Chicken & Strawberry Poppy Seed Pasta Salad
If you’re looking for a tasty, seasonal and simple spring meal idea, look no further than this pasta salad! This might be our family’s favorite meal at the moment. Our three-year-old can’t get enough and I love that you can meal prep this on a Sunday and have it for lunches or dinners all week long.
I couldn’t resist and threw in some finely minced Swiss chard from our farm but if your toddler is super against anything “green” on their plates, you can simply “deconstruct” this meal for them. I still highly recommend serving the chard on their plate but it can be separated from the rest for the ingredients. I think exposure is key so even if your kiddo doesn’t touch the green stuff, just having them see it often (and seeing you eating it!) really is important!
This meal has a lot of protein in it thanks to the chicken and Greek yogurt poppyseed dressing. I love knowing that this meal will keep blood sugar in balance and everyone’s bellies full and happy.
The pasta I used for this meal is really wonderful. It’s the Jovial brand Cassava Pasta (cassava is a root vegetable)and because it’s grain free, it’s easier to digest than traditional wheat pasta. It has a really wonderful texture and I’m so happy to have discovered this! However, this meal will work with any pasta you have on hand!
I hope you and your family love this dish as much as we do. I think this tastes best if you remove it from the fridge at least 30 minutes before serving. Give it a good toss and enjoy!
CHICKEN & STRAWBERRY POPPY SEED CHICKEN SALAD
PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES COOK TIME: 15 MINUTES SERVES: 6
Pasta
8 ounces pasta (we use Jovial Cassava Pasta)
1 pound cooked chicken breast, shredded
1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries
1 cup finely chopped Swiss chard (or spinach)
Greek Yogurt Poppy Seed Dressing
1 cup whole milk plain greek yogurt
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 Tablespoons poppy seeds
salt to taste
Preparation
Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cool water. Set aside.
In a large bowl add the shredded chicken, strawberries, chard and reserved pasta. Toss to combine.
Use an immersion blender or regular blender to combine all the ingredients for the dressing. Taste for seasonings and adjust as needed.
Drizzle the pasta with the dressing and toss until evenly coated. Taste test and adjust anything if need be. Serve warm, at room temperature or chilled.
Notes
This pasta keeps in the fridge for 5 days. Remove from the fridge 30 minutes before serving for optimal flavor.
