This Strawberry Spinach Salad is going to be your new favorite way to enjoy fresh spinach. Juicy strawberries, creamy avocado, crisp red onion, candied pecans, and salty feta all come together with a sweet poppy seed dressing. It’s quick, easy, and the perfect warm weather side dish or appetizer!

This Strawberry Spinach Salad is MY Salad of the Summer

so…this is the only way I want to eat spinach now…

To be honest I’m not usually a spinach salad kind of girl so my goal for creating this recipe was to make one that I actually wanted to eat. I can confidently tell you that THIS is the spinach salad that I have on repeat because it’s actually delicious and has the best combination of all my favorite things.

The star of the show are the juicy fresh strawberries (sliced not chopped for the perfect bite), and there’s creamy avocado (because, duh?!), crisp red onion for some good oniony flavor, candied pecans for crunch, and salty feta cheese. Last but not least I made a delicious lemon poppy seed to pull it all together and I like to use a good amount because who want’s a dry salad?!

If you’ve been looking for your new favorite salad to enjoy as a side or even with some protein then this is the one you need to make, ASAP! As always, I’m walking you through everything you need to know about this salad. It’s so good, so easy, and I know you’re going to love it. Let me know what you think!

— Ashlea

Watch How to Make This Recipe

Here’s a Quick Overview of the Salad Ingredients

Spinach: Fresh spinach forms the base of this salad. I personally prefer baby spinach but regular spinach also works.
Fresh Basil: Basil and strawberries are a match made in heaven so I added a bit to this salad for even more flavor.
Strawberries: You’ll need two cups of fresh, sweet strawberries that have been hulled and sliced.
Avocado: This adds a bit of creaminess to the salad and I mean who doesn’t love avocado?!
Candied Pecans: For a bit of crunch and extra sweetness.
Red Onion: Be sure to slice your onion very thinly so you don’t end up with huge chunks of red onion in your salad.
Feta Cheese: Tangy feta is always my go-to for salads, and it works SO well in this recipe!
Poppy Seed Dressing: You could use a store-bought dressing, but I trust me when I say my poppy seed dressing is the best!

Ingredient Substitutions and Ways to Switch Things Up

Spinach – not a fan of spinach? Use lettuce, arugula, or mixed greens instead.
Strawberries – add to or swap out the strawberries with blueberries or raspberries, if preferred.
Candied Pecans – if you’re not a fan of the extra sweetness, feel free to use plain pecans, almonds, or walnuts instead.
Feta Cheese – if you prefer, you can swap the feta with goat cheese, mozzarella, or even cheddar. Or, use your favorite dairy-free cheese instead.
Dressing – switch up the flavor by using any other dressing you like, such as Greek salad dressing, creamy honey mustard dressing, or homemade Ranch dressing.
Protein – make this strawberry and spinach salad a complete meal by adding shredded chicken, grilled shrimp, or even crispy baked tofu.

Let’s Make This Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe in 3 Simple Steps

Make the dressing. Start by making the poppy seed dressing by adding all of the ingredients to a mixing bowl and then whisk until everything is well combined.
Prep the Salad. Add the spinach to a large bowl, and toss with a few spoonfuls of dressing. Then, transfer it to a large serving bowl or platter.
Serve. Add the toppings to the spinach and then add a drizzle of extra dressing. That’s it!

Meal Prep Tips

Meal prepping this for lunch? Here are my top tips for meal prepping in advance:

Make the dressing: prepare the dressing up to a week in advance, and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
Chop and store your produce: wash and chop all the produce in advance, and store everything in separate airtight containers in the fridge. Then, all you have to do is toss everything together when you’re ready to eat!
Prep your protein: if you’re adding protein, cook that in advance and then store in a separate container in the fridge. You can quickly reheat it in the microwave before adding to the salad.

More Delicious Salad Recipes

I hope you give this Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe a try! It’s easy to prepare, full of flavor and texture, and so delicious! If you do give this recipe a try, I want to know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @allthehealthythings on INSTAGRAM. Your reviews help support All the Healthy Things and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love.