Strawberry Watermelon Chicken Salad
Everyone loves Strawberry Watermelon Chicken Salad served with a light homemade basil dressing. Optional to add nuts and cheese, herbs and more berries!
This week in Oregon the temperatures have climbed to the 90’s, which means salads are on the Coughlin menu. Phew! One of our favorites?
Watermelon Chicken Salad
This chicken strawberry salad recipe, Strawberry Watermelon Chicken Salad! (If you have extra watermelon sitting around, don’t forget to try my BEST Watermelon Salsa Recipe, delicious with chips, but also good on chicken and fish! Or this Watermelon Chile Lime Feta Salad – fantastic!)
In the mornings we head out to the garden to pick lettuce. Lately I’ve been taking a giant knife and cutting an entire head. If you wait too long, the hotter it gets, the more the lettuce wilts. It’s hard to perk it up, even with cold water.
How to make chicken salad
The other thing I love to buy is rotisserie chicken. If you’re on a budget, you can get several meals out of one chicken! Chop up the chicken and serve in your favorite salad!
We usually pick it off the bone, and then take the bone and make broth or soup. I have a new chicken recipe that I’ll be trying tonight for dinner—a soup—and it involves lettuce. Yes, lettuce.
Chicken Strawberry Salad
Back to summertime entertaining. This chicken strawberry salad today is fabulous for a dinner party, a luncheon, or even a brunch. Everyone loves it at a potluck, too.
Since the heat is on its way, I say focus on a standout dish. Make sure it’s healthy, not complicated, pretty (I love vibrant colors), and it tastes good.
You really can’t go wrong with strawberries and watermelon, right?
Strawberry Watermelon Chicken Salad
Because I had “simple” in mind, I purposely left off the nuts and cheese, which also can make a salad delicious, but sometimes can overcomplicate it with so many flavors going on. Berries are delicious, too!
Entertaining tips:
-Don’t forget to delegate at least one item to each of your guests (or one per couple).
-Remind your guests to keep it simple. I think sometimes guests feel they have to get all elaborate in the kitchen when they’re asked to bring something.
-Focus on one stand out dish. It’s okay to not plan a full menu. Summertime entertaining should be easy!
-Supplement the menu with lots of fruit, vegetable platters, fresh baguettes and dips, and serve ice cream for dessert.
Summer meals just seem best when shared with friends over a lighter fare, tasty nibbles, grazing on healthy salads and appetizers.
What’s your process for planning a small get-together when it’s hot outside?
Get the Recipe:
Strawberry Watermelon Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 2-3 heads of lettuce, such as butter crunch, washed, dried, cut in large pieces
- 2 cups of watermelon, cut in small chunks
- 2 cups of strawberries, sliced
- 2 cups of rotisserie chicken, chopped in small pieces
- 1/2 cup red onion
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup pesto
- 2 Tbsp. honey
- 2 Tbsp. lime juice
Instructions
- Cut the lettuce and place in a large bowl.
- Cut the watermelon, strawberries, chicken, and basil. Lay on top of the greens.
- Mix together the pesto, honey, lime juice.
- Right before serving add the dressing; toss and serve.
More watermelon recipes: Watermelon Blackberry Lime Salad [RE], Grilled Watermelon with Smoked Salt and Jalapeno Rings [Boulder Locavore], Banana Cheesecake Watermelon Pizza [The Cookie Rookie], and Grilled Watermelon Bites [A Family Feast].
This post was originally posted May 2014.
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I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
What would be another dressing to try on this? Not a big fan of pesto.
poppy seed! :)
Sandy you mentioned not adding cheese and nuts. Would you add Feta to this salad or do you genuinely prefer the simplicity of the recipe as is ?
Feta would be fantastic, Laurie (but not too much!) :)
What a perfect summer salad! I haven’t even planted my garden yet. We had two days last week that dipped down below freezing again, and I chose to wait rather than chance it last weekend. This weekend it’s all going in.
Beautiful salad! My hubby is not a fan of fruit on salad though :(
We have had some hot days too this last week….heading back down in to the 60’s today though. Usually if we have company over when it’s hot we simply eat my Greek salad with grilled chicken on flatbread with some fresh fruit. We may even set up a table out on the porch if it’s not too hot.
That is so pretty and the lettuce is so gorgeous.
Sounds weird that you would say that about lettuce
but it looks to pretty to eat. :-) Great pictures.
Thanks, Sally. I agree … almost too pretty … :)
Looks delish! Looking for something new to try. The kids will always eat watermelon!
It’s a great combo, Laura. Enjoy!
Wow, it looks so refreshing! We’re not getting the heat yet, but this salad will be perfect once summer rolls around, thank for sharing!
You’ve got 90’s already?! Insane. I had to bring the flats of flowers/plants I bought over the weekend into the garage last night, due to frost warnings. But, hey, the sun is shining today. Things are looking up! :) xo
Watermelon in a salad = love love love!
I know, Christine … the best! :)
So jealous of your weather! Beautiful salad!
I have been craving watermelon lately!! Love this twist!!