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 on 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 cheese goes well with strawberry salad? ›

    Feta. The key to a truly satisfying, not-salad salad is to add a touch of creaminess, and cheese was born for it. In addition to mild feta, I adore spinach strawberry salad with goat cheese or a mild blue cheese like gorgonzola. It's extra decadent and tangy.

    What goes well with strawberries? ›

    Strawberry's subtle sweetness pairs extremely well with the effervescence of herbs such as mint and basil in foods like ice cream. Chocolate's bitterness makes it a perfect partner for strawberries in baked goods like chocolate strawberry bark or bars.

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

    We like the apple pecan chicken salad with apples, cranberries, pecans and crumbled blue cheese. A half-size will satisfy, with 340 calories and 20 grams of protein. You can also order the grilled chicken sandwich as a lettuce wrap; you'll slash more than 300 milligrams of sodium by doing so.

    What kind of salad dressing does Wendys use? ›

    Ever wondered what sauce to pair with Spicy Nuggets? If fries taste good with sweet and sour? Swipe right on Wendy's sauces and find the best pairing for you. Wendy's salads are full of fresh ingredients and dressed with delicious dressings from Marzetti® Simply Dressed line of salad dressings.

    What is the best shredded cheese for salads? ›

    Home Cook's Guide to Salad Cheeses
    • Parmesan. Everything we love about Parmesan — its grainy texture and rich, nutty flavor — makes it wonderful in a salad. ...
    • Large-Curd Cottage Cheese. ...
    • Buffalo Mozzarella. ...
    • Classic Blue Cheese. ...
    • Mitica Drunken Goat. ...
    • Queso Fresco. ...
    • Aged Manchego.

    What hard cheese goes with strawberries? ›

    Lite50 Sharp Cheddar's creamy, savory flavor is the perfect match for the tangy sweetness of ripe strawberries.

    What cheese is healthy for salads? ›

    Feta Cheese (Goat or Mixed-Milk)

    Goat and sheep cheeses have long been favorites for salads. After all, feta is made primarily from sheep's milk in eastern Europe and the Mideast.

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

    If you're going to consume them immediately or within a day or so, cutting them is fine, as long as you store them properly. If you're going to eat them a few days from now, it's best to keep them whole until it's closer to the time when you plan to eat them.

    Can dogs eat strawberries? ›

    Yes, dogs can eat strawberries. Strawberries are full of fiber and vitamin C. Along with that, they also contain an enzyme that can help whiten your dog's teeth as he or she eats them. Like all fruits, strawberries contain natural sugar, so offer them in moderation.

    How do you keep strawberries fresh in fruit salad? ›

    “To prevent fruit salad from turning brown, you can toss the fruits in a mixture of citrus juice (like lemon or orange juice) before combining them, as the citric acid in the juice helps inhibit enzymatic browning by reducing the fruits' exposure to oxygen,” she says.

    What can you add to strawberries to make them taste better? ›

    Add a little sugar and salt! Wash your strawberries, cut them, and hit them with a pinch of salt and a couple good three-finger pinches of granulated sugar, give them a little tossy-toss, and watch them magically start to darken and get extra juicy.

    What are strawberries not compatible with? ›

    Plants like tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, melons, peppers, roses, mint, and okra may actually contribute to this deadly disease in strawberry plants. It is essential to note that strawberries should not even be planted in beds that have recently housed those plants on this list.

    When not to use strawberries? ›

    A moldy strawberry should be thrown out. If a berry is just bruised but does not show any signs of mold, the bruised part can be trimmed away. If you accidentally eat a moldy strawberry, you'll know because moldy strawberries will have an off-flavor that is a bit sour and acidic and may remind you of blue cheese.

    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.

    What's in the Southwest salad at Wendy's? ›

    Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad from Wendy's is a salad dish made with hand-chopped lettuce, grilled chicken, diced tomatoes, creamy avocado, applewood smoked bacon, and shredded sharp cheddar cheese with southwest ranch dressing.

    What's in Wendy's cobb salad? ›

    On the Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad, customers will enjoy our fresh-cooked Applewood Smoked Bacon, chopped tomatoes, grilled chicken, crispy fried onions, diced egg and creamy ranch dressing, all on top of Wendy's signature lettuce blend.

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