Summer Berry Fruit Salad Recipe with Easy Dressing

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Our simple berry salad has the perfect combo of mixed berries with a tantalizing raspberry dressing. It’s an easy fresh berry salad recipe that you’ll make constantly — because it disappears quickly! It’s the perfect side dish for a summer BBQ!

titled (shown in glass serving bowl) simple berry salad


 

This makes the perfect summer salad. What I love about this mixed berry salad is that it’s a colorful side dish that you can make during the springtime or for a Labor Day treat.

I made this for a Memorial Day picnic at the last minute, and it was a huge hit! 

It’s also a healthier option for a sweet tooth, and those juicy berries just hit perfectly on those hot summer days.

When it comes to a fresh summer salad that is also the perfect snack, you can’t go wrong with this fruit salad recipe. 

I always make a big bowl because I know great recipes like this don’t last long! The fresh strawberries paired with your other favorite berries create the perfect combination.

And the best part? Berries salad recipes like this can actually be enjoyed any time of year. 

Don’t wait for a special occasion to make this side salad – gather the simple ingredients and give it a go now!

This would taste delicious on top of a baby spinach salad or would be a great pairing with any main dish. It’s the perfect time of the year to whip this up! 

Simple Berry Salad

You may have noticed, we have a slight obsession with summer berries

When the season gets here, we go crazy, using them in everything from strawberry pancakes and homemade pancake syrup to salads and desserts.

You can use them to make a mouthwatering strawberry icebox cake or a delicious and refreshing summer berry sangria

And don’t forget about everyone’s favorite frozen summer treat, ice pops!

We also love fruit salsas, and pineapple salsa used to be our favorite — it’s insanely delicious. 

But, this simple summer berry salad is seriously the best fresh fruit salsa we’ve ever tried!!

You’ll flip for its fresh flavor!!

How To Make Berry Summer Salad

It all starts with a mix of 3 types of berries that are dressed in a dazzling raspberry dressing.

The berries are left to macerate in the glorious dressing — meaning break down slightly and soften from the sugar — and the result is a sweet, tangy, perfectly scoopable summer sensation!

We make our summer berry salad with strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries because those are our favorites. 

Feel free to use those, or substitute with other types of fresh berries.

Berry Salad Recipe Tips and Tricks

  • Refrigerate for a softer consistency. We usually allow the berry salad to sit in the refrigerator for about an hour. 

    This softens the fruit, making it the perfect texture for dippable fruit salsa.
  • Want a firmer texture? If you want something more like a typical fresh fruit salad, just refrigerate the berry fruit salad long enough for the fruit to chill.
  • Wash the fruit first. Don’t forget to rinse the berries to remove any dirt or pesky little bugs before you add them to the bowl. 

    A simple rinse with tap water is fine, or you can use a produce wash.
  • Remove fruit stems and hull the strawberries. Watch out for any tiny little blueberry stems and remove any that you find. 

    Then, hull the strawberries before dicing them using my helpful tips!

Kitchen Supplies You’ll Want to Use

  • Strawberry Huller – This awesome kitchen gadget is also great for removing the core from tomatoes too!
  • Produce Wash – This produce wash is organic, and made without any harmful chemicals or preservatives.
  • Serving Bowl – I love to serve this berry salad in a clear glass serving bowl like this one. It makes for a pretty presentation!

Best Way to Serve Berry Fruit Salad

You can serve this berry fruit salad a couple of different ways, depending on how long you let the fruit macerate in the dressing. 

The longer you refrigerate it, the softer the berry summer salad will become. 

We like to refrigerate ours for a few hours, then use it for dipping or serving on top of oatmeal or vanilla bean ice cream. {{swoon}} 

Of course, it’s also glorious as a simple BBQ or potluck side dish.

Either way, be sure to refrigerate leftovers in a covered container in the fridge. As a fresh berry salad recipe, it keeps well for about 3 to 4 days. 

If you don’t mind softer fruit, you can keep it for an extra day or two.

Summer Berry Salad FAQ

Which berries are the healthiest? 

All fresh fruit contains natural sugars (called fructose), but most berries are packed with fiber and vitamins.

Some, like blueberries, have antioxidants as well. According to nutritionists, raspberries, blueberries, and goji berries are among the healthiest varieties.

Do I have to add dressing to berry salad? 

Technically, no, but the added sugar is what helps to soften the fruit for this berry summer salad. 

If you find that the raspberry dressing is too sweet or overwhelming, substitute a simple mixture of lime juice and honey instead.

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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Other Fresh Fruit Salad Recipes

dipping chip into glass bowl of mixed berry fruit salad

Summer Berry Fruit Salad Recipe with Easy Dressing

Donna Elick
Our simple berry salad combines mixed berries with a tantalizing raspberry dressing. This fresh fruit salad recipe is a fabulous summer side!
5 stars from 4 reviews
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Method Mixed
Servings 8

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound fresh strawberries, diced
  • 5 ounces fresh raspberries
  • 9 ounces fresh blueberries
  • 1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Instructions
 

  • Combine jam, sugar and lemon juice in a small measuring cup. Whisk to combine ingredients. Set aside.
  • Combine fruit in a large bowl. Pour dressing over fruit. Stir until fruit is completely coated.
  • Serve immediately or place in the refrigerator for 1 hour, or up to overnight, to allow the flavors to meld.

Donna’s Notes

The longer the fruit sits, the juicier the salad will be. If you want the fruit to remain dry and crisp, I recommend serving the berry salad immediately after making it. If you prefer your fruit soft and macerated, like a fruit salsa, allow it to sit in the refrigerator for a few hours. I enjoy it both ways.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 87cal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 5mg | Sugar: 15g | Fiber: 3g | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg

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.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
titled pinterest collage for simple berry salad

Originally published April 2016. Updated and republished April 2024

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7 Comments

  1. I bet this would be great served over plain or lemon pound cake slices, either room temp or grilled!

  2. 5 stars
    Here we love this on cubed or slices of angel food cake. It’s delicious and love how easy it is to prepare.

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