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Orange Poppy Spring Salad (Perfect for Meal Prep!)

This Orange Poppy Spring Salad is the ultimate fresh, vibrant, and protein-packed meal prep option. With juicy marinated chicken, a citrusy poppy seed dressing, and layers of sweet and crunchy toppings, this salad will make your lunches anything but boring. Plus, we’re assembling it in individual salad jars so everything stays crisp and fresh all week long!
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Ingredients
  

For the Orange Poppy Seed Dressing:

  • ⅓ cup olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1 tsp orange zest
  • ¼ cup fresh orange juice
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp poppy seeds
  • Pinch of salt

For the Marinated Chicken:

  • 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning

For the Salad Jars (Makes 4-5 Jars):

  • Layer from bottom to top:
  • ½ cup sliced cucumbers
  • ¼ cup sliced shallots
  • ⅓ cup blueberries
  • ⅓ cup sliced strawberries
  • 1 sliced marinated chicken breast
  • 2 tbsp crumbled feta cheese
  • 2 tbsp candied pecans
  • 2 cups spring mix

Let's Make It
 

Marinate & Cook the Chicken

  • Score the chicken – Use a sharp knife to make shallow cuts on the back of each breast. This helps the marinade soak in and keeps the chicken extra juicy.
  • Mix the marinade – Combine Greek yogurt, lemon zest, lemon juice, Dijon, honey, garlic, paprika, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.
  • Coat the chicken – Toss the chicken in the marinade and let it sit for at least 15 minutes (or overnight for max flavor).
  • Bake – Preheat oven to 400°F. Place chicken on a lined baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through (165°F internal temp).
  • Cool & Slice – Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.

Step 2: Make the Dressing

  • Whisk together all the dressing ingredients in a small jar or bowl. Done!

Step 3: Assemble the Salad Jars

  • In each jar, layer the ingredients in this order to keep everything fresh:
  • the orange poppy dressing at the bottom
  • Cucumbers & shallots – These get nice and marinated in the dressing and add so much flavor to the salad.
  • Berries – Adds a juicy, sweet balance.
  • Sliced chicken – Keeps everything structured.
  • Feta & candied pecans – Because creamy + crunchy = perfection.
  • Spring mix – Goes on top to stay crisp.