Strawberry Salad Recipe (2024)

HomeRecipe ListSide DishesStrawberry Salad Recipe

Posted by Aimee 71 comments
Published: May 19, 2022 Last Updated: May 19, 2022

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This copycat Panera Strawberry Salad recipe is loaded with fresh berries and candied pecans. Tossed with a sweet homemade lemon poppy seed dressing, it’s the perfect fresh salad warm summer days!

If you think salad is boring, you haven’t eaten salad at my house. Spinach and Bacon Salad and Mexican Street Corn Salad are two more favorites that can turn anyone into a salad lover!

Strawberry Salad Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

  • Why This Salad is Best
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Salad Tips and Tricks
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Easy Dinner Recipes
  • Strawberry Salad Recipe

Why This Salad is Best

If you like green salads with fruit, you just might become obsessed with this Strawberry Pecan Salad. This sweet salad is based off our favorite Panera Strawberry Poppyseed Salad recipe!

  • FRUITY- It’s made with strawberries, blueberries and juicy mandarin oranges.
  • CRUNCHY- Candied pecans for a satisfying sweet crunch factor.
  • ZESTY- red onion adds a perfect bite.
  • HEARTY- Delicious with or without grilled chicken.
  • PERFECT- The sweet and tangy dressing brings it all together.

We love making this salad after a trip to the farmer’s market for fresh fruits and veggies. It’s an easy, tasty way to fill your plate with all that good-for-you produce! And it’s so full of color!

If you love our spinach salad, you can swap out the romaine in today’s strawberry salad for spinach to give you a delicious, hearty meal.

Ingredient Notes

Strawberry Salad Recipe (2)

What I love about this fresh salad recipe is how versatile it can be. LOVE mandarin oranges? Add more. Hate goat cheese? Swap it out for feta. Here’s an overview of your key ingredients.

  • Strawberries. Remove the stems of fresh berries and slice them in half to add to the salad.
  • Blueberries. Make sure to use FRESH berries, not frozen for this salad recipe.
  • Mandarin oranges. We use canned orange slices with the juices drained out.
  • Candied pecans. The salad starts by toasting pecans on the stovetop with sugar until the outsides become crisp and sweet.
  • Romaine Lettuce. Or swap it for other fresh salad greens such as spring lettuce or baby spinach.
  • Red onion. The sharp taste of the red onion provides a nice balance to all the sweetness going on in this salad.
  • Goat cheese. The tangy flavor and creaminess of the crumbles make it perfect for sweet salads like this one. The fresher the better.
  • Chicken breasts. Cook the chicken breasts on the stove or your grill first. Leftover shredded chicken or rotisserie chicken works here too!
  • Lemon Poppyseed Dressing. You will need lemon juice, olive oil, sugar and poppy seeds, along with a little mustard.

Salad Tips and Tricks

Strawberry Salad Recipe (3)
  • Make the poppy seed dressing ahead of time. Mix all the ingredients together and store it in a mason jar in the fridge. When the salad is ready, the dressing will be perfectly chilled and ready to drizzle over your Strawberry Pecan Salad. We save jelly jars to use for homemade dressing!
  • Side dish or main course. To serve this salad as a side dish for your main course, simply omit the chicken. Adding the chicken turns it into a complete meal!
  • Make it less sweet. Use unsweetened toasted pecans instead of candied nuts if you prefer a salad with less sweetness. You could also reduce the amount of sugar in the dressing to suit your taste.
  • Skip Panera and try our homemade kitchen sink cookies and orange scones at home!

Recipe FAQs

Can I use frozen berries?

I don’t recommend frozen berries for this recipe. They release a significant amount of moisture as they thaw which would make your salad mushy. This is one recipe where fresh berries are a MUST!

What side dishes go well with Strawberry Pecan Salad?

We often enjoy this salad as a one-bowl meal on its own. It would pair well with sides like freshly baked dinner rolls or crackers, too.
Keep the strawberry theme going and make a No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake for dessert!

How can I make this vegan?

Our Strawberry Pecan Salad recipe is vegetarian if made without the cooked chicken breast. To make it vegan, omit both the goat cheese and the chicken.

Can I make it ahead of time?

This salad with strawberries is best served right away once it’s assembled. You could prep the dressing and cook the chicken in advance, if you like. Store them in tightly sealed containers in the fridge until you’re ready to make your salad.

Strawberry Salad Recipe (4)

More Easy Dinner Recipes

  • Egg Salad Recipe
  • Meatloaf Recipe
  • Coleslaw Recipe
  • Southwest Chicken Salad with Avocado Dressing
  • Broccoli Salad
  • Bruschetta

Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section below!

Strawberry Salad

4.70 from 40 votes

By: Aimee

This copycat Panera Strawberry Pecan Salad is loaded with fresh berries and candied pecans. Tossed with a sweet homemade lemon poppy seed dressing, it's the perfect fresh salad warm summer days!

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

For the Salad:

  • 1 cup pecan halves
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 12 ounce package Romaine lettuce chopped
  • 8 ounce fresh strawberries halved
  • 4 ounce fresh blueberries
  • 2 ounce goat cheese crumbled
  • ¼ cup red onion sliced (cut into small pieces)
  • 15 ounce can Mandarin oranges drained
  • 2 chicken breasts cooked and diced

For the dressing:

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • cup olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon poppyseeds

Instructions

  • In a small skillet over medium heat, saute pecans with sugar. This will take several minutes for the sugar to dissolve as you stir the pecans. Set aside and cool.

  • In a large bowl, combine romaine, berries, oranges, cheese and onion. Add diced chicken. Toss gently.

  • In a small mason jar, combine dressing ingredients and shake with lid on.

  • When ready to serve, add candied pecans and drizzle with dressing. ENJOY!

Notes

  • Make the dressing ahead of time. Mix all the ingredients together and store it in a mason jar in the fridge. When the salad is ready, the dressing will be perfectly chilled and ready to drizzle over your Strawberry Pecan Salad.
  • Side dish or main course.To serve this salad as a side dish for your main course, simply omit the chicken. Adding the chicken turns it into a complete meal!
  • Make it less sweet. Use unsweetened toasted pecans instead of candied nuts if you prefer a salad with less sweetness. You could also reduce the amount of sugar in the dressing to suit your taste.
  • Lettuce- Swap out the romaine and use spinach instead! Spinach salad is a great way to get extra vitamins. You can also do 1/2 and 1/2 with the spinach and romaine.
  • Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 556kcal, Carbohydrates: 35g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 40g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 33g, Cholesterol: 38mg, Sodium: 215mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 28g

    Course: Side Dishes

    Cuisine: American

    Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

    Strawberry Salad Recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    What's in Wendy's strawberry salad? ›

    Like their other craft salads, the Strawberry Salad is made fresh daily. Fresh strawberries and grilled chicken are piled on top of a bed of spring mix lettuce. Add in smoky applewood bacon, a Tuscan cheese blend, candied almonds and a champagne vinaigrette, and you have a recipe for a flavor explosion in every bite.

    What can I put in a salad to make it more interesting? ›

    Add spices and flavours such as paprika, chilli flakes, curry powder, harissa or parmesan. Add acidity or sourness with vinegar, lemon juice or pomegranate molasses to transform your salad.

    What is strawberry fluff made of? ›

    Strawberry fluff is a simple dessert made by combining strawberry jello, whipped topping, crushed pineapple, sweetened condensed milk, and fresh strawberries. It is mixed and then served chilled.

    What is the healthiest salad to eat at Wendy's? ›

    If you prefer a salad with chicken, the one with the lowest sodium count is the half-size apple pecan chicken salad without cheese. Without the cheese (which contributes close to 200 milligrams of sodium), it becomes the lowest-sodium chicken option on Wendy's menu.

