Strawberry Spinach Salad
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Published Mar 25, 2024, Updated Feb 24, 2025
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This easy strawberry spinach salad is insanely delicious with fresh strawberries avocado, goat cheese, pecans and a creamy balsamic vinaigrette.
I tend to go through phases when it comes to salads, but spring and summer always have me craving more salads, especially ones that use seasonal produce like this strawberry salad recipe.
This strawberry spinach salad is a staple recipe in my opinion. Need a salad to bring to a potluck? This will be a crowd pleaser. Need a side salad for dinner that satisfies your sweet tooth and is packed with nutrients? This is your recipe.
Table of Contents
- Why I Love This Salad
- Strawberry Spinach Salad Ingredients
- Customize Your Salad
- How to Make Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Brittany’s Tips
- What to Serve with Strawberry Spinach Salad
- How to Prep and Store Leftovers
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Salad Recipes to Try
- Strawberry Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe
Why I Love This Salad
- Simple – This salad is so easy to make… you only need 5 main ingredients, plus the dressing and one bowl!
- Customizable – This is a great recipe to customize with different toppings. I also love adding grilled chicken or another protein to make it a meal-sized salad.
- Seasonal – It’s the perfect spring and summer salad that’s packed with fresh berries and produce!
Strawberry Spinach Salad Ingredients
You only need a handful of ingredients to whip up this delicious salad. Here’s what you need:
- baby spinach – the perfect mild green to use as the base of this salad. Of course you can switch it up and do another baby green like arugula or kale.
- strawberries – the star of the show here. I love the burst of flavor and sweetness fresh strawberries bring to this recipe!
- avocado – adds healthy fats and a delicious creaminess to the salad.
- goat cheese – a savory yet tangy flavor to compliment the others. Feel free to purchase goat cheese crumbles or a log of goat cheese that you crumble yourself. Either option works. If you’re not a goat cheese fan you can always swap in crumbled feta cheese.
- pecans – add more healthy fats and a necessary crunch factor to the salad. You can keep this raw or toast them for extra flavor.
- creamy balsamic vinaigrette – this amazing dressing ties the salad together. It’s made with Greek yogurt for a creamy take on the classic.
Customize Your Salad
One of the reasons I love this salad is how customizable it is! Here are some suggestions for variations and substitutions:
- Swap the nuts for seeds: If you have a nut allergy or if you just prefer seeds you can swap the pecans for sunflower seeds or pepitas.
- To make this dairy-free and vegan, simply skip the goat cheese (or use a vegan option) and use this balsamic dressing, which is dairy-free.
- Different dressing: Craving a different dressing? This creamy poppyseed dressing or raspberry vinaigrette is also delicious on this salad!
- Add grains: I love adding grains to my salad for some extra volume and nutrients. Toss in cooked quinoa, rice or farro to make this a heartier salad.
- Add protein: Want to enjoy this as a meal-sized salad? Add a protein of your choice! I’ve served it up with grilled chicken, but it would be delicious with crispy tofu or roasted chickpeas.
- Add red onion: Want a little added zip?! Add sliced or diced red onion to the salad.
- Use candied nuts: The ultimate treat. Try my rosemary candied pecans.
How to Make Strawberry Spinach Salad
Step 1: If desired, toast your pecans at 350°F for about 6-8 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool. Make creamy balsamic vinaigrette dressing if you haven’t already.
Step 2: Add spinach to a salad bowl and top with strawberries, avocado, goat cheese and pecans. Sprinkle on salt and pepper, to taste. Drizzle dressing over salad and enjoy!
Brittany’s Tips
- Toast the pecans: Don’t skip this step! Toasting the pecans enhances their natural sweetness and gives them a satisfying crunch. Just a few minutes in the oven makes a big difference.
- Use fresh, ripe strawberries: The juicier and sweeter the strawberries, the better this salad tastes. If they’re out of season, you can try swapping in sliced apples or pears.
What to Serve with Strawberry Spinach Salad
Like I said, this is a great recipe to bring to a potluck or to serve as a meal. Here are some recipes that would be delicious with it:
- Make a meal-sized salad by adding shredded chicken, grilled lemon pepper shrimp or blackened Salmon on top of the salad.
- Tempeh veggie burgers or black bean sweet potato burgers – fire up that grill and throw a veggie burger on to pair with this salad.
- Spinach and feta turkey burgers – my go-to turkey burger recipe!
