Kitchen notes · a little help before you start
Balsamic Chicken, Strawberry, and Apple Salad
Strawberries and thin apple slices give this chicken salad a juicy sweetness, with balsamic dressing adding tang. Feta and pecans bring salty bites and crunch among the spinach leaves. Catch some fruit with the sliced chicken for a fresh, savory forkful that feels generous on the plate.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 25 min
- Original yield
- Serves 4
- Ingredients
- 9 listed
Make it part of your week
Recipe categories & planning details
- Meal type
- Main course
- Primary protein
- Chicken
- Cuisine
- American
- Cooking method
- Grilling
- Preparation & total time
- Prep: 15 minutes or less · Total: 30 minutes or less
- Dish type
- Salads
A few quick notes
1. Brush before cooking
Season the chicken on both sides and brush with some balsamic dressing before skillet cooking or grilling.
2. Brush again near the end
After the chicken cooks through, brush both sides again and continue briefly before slicing into strips.
3. Save dressing for serving
Keep the remaining balsamic dressing to serve with the assembled salad after arranging all the toppings.
Get to know the ingredients
Baby spinach
Baby spinach forms the bottom layer, ready for the fruit, sliced chicken, feta and chopped pecans.
Strawberries
Slice the strawberries before arranging them over the spinach with thin apple slices and the other toppings.
Feta crumbles
Feta is scattered over the assembled salad, adding a salty cheese element alongside the fruit and chicken.
Let’s make it
Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.
Original recipe: Serves 4. Original quantities shown.
Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.
How to make it
0 of 4 steps completeMake room for Balsamic Chicken, Strawberry, and Apple Salad
Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.
The last little job
Dress at the table
Serve the assembled salad immediately with the reserved balsamic dressing ready to add to each plate.
A little more help as you go
Skillet or grill
The directions allow cooking the dressed chicken in a greased skillet or on the grill over medium heat.
Prepare ahead undressed
You can prepare the salad ahead, waiting until serving time to add the remaining dressing.
A few questions you might have
Is all the dressing used before cooking?
No, brush some onto the chicken before and near the end of cooking, reserving the rest for serving.
Can I cook the chicken on the stove?
Yes, a greased skillet is expressly offered alongside grilling for cooking the seasoned and dressed chicken.
When do I slice the chicken?
Transfer it to a plate or cutting board after cooking and the final dressing brush, then slice into strips.
Can I prepare the salad ahead?
Yes, prepare it ahead and hold back the dressing until you're ready to serve.
Where does the fruit go?
Arrange the strawberries and apple over the spinach leaves with chicken, feta and pecans before serving with dressing.
Any more cooking tips?
Salad can be prepped in advance, simply wait to add the dressing until ready to serve.
Storage & reheating safety
For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.
These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures
Recipe source: lecremedelacrumb.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.
Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.
