Best Spinach Strawberry Salad (Homemade Dressing) + Video
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This Spinach Strawberry Salad will rock your world! Combine fresh spinach, sweet berries, avocado, and candied nuts into the best salad ever. This is my go-to summer salad that I make for every family dinner. I can’t get over those fresh strawberries!
Salads are especially delicious in the warmer months, but it’s also a fun way to add extra flavor to any meal.
I love this strawberry mozzarella salad with balsamic vinaigrette.
The best part about making this delicious strawberry spinach salad is that you can use juicy strawberries that are in season.
Not only does this make a beautiful salad, but it creates one that is loaded with the sweetness of the ripe strawberries paired with the salty feta cheese.
For me, this is the perfect salad because of all the different ways that you can layer and enjoy it.
During summer is the perfect time of year to make this fresh salad because the simple ingredients used are ripe and in-season.
This is also a great addition to a Mother’s Day meal and the perfect side dish for a family gathering or party.
This easy spinach salad has the best flavor and is one of my favorite salads when I want to eat a little lighter.
Grab a large salad bowl and load with fresh baby spinach, ripe strawberries, and the rest of the simple ingredients listed on the recipe card below!
Spinach Strawberry Salad
This divine strawberry spinach salad recipe starts with baby spinach, fresh berries, and thinly sliced red onion.
Buttery avocado and tangy blue cheese crumbles add so much incredible flavor.
Finish it all off with a Dijon mustard dressing — I dare you not to go back for seconds!
The candied pecans are especially tasty. I usually make a double batch and save half for later. They’re great for snacking or sprinkling over homemade ice cream.
Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Hull berries easily. Use this handy tool to save some time (and your fingers)!
You can also push a large straw through the bottom of each berry to remove the stem and leaves in one go. - Add some protein! Grill and slice up some chicken breasts to turn this spinach strawberry salad into a full meal!
- Not a fan of blue cheese? Mozzarella, feta, or goat cheese are all fantastic substitutions.
- Reduce the sugar. Swap the candied nuts with plain pecans or walnuts. You can also eliminate the sugar from the dressing for strawberry spinach salad.
- Try a different oil. I love the mild flavor of extra light-tasting olive oil, but extra virgin tastes just as great. Avocado or sunflower oil are great options as well.
Best Dressing for Strawberry Spinach Salad
I think a tangy dressing complements the sweetness of spinach strawberry salad best!
My homemade recipe includes olive oil, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and garlic — plus salt, pepper, and paprika for flavor and a touch of heat.
Other popular options included poppyseed dressing, balsamic vinaigrette, or raspberry vinaigrette. There are no wrong choices here!
Serving Suggestions
Serve strawberry salad with spinach alongside grilled steak or chicken for a simple, delicious meal.
It also tastes great with any holiday meal and is a lighter option to more popular side dishes.
Strawberry Spinach Salad FAQ
The vinegar in the dressing for strawberry spinach salad will help draw out the onion’s natural sweetness.
You could also soak the slices in ice water for 20 to 30 minutes first. Be sure to pat them dry before adding them to the strawberry salad.
While strawberry spinach salad is best served fresh, you could certainly prep the ingredients in advance! Then, throw it all together before taking it to the table.
Candy the nuts, then cool and store them at room temp in an airtight container.
The berries and sliced onions can be refrigerated in separate containers, along with the jar of dressing.
I do recommend slicing the avocado at the last minute so it doesn’t brown. If the dressing has solidified, just give it a good shake!
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other Easy Salad Recipes
Best Spinach Strawberry Salad (Homemade Dressing) + Video
Ingredients
Candied Pecan Ingredients
- 1 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup pecan halves
- pinch salt
Dressing Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, See Notes
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
Salad Ingredients
- 10 ounces fresh baby spinach, rinsed, dried and torn into bite-size pieces
- 1/4 red onion, sliced
- 1 quart fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
- 1/2 avocado, pitted, flesh cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2.5 ounces blue cheese crumbles, (half of a 5-ounce package), See Notes
Instructions
- Place a silpat mat or a sheet of parchment paper on the counter top to dry the pecans.
