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    You are here: Home / Salads / Strawberry Poppy Seed Pecan Chicken Salad

    Strawberry Poppy Seed Pecan Chicken Salad

    Last Updated July 19, 2020. Published June 7, 2020 By Lorie Yarro 18 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Mixing bowl with strawberry chicken salad.
    Strawberry Poppy Seed Chicken Salad
    Strawberry Poppy Seed Chicken Salad
    Strawberry Poppyseed Chicken Salad

    This Crunchy Strawberry Pecan Chicken Salad is a great way to celebrate berry season and beyond! Crisp celery, pecans and poppy seeds give this simple chicken salad a fun twist on the traditional chicken salad recipe.

    Rotisserie chicken salad on white plate with strawberries and crackers.

    This recipe was originally published June 2018 and copy was updated to include process photos and updated copy.

    Summer time means a lot of things but in the kitchen it means a whole lot of berries to me! And I love all the berries in my chicken salad!

    I love grabbing a rotisserie chicken because in our house that always means leftovers. This crunchy strawberry pecan chicken salad is my repeat recipe all summer. ( But If it's soup weather, then all my rotisserie chickens are going into this Chicken Noodle Soup 100%!)

    Any recipe that allows me to use up leftover food is a hit. I like to use up every last morsel in the fridge if I can! Less food waste is best!

    Fresh and crunchy--that is where it's at with this one!

    Here's what you need to make this recipe:

    • I typically use leftover rotisserie chicken for this recipe, but don't feel that you can't use another kind of chicken!
    Ingredients to make recipe.

    I always have just about all of this in the house other than chicken. So when I grab the chicken--I already know the plan!

    How to make this recipe:

    • Add the chicken, poppy seeds, celery, pecans, pepper, and onion into a mixing bowl. Toss to combine. (steps 1 and 2)
    • Add in the mayo, dijon mustard, Greek yogurt and lemon juice. Stir to combine. If you don't have Greek yogurt, it is fine to just use all mayo. I love the extra tang you get from the Greek yogurt personally. I would not recommend skipping the dijon mustard though. (step 3 and 4)
    Chicken, celery, poppy seeds and other ingredients in mixing bowl.
    • Fold in the strawberries. Enjoy right away or chill for about 30 minutes to allow the flavor to really kick in. If you aren't serving this rotisserie chicken salad within the hour or so, I suggest holding off on the strawberries until serving. (steps 5 and 6)
    Strawberries added to chicken salad in mixing bowl.

    Notes:

    • You don't have to use rotisserie chicken, any chicken will do. Just use 2 cups shredded chicken and you are just fine!
    • If you don't plan on serving this until the next day or quite a bit of time after you make it, hold off on tossing the strawberries in until about 10-15 minutes before serving.
    • If you have nut allergies, feel free to use sunflower seeds or another seed you enjoy for some more crunch.
    • Sliced almonds are also amazing if you don't have any pecans around!
    Cracker scooping rotisserie chicken salad on bed of lettuce.

    How to serve this chicken salad:

    • Crackers! That's one of my musts when it comes to a good chicken salad.
    • Toss this pecan chicken salad on some toast and you have got a nice sandwich with all the more crunch.
    • Add some color by adding the chicken salad to lettuce wraps.
    • Add it on top of a big salad.
    • Eat it straight from a spoon--no extra anything required!
    Chicken salad on white plate with berries and crackers.

    Check out these other salads you will love!

    • Ramen Cabbage Salad
    • Simple Pasta Salad with Grilled Lemon Garlic Zucchini
    • Strawberry Arugula Goat Cheese Salad with Pretzel Crusted Chicken
    • Simple Mayo-Free Egg Salad
    • Chickpea Avocado Salad
    • Caprese Farro Salad

    DID YOU MAKE ONE OF MY RECIPES? LEAVE A COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW! I ALSO LOVE TO SEE YOUR LEMONS + ZEST RECIPES ON SOCIAL MEDIA–TAG ME @LEMONSANDZEST ON INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK!

    Rotisserie Chicken Salad with Strawberries and Poppy Seeds

    This Crunchy Strawberry Poppy Seed Pecan Chicken Salad is a great way to celebrate berry season and beyond! Crisp celery, pecans and poppy seeds give this simple chicken salad a fun twist on the traditional chicken salad recipe.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 301kcal
    Author: Lorie Yarro

    Ingredients 

    • 2 c shredded chicken
    • 2 celery stalks, chopped into ¼ in. pieces
    • 1 green onion, chopped thin
    • 5-6 large strawberries, diced
    • ⅓ c chopped pecans
    • ¼ c mayonnaise
    • 2 T Greek yogurt, plain
    • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
    • 1 tsp lemon juice
    • 1 T poppy seeds
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • salt to taste

    Instructions

    • Cut and chop ingredients accordingly.
    • In a medium bowl, combine chicken, pecans, celery and onion. Stir to evenly mix.
    • Add mayo, yogurt, mustard, poppy seeds, lemon juice and salt and pepper and mix well to evenly coat.
    • Fold in strawberries.
    • For best results, allow to chill for about 30 minutes before serving.

    Notes

    • You don't have to use rotisserie chicken, any chicken will do. Just use 2 cups shredded chicken and you are just fine!
    • If you don't plan on serving this until the next day or quite a bit of time after you make it, hold off on tossing the strawberries in until about 10-15 minutes before serving.
    • If you have nut allergies, feel free to use sunflower seeds or another seed you enjoy for some more crunch.
    • Sliced almonds are also amazing if you don't have any pecans around!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 301kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 175mg | Potassium: 304mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 119IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you try this recipe? I would love to see it! Mention @LemonsAndZest or tag #LemonsAndZest!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mindy says

      March 28, 2019 at 7:37 am

      I am not creative in the kitchen at all. This recipe sounds delicious, but we have a bit allergy in our family. What would you recommend as a substitute?

      Reply
      • Lorie says

        March 28, 2019 at 7:57 am

        Hi! I’m assuming that was nut allergy?? Gotta love autocorrect. If that’s the case, you could skip the pecans all together, or you could add some crunchy sunflower seeds even. Let me know if it was something else!

        Reply
    2. Sherwood says

      June 12, 2018 at 9:45 pm

      For some reason I can't pin this. I've tried different browsers, using the widget on the side, the widget on the picture, and the browser app button. They all say something's gone wrong. I tried when this initially came out and today. No change.

      Reply
      • Lorie says

        June 12, 2018 at 10:09 pm

        Hi Sherwood! I am having the same issue for some reason as well. I am working with my web people to see if they can figure out the issue. I will keep you posted!

        Reply
        • Sherwood says

          August 10, 2018 at 10:38 pm

          Figured I hadn't tried in a while, so I gave it another go. Finally got it!

          Reply
          • Lorie says

            August 11, 2018 at 5:06 pm

            So so so happy to hear! Thanks for letting me now!

            Reply
    3. jillain says

      June 08, 2018 at 9:28 am

      This looks soooo yummy!!! Saving the recipe!

      Reply
      • Lorie says

        June 08, 2018 at 3:21 pm

        Hope you love it Jillian! It’s turned into a big hit around here!

        Reply
    4. Gemma says

      June 05, 2018 at 1:48 pm

      That is too funny! I love mayo but I know people who don't like it and prefer Miracle Whip. I enjoy both, depending on what I am eating it with. This recipe looks great, I need new ideas to liven up my chicken salad.

      Reply
      • Lorie says

        June 12, 2018 at 10:36 am

        I know, crazy right??

        Reply
    5. Brooke Bolen says

      June 04, 2018 at 7:16 pm

      Looks delicious! I never thought to take this twist to chicken salad!

      Reply
      • Lorie says

        June 12, 2018 at 10:36 am

        I was quite pleasantly surprised! Thanks!

        Reply
    6. Jen says

      June 04, 2018 at 2:07 pm

      5 stars
      What's better than fruit in chicken salad!? I love the touch of dijon here and those poppy seeds! Can't wait to add this to my summer lunch menu!

      Reply
      • Lorie says

        June 07, 2018 at 11:28 pm

        It’s perfect for summer!

        Reply
    7. candy says

      June 04, 2018 at 9:08 am

      I don't buy into the whole this isn't good for you type of thing anymore. There are so many different foods that have been bad for a person over the years just silly. We like our mayo and will enjoy it all summer and year long.

      Reply
      • Lorie says

        June 12, 2018 at 10:37 am

        I love your outlook Candy! ❤️

        Reply
    8. Danielle says

      June 04, 2018 at 8:41 am

      5 stars
      Yummm - This looks like a real deli style sandwich. I love mayo so I won't have any mayo issues. I have my family coming to stay this weekend and I think this will be a great filling for the couple of lunches i will have to prepare! I will go and get a beautiful loaf of sourdough and it will be a super lush meal.

      Reply
      • Lorie says

        June 07, 2018 at 11:28 pm

        This will be perfect on sourdough!!!

        Reply

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