- BBQ jackfruit sandwiches – my vegan take on a pulled pork sandwich. This would be so tasty paired with this salad.
How to Prep and Store Leftovers
To prep this salad ahead of time, layer the spinach, sliced strawberries, goat cheese, and toasted pecans in an airtight container. Keep the creamy balsamic vinaigrette in a separate container and wait to slice the avocado until just before serving.
For leftovers, store the undressed salad in the fridge for up to 2 days. If already dressed, it’s best enjoyed the same day to keep the spinach from wilting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! This strawberry spinach salad is packed with antioxidants, fiber, and healthy fats. The strawberries provide vitamin C, while spinach adds iron and other essential nutrients.
A balsamic vinaigrette is a classic pairing, but poppy seed dressing, citrus vinaigrette, or a honey mustard dressing also work well.
Use firm, ripe strawberries and store the salad in an airtight container in the fridge. If making ahead, keep the strawberries separate and add them right before serving.
Spring and summer are the best times to make strawberry salad when fresh strawberries are at their peak flavor and sweetness.
More Salad Recipes to Try
- Sweet Kale Salad
- Classic Broccoli Salad
- Baby Beet and Clementine Salad
- Easy Spinach Salad
- Roasted Tomato Salad
- Beet Salad with Arugula and Balsamic Dressing
- Arugula Salad
- Grapefruit Salad
Be sure to check out the full collection of salad recipes on EBF!
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Strawberry Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 1 5 oz container baby spinach
- ½ pound fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1 avocado, sliced
- ¼ – ½ cup goat cheese crumbles
- ¼ cup pecan halves
- fresh ground pepper + sea salt
- creamy balsamic vinaigrette
Instructions
- This step is optional, but if you want to toast the pecans simply spread them out on a baking sheet and toast in a 350° F oven for about 6-8 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.
- Make creamy balsamic vinaigrette dressing if you haven't already.
- Add spinach to a salad bowl and top with strawberries, avocado, goat cheese and pecans. Sprinkle on salt and pepper, to taste.
- Drizzle dressing over salad and toss or portion the salad and pass around the dressing to serve.
Notes
- Red onion: Feel free to add 1/4 cup sliced red onion to this salad for extra flavor.
- Dressing: Swap the creamy balsamic dressing for this creamy poppyseed dressing.
- Storage: For leftovers, store the undressed salad in the fridge for up to 2 days. If already dressed, it’s best enjoyed the same day to keep the spinach from wilting.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is my favorite go to sale right now! I love it!! Thank you.
I’ve been using a balsamic glaze and that’s great too.
Woo! So glad you’ve been enjoying this salad, Amanda! Thanks for the review 🙂
I love a big chunky salad, so this was fantastic. If anyone is trying to decide, it is worth the six minutes to roast the pecans. It makes a huge difference in the flavor. I did it one time and not another. I won’t skip it again.
So glad you enjoyed this salad, Dena! Thanks for making it and for the review. I so appreciate it!
Best salad ever! Thank you for your recipes they have been a life saver! My husband even said this is too beautiful to eat. And then he took a bite and said this is probably one of the finest Salads I’ve ever had! 🤤
Yay!! This makes me so happy to hear, Tiffany! Thanks so much for the review 🙂
This salad is so good! We had it last night for dinner and it was super easy to make! The only thing we did different was add some chicken. Will be making this some more.
Woo!! I’m so glad this salad was a hit, Jennifer! Thanks so much for the review. I really appreciate it!
This salad is amazing! It feels so fancy, yet is so easy to make.
So glad you loved this salad, Kaitlin. Thanks for making it and for the review!
Made tonight. Delicious! Hubs said top of list for best salad I’ve made yet. And I make a lot of salads, so that’s saying something. Def a keeper. Thank you!
Woo! That makes me so happy to hear, Penny! Thanks for making this salad and coming back to leave a review. It means the world to me!
Love this! Used mixed greens, walnuts, and basalmic glaze I had on hand, sans goat cheese. Delicious!!!! Thank you!
So glad you loved this recipe, Amanda! Thanks for the review 🙂
This looks really yummy! I never thought to put avocados and strawberries together!
It’s so yummy!! You’ll have to try it. 🙂
Will be making this and dressing soon can i leave goat cheese as am a vegan i never had salad before perfect for my after office meals will dm you if i make this and let you know how it goes Thanks Ramya
Yes, you can totally leave out the goat cheese. Let me know how it turns out, Ramya!