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This strawberry spinach salad is fresh, colorful, and packed with sweet, savory flavor — the kind of salad that works just as well for a quick lunch as it does for a holiday table.
With juicy strawberries, tender spinach, creamy avocado, crunchy candied pecans, and a tangy homemade poppy seed dressing, every bite is perfectly balanced.
It’s one of the most popular ways to make a classic strawberry salad, and it’s easy to customize with different cheeses, nuts, or dressings depending on what you have on hand. If you love a bolder, more savory version, my Strawberry Blue Cheese Salad is a great option too.
How to Make Strawberry Spinach Salad (Quick Answer)
Here’s a quick look at how to make this easy strawberry spinach salad (full instructions in the recipe card below).
- Add fresh spinach, sliced strawberries, red onion, and toppings to a large bowl.
- Shake together a simple poppy seed dressing in a jar.
- Toss gently to combine without bruising the spinach or berries.
- Add cheese and avocado last.
- Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Strawberry Salad Variations
This strawberry spinach salad is one of the most popular ways to make a classic strawberry salad, but there are plenty of easy ways to switch things up depending on your taste and what you have on hand.
Classic spinach + strawberries: Fresh, simple, and the version most people know and love.
Arugula + goat cheese: A slightly more peppery, tangy option with a little more bite.
Blue cheese version: Bold, savory, and full of contrast — try my Strawberry Blue Cheese Salad for that variation.
Add protein: Grilled chicken, shrimp, or salmon turns this into a satisfying main dish.
Add crunch: Candied pecans, walnuts, sliced almonds, or sunflower seeds bring texture and a little extra contrast.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Fresh, balanced flavor: Sweet strawberries, creamy avocado, tangy poppy seed dressing, and candied pecans make every bite feel balanced and flavorful.
Perfect for spring and summer: This is the kind of salad that feels right at home at brunches, showers, cookouts, and holiday meals.
Easy to serve: It works beautifully as a fresh side dish, but you can add protein and turn it into a light meal.
Feels special without much work: It looks gorgeous on the table but comes together with simple ingredients.
Strawberry Spinach Salad Ingredients
Spinach: Baby spinach works best for a tender, mild base. Wash and dry thoroughly so the salad doesn’t get watery.
Strawberries: Use ripe, sweet berries for the best flavor. Slice just before serving.
Red onion: Thinly sliced for a little bite. Soak in cold water for 10 minutes to mellow the flavor if needed.
Candied pecans: Add crunch and sweetness. Store-bought works great, or use toasted nuts for a less sweet option.
Cheese: Feta, blue cheese, or chèvre all work—choose based on how tangy or creamy you want the salad.
Poppy seed dressing: Sweet and tangy, it ties everything together. Adjust the sweetness to taste.
Best Dressing for Strawberry Spinach Salad
A classic strawberry spinach salad is most often paired with a sweet and tangy poppy seed dressing, which balances the strawberries and savory toppings beautifully.
You can also switch things up depending on your taste:
Poppy seed dressing: Sweet, tangy, and the most traditional choice for this salad.
Balsamic vinaigrette: Richer and a little deeper in flavor, with more tang.
Honey vinaigrette: Light, sweet, and a great option if you want something milder.
Strawberry vinaigrette: Bright, fruity, and perfect if you want even more berry flavor.
How To Make Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe
This fresh, vibrant salad comes together quickly. You’ll make a simple dressing, prep your ingredients, then toss everything together right before serving so it stays crisp and beautiful.
Make the dressing: Add all dressing ingredients to a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously until well combined. Set aside.
Prep the ingredients: Hull and quarter the strawberries, thinly slice the red onion, and dice the avocado just before assembling so it stays fresh.
Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, add the spinach, strawberries, pecans, and red onion. Toss gently with the dressing to coat.
Finish and serve: Transfer the dressed salad to a serving platter, then top with the cheese and avocado. Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
What to Serve With Strawberry Spinach Salad
This fresh, slightly sweet salad pairs beautifully with savory mains and simple proteins.
Perfect with Pork
Pork and fruit are a natural match. Try it with Stuffed Pork Chops, or Crockpot Pork Tenderloin,
Chicken Favorites
This salad is especially good with Buttermilk Roasted Chicken or Honey Garlic Chicken.
Seafood Pairings
Keep things light and summery with Grilled Shrimp or Honey Glazed Salmon.
