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.
Sweet strawberries this time of year are the best – and there’s nothing like in-season, fresh ingredients.
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!
Table of Contents
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.
You can even add some creamy avocado to the salad, or some sunflower seeds for an added crunch. The great thing about making this strawberry salad recipe is that you can alter the salad ingredients as you see fit.
Make it a fun and delicious colorful salad that adds a bright pop of color to your dinner table! It’s sure to be a real crowd-pleaser no matter how you decide to make and serve this healthy salad.
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
How do you mellow out red onions?
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.
Can I make this strawberry spinach salad recipe ahead of time?
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!
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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 2025
Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.
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We’re Donna and Chad, the dream team behind The Slow Roasted Italian. Our focus is on taking complicated OUT of the kitchen. Life is busy enough, making meals should be fast and easy, to help make your life as simple as possible. Read More >>
Looks so good, have to try this one
I bet this is great with grilled fresh salmon…
Yes it is .. The best ever!!!! Love it. Thank you
Wow! This looks delicious!!!
So good!!! Thanks
Yum ,will make soon ,will share my results. Thank you
The Best Ever Strawberry Spinach Salad was amazing! I am recommending it to others! Shared on Facebook, too! I added chicken to mine.
I just fixed this salad too with a few modifications (what I had available) and plain pecans. Awesome! But more importantly, the dressing was fabulous. I normally would not eat Dijon mustard but I had some Stone Ground in refrigerator for my husband and used it. That will be a staple for me from now on.
It all sounds yummy! Just wondering if I can use EXTRA VIRGIN Olive Oil (which I have on hand), instead of EXTRA light Olive Oil? Will that make a difference?
Yes! I use the extra light tasting olive oil because it has a mild flavor. You could use extra virgin, but it will have a stronger taste in the dressing. Enjoy!
We added orange juice! Made the dressing pop!
Really good! And pretty! I have already shared the link to this recipe a few times. I printed this recipe to make sure I keep it.
how long does the dressing last
Looks amazing. Do we have a nutrition breakdown for this? Seems heavy on the sugars.
Earlier in article, you mentioned that the dressing had sun dried tomatoes in it. I don't see them listed as an ingredient. Is this a different dressing?
That was a salad her s-i-l made. Can't believe you didn't get a response from Donna.
Everything looks so yummy. Have to try these.
Every recipe looks yummy. Will try them.
This salad was so good! We had it with grilled boneless chicken thighs and it was perfect. Thank you for the recipe. It is being added to my favorites list. 🙂
I used honey in place of sugar in the dressing. It turned out just as good as when my mom made it. Also if you have either an immersion blender or standard blender. I recommend adding all ingredients blending a minute then slowly add the olive oil, this will emulsify the dressing and it won't separate.
What kind of cheese could I use instead of Blue Cheese?
Can't eat it due to allergies 🙁
Try some Mozzarella.
Maybe Feta cheese
Tried feta cheese & my husband & I loved it! Thank u for sharing this delicious dressing. I shared the recipe to my sis & cant wait to make it for my mom.
Thanks, Kris!!We are so happy you enjoyed it!
My husband absolutely adored this salad. Thanks for sharing!
I made this…so beautiful and delicious. The dressing is a perfect compliment to the fruit and greens. Made double the amount of nuts…used walnuts instead of pecans. This is the perfect salad. I used it as the only side for Chicken and Dumplings. Now that is a beautiful Sunday lunch…fun to share with friends. Thanks for this forever salad beauty.
Thanks so much, Connie!!! We are so happy you enjoyed it!!
What would be a good alternative to Blue cheese?
I use shaved parmesan.
Would using honey in place of sugar for the dressing work ?
I am sure that would be fabulous. Enjoy and let us know how it goes.
Totally! I will use bee honey instead 😀
On a previous post dated May 4, 2017 someone tried the salad with honey in place of the sugar and said it turned out great.
I plan on making this salad,however,I cannot have the mustard,or the bleu cheese.I'm wondering what to substitute in the dressing,and intend to use feta cheese.My issues with these two ingredients are life threatening.
This was amazing!!!! Everyone LOVED it and making it for a graduation party!
This is the best dressing recipe… simply perfection