Chicken & Spinach Salad with Creamy Feta Dressing

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The creamy feta dressing steals the show in this protein-rich salad, which makes a perfect lunch or quick and easy dinner. While you can buy feta cheese already crumbled, we like crumbling our own fresh from the block for this salad. We prefer the slightly sharper flavor of sheep’s-milk feta, but cow’s-milk feta works just as well.

a recipe photo of the Chicken & Spinach Salad with Creamy Feta Dressing
Credit:

Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Active Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
20 mins
Servings:
4
  • This nutritious salad offers a rich, creamy feta dressing that enhances its flavor.
  • Chicken provides protein, while spinach adds fiber and vitamins.
  • Fresh dill adds a burst of flavor and provides antioxidant benefits.
the ingredients to make the Chicken & Spinach Salad with Creamy Feta Dressing

Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

Creamy Feta Dressing

  • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese

  • 1/2 cup whole-milk plain yogurt 

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 1/2 teaspoon grated garlic

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

Salad

  • 1 (5-ounce) package baby spinach

  • 2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast

  • 1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added chickpeas, rinsed 

  • 2 medium Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced on an angle

  • 1 cup sliced bell pepper

  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted (see Tip)

Directions

  1. Prepare dressing: Combine feta, yogurt, oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper in a mini food processor; process until smooth, about 10 seconds. Stir in dill.

    a step showing the ingredients to make the dressing in a food processor

    Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

  2. Prepare salad: Divide spinach, chicken, chickpeas, cucumbers, peppers and almonds among 4 plates. Drizzle each with 1/4 cup dressing before serving.

    a photo of the salad mixed together with the dressing beside it

    Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Tip

For the best flavor, toast nuts before using in a recipe. To toast sliced nuts, place in a small dry skillet and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 2 to 4 minutes.

To make ahead

Refrigerate dressing (Step 1) in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

EatingWell.com, January 2024

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

414 Calories
18g Fat
28g Carbs
36g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Serving Size about 2 1/3 cups salad & 1/4 cup dressing
Calories 414
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 28g 10%
Dietary Fiber 8g 27%
Total Sugars 9g
Added Sugars 0g 0%
Protein 36g 71%
Total Fat 18g 23%
Saturated Fat 7g 33%
Cholesterol 89mg 30%
Vitamin A 268µg
Vitamin C 53mg 59%
Vitamin D 0µg
Vitamin E 4mg 26%
Folate 213µg
Vitamin K 195µg
Sodium 627mg 27%
Calcium 292mg 22%
Iron 4mg 24%
Magnesium 123mg 29%
Potassium 893mg 19%
Zinc 3mg 30%
Vitamin B12 1µg
Omega 3 0g

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.