Fresh and easy spinach salad with strawberries and walnuts is a light and refreshing summer meal. The perfect easy meal for hot and lazy days! Add some grilled chicken for protein and have a healthy dinner or hearty summer salad in only 10 minutes!
Want this recipe sent to you?
I'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later! (Check your spam if you have Gmail!)
Why You'll Love This Salad with Strawberries and Walnuts
- Quick and easy to make.
- Light summer meal with no oven on hot summer days - just like our spinach quinoa salad, salmon quinoa salad, or watermelon salad with basil!
- Delicious fresh flavors and the perfect combination of sweet and tangy.
- Great light lunch for meal prep.
- Impressive for guests at summer parties, BBQs, and potlucks.
- Delicious strawberry salad recipe using fresh strawberries - just like our strawberry yogurt muffins, or make some strawberry puree for smoothies!
Ingredients for Spinach Strawberry Salad
Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.
- Sweet juicy strawberries: Sliced juicy sweet strawberries are a nutritious and delicious fruit, full of antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber.
- Soft Cheese: Creamy goat cheese is a popular cheese with lots of flavor. Use tangy feta cheese as a replacement.
- Raw Walnuts: Crunchy Walnuts are a nutritious food that provides a crunchy texture and nutty flavor for this spinach and goat cheese salad. Or, try our delicious candied walnuts!
- Dark leafy greens: Crisp spinach is a leafy green that makes the base for this salad. Leafy greens like arugula, baby kale, fresh baby spinach, or even romaine lettuce would also be a great addition to this recipe.
- Dressing: Extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar glaze create a simple balsamic vinaigrette with a sweet and savory flavor balance. Salad dressings like poppy seed dressing, red wine vinaigrette, strawberry vinaigrette, or a balsamic dressing work well for this strawberry goat cheese salad.
- Protein: Protein is optional for this recipe, but we love to add cooked chicken or another protein to make it even more filling.
How to Make Spinach Salad with Strawberries and Walnuts
Below are step-by-step instructions for how to cook this recipe with the best results. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cooking time and temperatures.
Step 1 - Toast the Walnuts
Toast walnuts in a skillet on the stove over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes (or try this candied walnuts recipe!)
Move frequently and watch carefully to avoid burning. Once they are toasted and cooled, chop them into bite-sized pieces.
Step 2 - Assemble the Spinach
Add salad greens to a large bowl.
Step 3 - Add the Cheese and Walnuts
Add in toasted walnuts and goat cheese.
Step 4 - Top with Strawberries and Chicken
Add in sliced strawberries and chicken if using.
Step 5 - Drizzle with Balsamic
Drizzle with balsamic glaze and olive oil. Toss gently, season with salt and black pepper to taste, and serve.
Recipe Variations
- Cheese variations. Other types of cheese to use could be feta cheese or blue cheese.
- Nut variations. Use pecans, toasted pine nuts, or sliced almonds in place of walnuts.
- Other berries. Blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries can be used.
- Leafy greens. Select fresh greens such as arugula, field greens, or spring mix salad.
- Flavor enhancers. Add in a squeeze of lemon juice, some sliced raw red onions, or a bit of fresh ground black pepper for additional flavor depth.
- Sweeter or more tangy. A drizzle of honey or maple syrup can replace balsamic glaze and provide a little sweetness. Apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar will make the flavor more acidic and less sweet.
How do I serve strawberry goat cheese salad?
- With or without chicken. This salad is a great light and tasty lunch or dinner that is great with or without grilled chicken.
- Entrée salad. Serve this salad in a large salad bowl with grilled chicken, sautéed shrimp, roasted salmon, or whichever protein you like best.
Make Ahead
- Meal prep this recipe ahead of time, reserving the olive oil and balsamic drizzle right before serving.
Storage
- Store salad separately from the dressing if possible.
Other Expert Tips
- When toasting the walnuts, watch them carefully and move them around the pan quickly so they do not burn.
- The salad is best served the day it is made. It can get soggy if stored in the refrigerator.
- Bright, fresh, and ripe strawberries are a great choice for this tasty salad. Frozen berries are not recommended.
- Use high-quality goat cheese that is not overly pungent. Goat cheese crumbles work well.
Recipe FAQs
This recipe has 699 calories that were calculated using an online nutrition calculator. Full macro details can be found in the recipe card below.
I love to crumble goat cheese on a salad like this spinach salad with strawberries and walnuts. It is also delicious warm in recipes like this baked feta pasta or this quinoa power bowl, where you can swap the feta for goat cheese.
Goat cheese works well cold (like in this bruschetta recipe) or warm and is a versatile cheese that you will love in many recipes!
Other Fresh & Delicious Summer Recipes to Try!
If you've made this recipe, would you please leave a star rating and comment below on the recipe card? If you want more simple + delicious eats, please subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for the latest updates.
Fresh Spinach Salad with Strawberries and Walnuts
Equipment
- 1 large salad bowl
- 1 salad tongs
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh spinach
- 2 cups fresh strawberries
- 1 cup toasted walnuts
- 8 ounces goat cheese crumbles
- 16 oz cooked chicken optional
- ¼ cup olive oil
- balsamic glaze to taste
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Toast walnuts in a skillet on the stove over medium-low heat for approximately 5 minutes, stirring quite frequently to avoid burning.1 cup toasted walnuts
- Add salad ingredients to a large salad bowl.4 cups fresh spinach, 2 cups fresh strawberries, 8 ounces goat cheese crumbles, 16 oz cooked chicken
- Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze. Use salad tongs to gently toss the salad.¼ cup olive oil, balsamic glaze
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.salt and pepper
Notes
Want this recipe sent to you?
I'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later! (Check your spam if you have Gmail!)
Leave a Reply