Cozy Breads
Round out the meal with Homemade Crescent Rolls or Cheddar Biscuits.
Storing + Freezing + Make-Ahead
Storing
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep in mind that once the salad is dressed, the spinach will start to soften and the texture won’t be quite as crisp.
Freezing
This salad does not freeze well.
Make-Ahead
You can make the dressing up to 4 days ahead and keep it in the fridge. You can also prep the strawberries and onion ahead of time, but wait to add the avocado, cheese, and dressing until just before serving for the best texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
◆ Can I make strawberry spinach salad ahead of time?
Yes, but for best results, keep the dressing separate and toss just before serving so the spinach stays fresh and crisp.
◆ What dressing goes best with strawberry spinach salad?
Poppyseed dressing is the classic choice, but a light balsamic vinaigrette or citrus dressing also works beautifully.
◆ How do you keep spinach salad from getting soggy?
Make sure the spinach is completely dry and only add dressing right before serving.
◆ Can I add protein to make it a full meal?
Absolutely! Grilled chicken, shrimp, or salmon turn this into a satisfying main dish.
◆ What cheese works best in strawberry spinach salad?
Feta, blue cheese, or goat cheese all work well—each adds a slightly different flavor depending on your preference.
More Delicious Green Leafy Salads
- House Salad – Crisp, classic, and goes with everything.
- Mediterranean Salad – Fresh veggies, herbs, and bright lemony flavor.
- 1905 Salad – Famous garlicky dressing with ham, cheese, and olives.
- Pizza Salad – All your favorite pizza flavors in a fresh, crunchy salad.
- Grinder Salad – Bold deli flavors with a creamy, tangy dressing.
Tried This Recipe?
If you gave this strawberry spinach salad a try, I’d love to hear how it turned out! Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and a comment below—it really helps other readers and means so much to me.
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Strawberry Spinach Salad
Ingredients
Poppyseed Dressing
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, grated
- 1 tablespoon shallots, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup olive oil
Salad
- 1 (12-ounce) bag baby spinach
- 1 1/2 quarts strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 1 cup sugared pecans
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 4 ounces feta or bleu cheese, crumbled
- 1 ripe avocado cut into 1/2 inch pieces
Instructions
Make Dressing:
- In a jar with a tightly fitting lid, add all ingredients and shake vigorously to combine, or add all ingredients to a small mixing bowl and whisk together until well combined. Any leftovers can be kept in the fridge for 4 days.
Salad:
- In a large bowl, add the baby spinach (12-ounce), strawberries (1 1/2 quarts), sugared pecans (1 cup), and red onion (1/2 cup). Toss gently with poppyseed dressing.
- Arrange dressed salad onto a serving platter and toss with cheese (4 ounces) and avocado (1). Serve immediately.
Fans Also Made:
Notes
- Vinaigrette: This salad does not use a strawberry vinaigrette dressing — the strawberries are kept separate and offer a great burst of flavor with every bite. I like this variation better than strawberry spinach salad with berry vinaigrette, as it adds a nice, tangy contrast to the other salad flavors. But if you like more of a berry taste, or even want to try something with more citrus, go for it!
- Spinach: I typically grab the pre-washed bag of baby spinach from the grocery store, so there’s no need to add the step of rinsing or prepping the leaves.
- However, if you’re lucky enough to get it from farm fresh (or from your own garden!), then you’re going to need to wash it. Baby spinach leaves love to stick together and trap grit and extra water- neither of which are good in your salad!
-
- Swish the leaves in a large bowl of water, separating them as best you can.
- Scoop the leaves out of the water and set aside in a colander.
- Change the water in the bowl and repeat until you there’s no grit when you sample a leaf or two.
- You can also use a salad spinner as well!
- Tossing Technique: Be gentle when you toss salad. The baby spinach and strawberries both bruise easily, which takes away from your presentation. Mix just enough to evenly distribute all the yummy toppings and coat the leaves in the dressing. A nice large pair of salad tongs work great, or use your hands!












Wonderful! I’ve been looking for this recipe for sometime now and finally got it. Daughter-in-law gave me her recipe and then I lost it due to a flood! I’m so happy that you shared it with me. Thank you 😊
Oh no! But I’m glad you found it here. Thank you too!
Looked good and tasted great!
Yay!Thank you so much, Judy! 🙂