ounce)chicken breasts
- 4 cups mixed salad greens
- 1 cup sliced strawberries
- ¼ cup walnut halves or pieces
- coarse ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Heat a gas grill to medium-high heat - about 450°.
- Combine the balsamic vinegar, honey, dijon and garlic in a small bowl. Mix well. through garlic in a Whisk in the olive oil. Place the chicken in a ziptop bag and add ¼ cup of the dressing. Place in the refrigerator until ready to grill. Set aside the remainder of the dressing.
- Place the cheese rounds in the freezer for a few minutes while you are prepping the breading mix. Mix panko, herbs and lemon zest in a shallow dish.
- Dip the goat cheese rounds in the bread crumb mixture, being sure to coat well. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the breading is golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool.
- Place the chicken on the grill and grill for 6-7 minutes. Flip and grill for an additional 6-7 minutes until the chicken breasts are cooked through. Let chicken rest for 5 minutes, then slice on a diagonal.
- While the chicken is resting, prepare the salad by dividing the salad greens between two bowls. Top the greens with sliced chicken, strawberries and cheese rounds. Sprinkle salad with walnut halves and pepper. Add dressing as desired.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in June 2018. It was updated in May 2025 with some new information and photos. No changes were made to the original recipe.
Amanda@ChewTown
I love strawberries in savoury dishes. Chicken and strawberries really do go really well together. This dish look gorgeous.
Meredith
I've been trying to think of new things to do with the strawberries I have in my fridge!
Paige @ Where Latin Meets Lagniappe
This looks so delicious 🙂 The combination of walnuts, strawberries, and chicken sounds amazing!
Rachel @ Simple Seasonal
The crunchy chicken looks especially delicious on this salad! I don't think strawberries on salad is strange at all, but I'm always looking for excuses to add fruit to non-dessert dishes!... I have a bit of a sweet tooth
Neli @ Delicious Meets Healthy
I love strawberry and chicken salad! This chicken looks so crispy on the outside and tender inside, perfection! and the sweetness of the strawberries and the dressing is the perfect balance for a delectable meal!
FoodieGirlChicago
Hi Neli - This is definitely one of my favorite ways to cook chicken. It always comes out nice and crisp while still juicy!
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine
Yum-- strawberries and walnuts are two of my favorite salad toppers. This looks delicious, and perfect for a summer meal.
Claudia | Gourmet Project
Intriguing recipe, Will try soon!
Jacqui
Ohhh this looks delicious! I wasn't sure what to make for dinner tonight, I think I'll give this a try!
Andrea @ The Pineapple Cake
Yum! This looks so delicious!!
I love strawberries in my salad and I think the addition of chicken and walnuts is just perfect!
I can't wait to make this one.
Liz
I can't think of a better recipe for summer!! So perfect and I'm glad I have a way to use up my giant container of strawberries!
Kate
So glad strawberries are in season. I cant wait to make this salad!