I have been making this Keto Strawberry Poppyseed Salad recipe for years but am I only now, getting it on my blog. This copycat Panera Bread recipe is so easy and perfect for a summer day. Let's face it, I am pretty sure that we can all use at least one more creative keto salad in our lives!
Copycat Panera Bread Salad Recipe
I can still remember the first time I tried this salad at Panera Bread. Intrigued by the addition of strawberries to a salad, I was hooked after a single bite. I mean seriously, it is so freaking good!
However, once I began gluten-free and started eating keto, I knew that this salad recipe would no longer fit into my meal plan.
Until I created a keto copycat Panera Bread Salad that used a sugar-free poppyseed salad dressing. Then, making a copycat Panera Bread Salad recipe was super easy.
Nothing fancy goes into this keto salad recipe. Just a simple green salad made with some leftover rotisserie chicken, and sliced strawberries drizzled with a little sugar-free poppyseed dressing. And if you are like me and always looking for an excuse to make a batch of Keto Candied Pecan, (they literally only take 5 minutes to make in a skillet!) you can toss some on top for some added crunch.
If this copycat Panera Bread Salad recipe doesn't scream summer, then I don't know what does!
Why this Keto Copycat Panera Bread Salad Works:
- Easy - You can make the Sugar-Free Poppy Seed Dressing ahead of time so that all you have to do is combine all the ingredients and voila! Dinner or lunch is done!
- Healthy - By making your own sugar-free salad dressing and omitting the mandarin oranges, and pineapple, you are significantly cutting back on tons of unhealthy sugar carbs
- Cost - Compared to the Panera Bread salad which will set you back over $13, this keto salad recipe will save you a ton of money
- Taste - Slightly sweet and crunchy, this copycat Panera Bread salad recipe is light and bright, just like a beautiful summer day.
Keto Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Ingredients
The ingredients for this sugar-free poppyseed strawberry salad are pretty straightforward.
- Chicken - I like to use any leftover chicken that I have. Leftover Air Fryer rotisserie chicken tastes especially nice in this keto salad recipe.
- Lettuce - I like to use a mixed spring green mix but any type of lettuce or spinach will work. You could always use shredded cabbage as well or add some to the salad for an additional texture.
- Poppyseed Dressing - I LOVE my sugar-free poppyseed salad dressing (there are only 5 ingredients in this salad dressing!) but feel free to use any sugar-free poppyseed salad dressing of choice. For my sugar-free poppyseed salad dressing, you will need oil, vinegar, sweetener, mustard, and poppyseeds.
- Toppings - Feel free to get as creative as you like. I like using sliced strawberries, candied pecans, blue cheese crumbles, and some sliced almonds as well.
How to Make this Keto Salad Recipe
Pay really close attention to the steps since there is only 1!
Step 1:
Just throw all of the ingredients in a bowl and give it a good toss. And then voila — a restaurant-quality salad is ready to go in the comfort of your own home.
Keto Salad Recipe Make-Ahead Tips
I am currently making this salad about once a week since it is so easy to put together with a few make-ahead tips.
- Poppyseed salad dressing - Depending on how much salad dressing you like on your salad, the original recipe will allow you to make at least 4-6 large salads. However, if you are married to someone like myself who likes a TON of salad dressing, you may get fewer salads. You can always double or triple the salad dressing and leave it in the fridge for at least 2 weeks in an airtight container.
- Candied Nuts - Use my 5-Minute skillet nut recipe and use some of the nuts as a snack during the week and use any leftovers, simply toss them in your salad. Now that's killing 2 birds with 1 stone!
- Lettuce - You can wash and dry your lettuce and store it in the fridge or simply by large containers of washed mixed spring greens from Costco or Sam's. Then all you have to do is rip the lettuce before putting it in your bowl - not too much work, right?
- Chicken - IF you are doing only plant-based keto or Meatless Mondays, you can omit the chicken. Or, for a quick fix, use an organic store-bought rotisserie chicken.
Why are there no Mandarin oranges?
I did not add mandarin oranges, or pineapple to this copycat recipe since both these fruits contain too much sugar and can not be used on a keto diet. However, you can always add these ingredients if you wish.
Do I have to use nuts in this salad?
No! The great thing about this keto Strawberry Poppyseed Salad is that it is highly customizable. Use any type of cheese or swap out the strawberries for blueberries.
More Keto Salad Dressing Recipes
Looking for other keto summer salads like this? Try these:
More Keto Copycat Recipe
These are my favourite keto copycat recipes:
Keto Strawberry Poppyseed Salad - Copycat Panera Bread recipe
I have been making this Keto Strawberry Poppyseed Salad recipe for years but am I only now, getting it on my blog. This copycat Panera Bread recipe is so easy and perfect for a summer day. Let's face it, I am pretty sure that we can all use at least one more creative keto salad in our lives!
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 large salads 1x
Ingredients
For the Sugar-free Poppyseed Salad Dressing:
- ⅓ cup avocado oil or extra-light olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- ¼ cup allulose or less to taste*
- 1 teaspoon dried mustard
- ½ tablespoon poppy seeds
- salt and pepper to taste
For the Salad:
- 8 cups lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
- 1 lb cooked and shredded chicken (breast or thigh meat)
- 1 cup sliced strawberries
- ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles
- ¼ cup candied nuts
- ¼ cup toasted sliced almonds
Instructions
Prepare the sugar-free poppyseed salad dressing:
- In a small pan, add the poppy seeds and toast on medium heat for 1-2 minutes or until the seeds become fragrant.
- In the bowl of an immersion blender, add the red wine vinegar, allulose, dried mustard, poppy seeds, oil and salt to taste (I like to start with ¼ teaspoon).
- Place the immersion blender into the jar, making sure that it is all the way to the bottom of the container. Turn the immersion blender on, keeping the bottom of the blender touching the bottom of the jar. Slowly lift the immersion blender to emulsify the oil into the mixture.
- Taste the mixture and add additional salt, pepper, or sweetener.
- Allow the flavors to blend at room temperature until ready to use.
Assemble the salad
- Divide the lettuce evenly between the 4 bowls. Add each topping to each bowl and drizzle with poppyseed dressing.
- Serve salads with remaining poppyseed salad dressing so that guest can add additional salad dressing if they choose.
Assemble the Keto Poppyseed Strawberry Salad:
Notes
* If you make this salad dressing and do NOT refrigerate it, you may possibly be able to get away with using erythritol. Erythritol-based sweeteners will crystalize when refrigerated so this will not work if the salad dressing will be placed in the fridge before serving.
- feel free to add blueberries or replace the strawberries with blueberries
- for an authentic take (but WAY more carbs), add some mandarin oranges and pineapple chunks
- this will make 4 very filling salads or 8 small side salads.
- calories are approximate as it all depends on your toppings
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Main Meals
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American, summer, Keto
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 large salad
- Calories: 304
- Sugar: 1
- Fat: 20
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 25
Sarah says
This recipe is amazing!