Chicken and Fruit Salad With Poppyseed Dressing Recipe
Apr 02, 2020, Updated Jun 18, 2025
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Chicken and Fruit Salad With Poppyseed Dressing Recipe – delicious spinach salad bursting with fresh berries, citrus, poppyseeds, and tender, juicy chicken!
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At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.
Chicken and Fruit Poppy Seed Salad
This salad is bursting with fresh berries, grapes, and tossed in a freshly squeezed citrus dressing for delicious, light, and craveable spinach chicken and fruit salad the whole family will love.
The best part about this salad is you can use any kind of chicken – rotisserie chicken breast, leftover grilled or baked chicken breasts, chicken thighs – the sky is the limit!
I’m including my favorite chicken recipes to serve with this dish – as well as how to make a knockout citrus poppyseed dressing that doubles as an amazing chicken marinade.
Find my recipe for the Best Grilled Chicken Breasts Ever here.
Easy Citrus Poppyseed Dressing Recipe
First assemble the following ingredients:
- Chicken breasts (1 ½ cups) – Tender cooked chicken adds savory protein to balance the sweet fruits. Find my recipe for the Best Baked Chicken Breasts Ever here.
- Spinach (2 cups) – Fresh spinach provides a crisp, leafy base packed with nutrients.
- Strawberries (½ cup) – Juicy strawberries bring bright sweetness and vibrant color.
- Red grapes (¼ cup) – Red grapes offer a burst of natural sugar and soft texture.
- Green grapes (¼ cup) – Green grapes add a tart, refreshing contrast to the red.
- Blueberries (¼ cup) – Blueberries give a pop of juicy flavor and antioxidants.
- Blackberries (¼ cup) – Blackberries contribute rich, deep berry notes and texture.
- Orange (½) – Orange segments bring juicy citrus brightness to the mix.
- Almonds (¼ cup) – Crunchy almonds add nuttiness and a satisfying crunch.
- Hemp hearts (2 tbsp) – Hemp hearts offer a subtle nutty flavor and protein boost.
For the citrus poppyseed dressing:
- Extra-virgin olive oil (? cup) – Olive oil forms the silky base of the dressing.
- Freshly squeezed orange juice (¼ cup) – Orange juice adds natural sweetness and tang.
- Lime juice (1 tbsp) – Lime juice brings a sharp citrus edge.
- Lemon juice (1 tbsp) – Lemon juice brightens and balances the dressing’s flavors.
- Honey (3 tsp) – Honey sweetens the dressing with a smooth floral note.
- Sea salt (¼ tsp) – Sea salt enhances all the citrus and fruity flavors.
- Poppy seeds (1 ½ tsp) – Poppy seeds give a delicate crunch and classic visual appeal.
Tips and Tricks for Chicken Fruit Poppy Seed Dressing
Use cooled, cooked chicken – Grilled, roasted, or poached chicken works best; make sure it’s chilled for better texture and freshness.
Choose ripe, firm fruit – Fresh, not overripe, berries and grapes hold their shape and add the best flavor and texture.
Segment the orange cleanly – Remove all the pith and membrane for sweet, juicy bites.
Toast the almonds – Lightly toasting almonds boosts their flavor and adds extra crunch.
Layer thoughtfully – Place heavier items like chicken and fruit on top of spinach just before serving to avoid wilting.
Mix dressing just before use – Shake or whisk thoroughly to emulsify the oil and juices before pouring.
Add dressing just before serving – This prevents the spinach and fruit from getting soggy.
Make it ahead (partially) – Prep components separately and combine right before serving for convenience and freshness.
Chill ingredients – A cold salad is more refreshing and flavorful, especially on warm days.
Adjust sweetness in dressing – Taste and tweak the honey depending on how sweet your fruit is.
FAQs
Yes, rotisserie chicken is a quick and flavorful option—just remove the skin and shred or chop it into bite-sized pieces. You can also make my grilled chicken breasts!
Absolutely—try mango, pineapple, apple slices, or pomegranate seeds based on what’s in season or your preference.
You can prep the ingredients up to a day ahead, but store them separately and assemble right before serving to maintain texture.
Yes, the dressing can be made 3–4 days in advance and stored in the fridge; shake well before using.
Yes, this recipe is naturally dairy-free, and you can omit or replace almonds with sunflower seeds for a nut-free version.
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 day, though texture may soften.
Sure! Crumbled feta or goat cheese adds creaminess and pairs well with the fruit and citrus dressing.
More Amazing Salads
Try these other delicious salads:
For tons of easy chicken recipes, please visit my Chicken Archives – or check out some of the recipes I’m recommending below.
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Chicken and Fruit Salad With Poppyseed Dressing Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups chicken breasts, cooked, diced
- 2 cups spinach
- ½ cup strawberries, sliced
- ¼ cup red grapes
- ¼ cup green grapes
- ¼ cup blueberries
- ¼ cup blackberries
- ½ orange, peeled and sliced
- ¼ cup almonds, sliced, blanched
- 2 tbsp hemp hearts, optional
For the citrus poppyseed dressing:
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 tbsp lime juice, fresh squeezed
- 1 tbsp lemon juice, fresh squeezed
- 3 tsp honey
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- 1 ½ tsp poppy seeds
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix salad.
- In a medium sized bowl, add all dressing ingredients and whisk well to combine.
- Toss salad in dressing just as you are ready to serve.
- Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The dressing is unbearably sweet. Way too much honey. I kept adding lemon and lime juice until I could tolerate it.
Perfect salad for summer!!! Looks delicious!
Yum! Just as tasty as it looks!
This is not only gorgeous but absolutely delicious! The dressing is so flavorful and a perfect addition.
This salad looks absolutely delicious! Love the fruit with the chicken, yum!
I can’t wait to try this! It looks incredibly delicious!!