    What is the dressing on Wendy's salads? ›

    Wendy's salads are full of fresh ingredients and dressed with delicious dressings from Marzetti® Simply Dressed line of salad dressings. We know there are plenty of chili fans out there, so we wanted to take this opportunity to answer a few commonly asked questions.

    How far in advance can you cut strawberries for a salad? ›

    Consume within a few days: Cut strawberries are best consumed within 2-3 days to ensure freshness and quality. As time passes, they may become mushy, lose flavor, or develop mold.

    Can dogs eat strawberries? ›

    Yes, dogs can eat strawberries. “Dogs can eat strawberries in moderation,” says Dr. Jennifer Power, D.V.M., senior veterinarian at Small Door Vet, a chain of veterinary facilities in the Northeast. “They are a safe and healthy treat for most dogs due to their low-calorie and high-nutrient content.”

    What cheese goes with strawberries? ›

    Strawberries and Ricotta: The sweetness of ripe strawberries balances well with the mild and creamy nature of ricotta cheese.

    How to make a salad that actually tastes good? ›

    How to Make a Salad You'll Actually Want to Eat
    1. 1: Think Beyond Lettuce and Greens.
    2. 2: Add Heft with Grains and Nuts.
    3. 3: Add Beans or Other Proteins.
    4. 4: Make Your Own Homemade Salad Dressing.
    5. 5: Make it a Flavor Party.
    Jan 18, 2024

    How do you pimp up salad? ›

    One of the easiest ways to get some flavour in your salad is to mix up your leaves with bright herbs that pack a punch. Plants like parsley, dill, mint and coriander can really kick your salads up a notch and give them some (much needed) depth and can give a great dose of flavour in every bite.

    What should every salad have? ›

    Top 20 Healthy Salad Toppings
    • Salads are typically made by combining lettuce or mixed greens with an assortment of toppings and a dressing. ...
    • Chopped Raw Vegetables. ...
    • Nuts and Seeds. ...
    • Dried Fruit. ...
    • Whole Grains. ...
    • Beans and Legumes. ...
    • Fresh Fruit. ...
    • Baked Tortilla or Pita Chips.
    Dec 17, 2018

    Is strawberry Jello the same as strawberry gelatin? ›

    Yes, and no. Gelatin is a neutral product that is used to set up your dessert. Jello-O is a brand name of gelatin mixed with sugar and flavors to make your dessert.

    What is the strawberry crunch made of? ›

    Strawberry Crunch, or Strawberry Shortcake Crumble, is a mixture of ground-up shortbread cookies, freeze-dried strawberries, and butter. This nostalgic topping is perfect when sprinkled over ice cream, mixed into yogurt, or used to decorate cakes and cupcakes.

    Can you eat fluffy strawberries? ›

    It's best to discard moldy berries. Even though a berry with a tiny bit of mold might look totally fine once you cut away the fuzzy patch, the thread-like strands that you can't see may have invaded the rest of the fruit, Nicole McGeehan, MPH, CHES, Penn State Extension food safety and quality educator, tells SELF.

    How healthy is Wendy's strawberry salad? ›

    Nutrition Facts
    Calories 450(1883 kJ)
    Dietary Fiber5 g20%
    Sugars17 g
    Protein41 g
    Calcium300 mg
    9 more rows

    What cheese is in the summer strawberry salad at Wendy's? ›

    Made fresh daily with Applewood smoked bacon, herb-marinated grilled chicken breast, candied almonds, with a three cheese blend of Parmesan, Asiago and Romano, served on a bed of freshly chopped lettuce, topped with strawberries and drizzled with a sweet and tang Champagne Vinaigrette.

    How many calories are in a Wendy strawberry salad? ›

    Wendy's Summer Strawberry Salad (1 serving) contains 17g total carbs, 11g net carbs, 21g fat, 45g protein, and 410 calories.

    What is a Wendy Strawberry? ›

    Wendy Strawberry is a Junebearing variety that produces heavy yields of large, wedge-shaped fruits early in the strawberry season. The fruits have an excellent fresh flavor for fresh eating, pies, desserts and preserves.

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