Bright and full of fresh flavor, this copycat Panera Strawberry Poppyseed Salad is easy to make at home, no restaurant required. Juicy strawberries and a crunchy, homemade poppy seed dressing to compliment it. Serve alongside our copycat Copycat Panera Bread Tomato Soup or Panera Summer Corn Chowder along with a chunk of crusty baguette.
Why You'll Love This Copycat Strawberry Poppyseed Panera Salad Recipe
Shake up your routine with this delicious copycat Chicken Strawberry Spinach Salad! This classic will elevate any table, from family BBQ's to gatherings with friends. Featuring juicy strawberries and the perfect poppyseed dressing, you'll want to make it often for friends and family to enjoy.
- Easy to replicate. The ingredients are simple it's very easy to replicate this popular Panera salad classic.
- Economical. This copycat Chicken Strawberry Spinach Salad recipe is a great way to use up leftover rotisserie chicken. Making this copycat at home is mush less expensive than restaurant prices also!
- Versatile. You can customize this salad by adding or omitting ingredients. Make a larger version in a big salad bowl, and it's the pride of any holiday or picnic table!
Ingredients Overview
This Panera copycat salad is a classic for a reason, with a fresh mix of romaine and baby spinach, sweet strawberries, pineapple, mandarin oranges, blueberries, and tender sliced chicken.
Roasted pecans and poppy seeds add crunch, all tossed in a creamy Panera-style poppy seed dressing you can make at home or grab from the store. Full ingredient amounts and instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How To Make The Panera Poppy Seed Salad
Now you don't have to go to Panera to enjoy this delicious salad. With this easy copycat recipe, you can make it at home in just minutes.
Prepare The Salad Greens
- Toss the washed and chopped romaine lettuce and baby spinach to blend them together and place in individual bowls, or into a large, wide serving bowl.
- Slice the previously roasted chicken and lay it to one side on the salad greens.
PRO TIP: A cold rotisserie chicken is ideal for this salad!
Add The Fruit and Nuts
- Top the salad greens with piles of strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, mandarin oranges, and the pecans. Sprinkle the fruit with some poppy seeds.
- Prepare the Panera poppyseed dressing by combing the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, poppy seeds, salt, and pepper together with a whisk.
- Serve the poppy seed dressing along side for self serve, or pour over the salad before serving.
Serving Suggestions
This Panera Strawberry Salad is best served chilled for the freshest flavor. Enjoy it in individual bowls as part of a light lunch or dinner, or pile it high in a wide, low serving bowl to make an eye-catching centerpiece for potlucks and picnics. It pairs especially well with our Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt or our hearty Broccoli Cheddar Soup, making it an easy meal combo.
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few substitutions and variations using this Panera Strawberry Poppy seed Salad recipe:
- Instead of romaine lettuce, you can use any type of lettuce you like.
- If you don't have pecans, you can use another type of nut, such as walnuts or almonds.
- Make this a vegetarian or vegan salad by omitting the chicken. The Panera poppyseed salad dressing recipe is naturally vegan, unless you use the honey instead of the sugar.
- Garnish the salad with fresh herbs, such as mint or basil.
Tips for Success
- This salad can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
- For the best flavor, use fresh strawberries and lettuce.
- Don't overdress the salad. A little bit of dressing goes a long way.
Storage Options
- This copycat Panera strawberry poppy seed salad should be made no more than 24 hours ahead of time for freshness.
- Do not freeze, lettuce and salad will become soft and mushy when frozen.
Related Recipes
- Lemon Poppy Seed Scones
- Crockpot Vegetable Soup
- Panera Summer Corn Chowder
- Chicken Salad Sandwich without Celery
- Panera's Autumn Squash Soup
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use a different type of salad dressing, such as ranch, vinaigrette, or balsamic vinegar.
Store undressed leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep for up to 3 days. Dressed leftovers will wilt rapidly, so refrigerate and eat within 4 to 12 hours.
Easy Sandwich Recipes
Get The Recipe!
Chicken Strawberry Spinach Salad (Panera)
Equipment
- Large Shallow Salad Bowl
- Salad Dressing Cruet
Ingredients
For The Salad
- 2 heads romaine washed and chopped
- 3 cup spinach washed and chopped
- 4 chicken breast previously grilled and slice
- 16 oz strawberries fresh, washed, hulled, and quartered
- 1¼ cup pineapple chunks, fresh, or a 20 oz can
- 15 oz mandarin oranges slices, canned
- 1 cup blueberries fresh, washed
- ½ cup pecans roasted, chopped
- 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
Copycat Panera Poppyseed Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise real mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoon sugar or honey
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Toss the washed and chopped romaine lettuce and baby spinach to blend them together and place in individual bowls, or into a large, wide serving bowl.2 heads romaine, 3 cup spinach
- Slice the previously roasted chicken and lay it to one side on the salad greens.PRO TIP: A cold rotisserie chicken is ideal for this salad!4 chicken breast
- Top the salad greens with piles of strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, mandarin oranges, and the pecans. Add a sprinkle of poppy seeds over the fruit.16 oz strawberries, 1¼ cup pineapple, 15 oz mandarin oranges, 1 cup blueberries, ½ cup pecans
Make Panera Poppyseed Dressing
- Prepare the Panera poppyseed dressing by combing the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, poppy seeds, salt, and pepper together with a whisk until smooth and creamy.½ cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoon sugar, 1 tablespoon poppy seeds, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Serve the poppy seed dressing along side for self serve, or pour over the salad before serving.
Notes
- This salad can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
- For the best flavor, use fresh strawberries and lettuce.
- Don't overdress the salad. A little bit of dressing goes a long way.
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