- In a small skillet over medium heat melt butter. Add pecans, sugar and salt. Stir until pecans are well coated. Stir with heat-safe silicone spatula until the sugar caramelizes, about 3-5 minutes.
- Spread onto silpat or parchment paper. Separate pecans. Allow to cool.
- Meanwhile, as pecans cool, add dressing ingredients to a large mason jar. Seal with lid and shake until well combined. Set dressing aside.
- In a large serving bowl, combine baby spinach, onions, strawberries and blueberries. Pour half of the dressing over salad, and toss to combine. Top with avocado, cheese and candied nuts.Refrigerate for 15 minutes before serving for best flavor, or serve immediately.
- Serve with the remaining dressing on the side. Enjoy!
Video
Donna’s Notes
- Mozzarella, feta or goat cheese are also amazing on this salad.
- You can eliminate some calories and sugar by subbing plain pecans for the candied ones, and by omitting the sugar from the dressing.
- The dressing may solidify in the refrigerator. It is best to allow dressing to sit on the counter for a bit, then shake well before using.
- Add sliced grilled chicken or another cooked protein of your choice for a fabulous summer meal.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published May 2016, updated and republished April 2024
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My friend made the salad,I made the dressing to accompany chicken and potatoes another friend made. Great evening and this salad was a HUGE hit with nothing left from triple batch! I made it again for family gathering,everyone was turning their noses up at berries in a salad (they were thinking ranch dressing). When they ate it with the amazing dressing they were immediately in love with this salad. My friend has also made it for a church meals,it's almost a fight between front of the line and back of the line folks,it goes VERY quickly. I'm back for the recipe yet again and will do it without sugar for keto diet. 2 couples and my husband and I are going to share dishes weekly. They cook a meal or two,we cook and all exchange dishes. I am going to make Creamy Chicken and mushroom soup from Damn Delicious, this salad (sugar free) and cloud bread,I think I'll win best low carb meal this week! I think sharing dishe will make food life changes a lot more fun and much easier than cooking every day. Thanks for a great recipe, this salad will be a once a month dish for me!
I have been making this recipe for a couple of years now after a friend shared it with me. Not only is it truly the best tasting spinach salad EVER, it makes quite an eye catching presentation! The dressing is wonderful. I make it exactly as the recipe states except I toss the spinach mix with all of the dressing, rather than 1/2 as the recipe states. I find with that quantity of spinach, all of the dressing is needed. I also recommend making double the amount of candied pecans and serving them on the side. Everyone loves them and can add extra if they want.
AAHHHMAZING!!!! My hubby just loved this! Made recipe as stated, but left out onions per personal preference. Thank you for sharing this company worthy salad!!
This salad is sooooo good! I made it again tonight and I added grilled chicken to it. Yum, yum, yum! Thank you for sharing your recipe. 🙂
This salad looks delicious! I would love to know the nutritional information for it.
So the dressing ingredients starts at the sugar correct?
Hi Christina,
Yes, the dressing ingredients start at the sugar and go through paprika.
TSRI Team member,
Becca
The spinach and strawberry together is so much better than I imagined. I’ll be making this every week in the summers!
Just made it and it is great. I will be bringing it to Easter Sunday. I forgot the sugar in the dressing but it was still very good.
Hi,
If I understood the instructions correctly – the dressing will only keep in the fridge for 2 days, correct?
Best summer salad ever. Great for cookouts, family reunions, you name it. I do adjust this a bit for my preference by leaving out the avocado, adding more blue berries, and substituting plain chopped or halved walnuts for the candied pecans. Dressing is to die for!
This is a delicious salad. The dressing is out of this world! It’s a favorite in my circle 😊
Hi Karla!
We’re so glad you enjoyed!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn
Looks delicious, so looking forward to trying this recipe 😋 thank you for sharing ❤️
Hi Kim!
We’re glad you enjoy! Let us know how it turns out.
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn
I’ve been making this for a couple years now. It’s my absolute favorite! The one single thing I change is I use half white wine vinegar and half balsamic. Just because I love balsamic. But it’s wonderful no matter what.
Hi Carol!
We’re so glad you enjoyed!!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn