Panera Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Recipe
This Panera Strawberry Poppyseed Salad is made with romaine, grilled chicken, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, mandarin oranges, toasted pecans, and an easy poppyseed dressing. It is fresh, colorful, and perfect for a quick summer lunch at home.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 large salads or 4 smaller salads
- Category: Lunch
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten-Free
Ingredients
For The Salad
- 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 1/2 cups cooked grilled chicken, sliced or chopped
- 1 cup sliced strawberries
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 3/4 cup pineapple chunks, drained if canned
- 1/2 cup mandarin oranges, drained
- 1/3 cup toasted pecans
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup poppyseed dressing, plus more as needed
For The Homemade Poppyseed Dressing
- 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt or mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: 1 teaspoon pineapple juice or orange juice
Instructions
- Add the chopped romaine to a large salad bowl or divide it between individual bowls.
- Top with grilled chicken, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, mandarin oranges, and toasted pecans.
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the Greek yogurt or mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, honey, olive oil, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, and optional juice until smooth.
- Drizzle the salad with poppyseed dressing.
- Toss gently and serve immediately.
Notes
- For meal prep, store the romaine, chicken, fruit, pecans, and dressing separately. Assemble right before eating so the lettuce stays crisp.
- Use bottled poppyseed dressing for the fastest version.
- For a more filling salad, add extra chicken, avocado, quinoa, or serve with a piece of sourdough or a small cup of soup.
- Drain the mandarin oranges and pineapple well before adding them to the salad so the greens do not get watery.