This Strawberry Salad is perfectly balanced and truly a dynamite combination. It’s topped with a creamy dressing that’s crunchy from the almonds, briny from the green olives, and sweetened with strawberries.

Strawberry salad with greens in a white bowl. Two salad tossers on each side of the bowl.

Creamy meets Crunchy: The Fabulous Combination

Our Sunshine Strawberry Salad embraces new flavors and is nutrient-dense and high in protein, with cheese, almonds, and chicken. It’s a unique and creative salad, partly due to the way the dressing is made by mixing the ingredients and then adding the avocado and green olives at the end.

plated salad from a side profile

A Vinaigrette with a Twist: Earthy, Creamy, and Sweet

We’ve created a super fun take on a vinaigrette using the earthiness of the olive oil and the creaminess of the avocado, made even more delicious with the sweetness of a little honey, which adds the perfect bite to the salad dressing.

salad ingredients on wooden background
Sunshine salad ingredients.
green olive dressing ingredients on silver background
Green olive dressing ingredients.

The Power of Nicknames: Introducing “Sunshine Salad”

When my kids were little, in order to entice them to be excited about delicious and nutritious food, I had a policy of creating names for dishes that were so fun that they’d want to eat them, like Sunshine Soup, which had a variety of vegetables they might not otherwise agree to eat. When I tasted this salad, it reminded me of sunshine and of that sweet story. Nicknames are so important! My mother called Terisimo, and I loved that, so we’re nicknaming this salad Sunshine. 

How to Make Teri’s Sunshine Strawberry Salad: Let’s Go!

roasted chicken on a pan with parchment paper
Roast the chicken.
chicken, chives, & dressing next to olives
Make the dressing.
chopped fruits, veggies, & salad toppings on wooden board
Prep all of the ingredients for the salad.
olive strawberries cucumber on greens
Combine salad ingredients in a large bowl.
teri adding dressing on top of the salad.
Top of salad off with dressing.
close up shot of the finished strawberry salad.
Mix, serve, & enjoy!

If you make Teri’s Strawberry Salad, rate and review it below to let me know what you think! And if you’re looking for more fun, sign up for our Friday Favorites newsletter, and follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok!

Find Some of Teri’s Favorite Salad Recipes Below!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Sunshine Strawberry Salad

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews
  • Author: Teri Turner
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Roasted
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

This strawberry salad is perfectly balanced and truly a dynamite combination. It has a creamy dressing that’s crunchy from the almonds, briny from the green olives, and sweetened with strawberries.

Ingredients

Dressing ingredients:

  •   3 tablespoons lemon juice
  •   1 teaspoon Dijon
  •   1 teaspoon honey
  •   1/2 cup diced avocado, about one small avocado
  •   1/4 cup olive oil
  •   1/2 cup roughly chopped olives
  •   1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  •   Pinch freshly ground black pepper

 

Salad ingredients:

  •   6 ounces Romaine, chopped
  •   1 1/2 cups cubed homemade roasted chicken or store-bought rotisserie chicken
  •   1 (6 ounce) can California Green olives, drained and halved lengthwise
  •   2 cups sliced strawberries, sliced
  •   4 to 6 ounces Manchego, cubed 1/4 inch
  •   1 avocado, cubed
  •   1 cup peeled and sliced cucumber
  •   3/4 cup sliced radishes
  •   1/2 cup sliced almonds
  •   1/3 cup finely chopped chives, divided
  •   Marinated onions

Instructions

  1. Make dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the lemon, mustard, and honey. Add the avocado, pour the olive oil over it and gently whisk. Gently smash about a third of the avocado but do not emulsify the dressing. Stir in the olives, salt, and pepper then set aside.
  2. Make salad: In a large mixing bowl, toss add the romaine, chicken, strawberries, manchego, olives, cucumber, radishes, almonds, half the chives, and Marinated Red Onions into a large mixing bowl and pour dressing over top. Toss all ingredients together.
  3. Garnish with the remaining chives.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 691
  • Sugar: 7.8 g
  • Sodium: 1158.7 mg
  • Fat: 54.3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 27.5 g
  • Protein: 31.5 g
  • Cholesterol: 59.8 mg

Also Check Out:

whole30 strawberry cobb on a yellow platter

Whole30 Strawberry Cobb Salad

This Whole30 Strawberry Cobb is perfect for Spring eating! It’s light, delicious, and the dressing is totally next level fabulous.

strawberry burrata salad

Five Ways to use your Strawberries

It’s strawberry season, and I couldn’t be more excited. Strawberries have such fabulous flavor, but they are also so versatile. They can make a beautiful salad, enhance a dressing, become a fabulous dessert, and so much more.

Teri’s Beautiful Sunshine Salad With Strawberries Is Perfect For Summer


Do you have a copy of the No Crumbs Left cookbook yet?

Food is my love language, and this book is a guide to getting you in the kitchen with me, rolling up your sleeves, and reigniting your passion for everyday cooking. Woven throughout the book are my Teri’s Tips as well.

This cookbook is a love letter to my mother because it offers the recipe for a well-lived life.

Click here to grab your copy!