Name: Chicken Spinach Salad at Home
Yield: 2

This Chicken Spinach Salad features seasoned chicken breast, sweet strawberries, juicy oranges, tart blueberries, sliced toasted almonds, and a sprinkle of feta cheese. The salad is dressed in a simple four-ingredient balsamic vinaigrette.

Chicken Spinach Salad

My family loves this salad recipe — it’s fresh, light, nutritious, and so tasty! It’s also a personal favorite since it’s quick and straightforward to whip together. The from-scratch dressing comes together in just a few minutes — we add some ingredients to a jar and then shake to combine. All the salad elements come together quickly; just wash and slice the berries and peel the oranges.

The chicken, oranges, strawberries, and blueberries, all beautifully dressed.

Chicken Spinach Salad variations

Add some additional berries like blackberries or raspberries (or swap out strawberries or blueberries for a different berry).
Replace the chicken with grilled and thinly sliced steak.
home cooks enjoy feta cheese best, and another great option with this salad is goat cheese. The salad is also great without any cheese!
Add a chopped avocado for a creamy element.
While I think the balsamic dressing recipe is so good and highly recommend trying it (I promise it’s so straightforward to make!) you can also use store-bought dressing. Here is an article to guide you through choosing the best balsamic dressings to purchase.

Quick Tip

If you can’t find fresh clementines, canned mandarin oranges (thoroughly drained) also work.

Recipe tips

Dressing can easily be adjusted to personal preference, so taste the dressing and adapt as needed. You may want to add a bit more honey if you like things sweeter or a little more Dijon mustard for more tang.
Add dressing to personal preference. You may not want to use all the dressing on the salad, so you can store any leftovers in the fridge for up to a week and use it on other salads.
Toast the almonds if desired, by placing the almonds in a single layer in a heavy skillet (you don’t need to add anything else) and stir them around on medium-a low burner. It only takes about 2-3 minutes (sometimes less depending on how much heat they are getting) until they are toasted and smell quite fragrant. Make sure you are stirring them around and watching constantly so they don’t have a chance to burn! Alternatively, you could also candy the almonds; instructions for doing that can be found in this Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad.

Preparation of balsamic vinaigrette: Ingredients added to a jar, shaken to combine, and drizzled over the fresh fruit and greens.

Preparing the chicken

I typically cook chicken breasts in a grill pan for this Chicken Spinach Salad, but there are a few different options for preparing the chicken. Pick what’s easiest for you.

Quickest option – rotisserie chicken: Get a fresh and hot rotisserie chicken at the store and chop it up for this salad. Or for even quicker prep time, see if your grocery store deli has rotisserie chicken meat that has already been pulled from the bones and shredded.
Leftover chicken: If you’re already making chicken during the week, make some extra and save it for this salad! I’d recommend making a double batch of this Grilled Chicken Marinade; it’s a reliable.
Fresh grilled chicken: If you’re fixing chicken fresh for this salad, It is worth drizzling olive oil and adding a generous amount of salt, pepper, and lemon pepper seasoning. Grill until cooked through, about 4-6 minutes per side (or until chicken juices run clear and internal temperatures register 165 degrees F).
Fresh sautéed chicken: Halve thick chicken breasts and drizzle olive oil on both sides. Sprinkle with a generous amount of salt, pepper, and lemon pepper seasoning. Cook in a hot skillet (or grill pan) for about 4-6 minutes per side (or until chicken juices run clear and internal temperatures register 165 degrees F).

Completed spinach chicken salad showcasing sliced chicken, spinach, topped with fruit, dressing, and nuts, epitomizing a healthy and satisfying meal.

Chicken Spinach Salad storage

Due to all the juicy ingredients, Chicken Spinach Salad doesn’t sit or store well after it’s made. Once assembled, the salad needs to be eaten soon after; otherwise, the balsamic dressing wilts the greens, and the almonds soften.