Strawberry Spinach Salad
This Strawberry Spinach Salad is crisp, fresh, and delicious. The homemade poppy seed dressing is the perfect way to toss it all together!
For more fresh salad recipes, be sure to check out my Caprese Chickpea Salad, Cucumber Greek Salad, and Greek Yogurt Fruit Salad.
How do you feel about fruit in your salad? Is it a go or is it a no? I love fruit in mine; strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, grapes, avocado – all are perfect tossed onto a big pile of leafy greens.
The first time I made this Strawberry Spinach Salad, my husband kind of gave me a one-eyed stare and asked me what in the world strawberries were doing mixed in his salad.
He wasn’t so sure about the fruit, but after a few bites, his frown turned around, and now he loves it when we have this for dinner! Which is good, because we have it pretty often.
It makes a great side dish for almost any meal, and is even great by itself as a main dish if you add a little grilled chicken.
Ingredients for Strawberry Spinach Salad
- sesame seeds
- poppy seeds
- granulated sugar
- olive oil
- white vinegar
- paprika
- Worcestershire sauce
- onion
- spinach
- strawberries
- pecans
How to Make Strawberry Spinach Salad – Step by Step



Tips and Notes
- Other fruit options: While strawberries work beautifully with the fresh spinach and poppy seed dressing, blueberries, raspberries, or grapes could easily be used instead.
- Add some feta: To add some creaminess to your strawberry spinach salad, crumbled feta or goat cheese would be delicious additions.
- Nuts are optional. I love adding some homemade cinnamon and sugar roasted pecans to this salad, but you could easily use roasted or regular pecans or walnuts. Feel free to leave the nuts out altogether, too.
- Add some protein. I love to make this salad into a full meal by adding sliced grilled chicken!
Make ahead and Storage Options
To make your strawberry spinach salad in advance, prepare the dressing and salad separately, then store them separately, too. Place each into an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to three days. Only add dressing to the salad right before you are ready to serve it, otherwise it can get soggy. I like to store my dressing in a glass mason jar with a lid. Shake the jar really well to mix the dressing ingredients together before dressing your salad.
What to Serve with Your Strawberry Spinach Salad
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*If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below. I love to hear from you and always appreciate your feedback!

Strawberry Spinach Salad
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced onion
- 10 ounces fresh spinach - rinsed, dried, and torn into bite-size pieces
- 1 quart strawberries - cleaned, hulled, and sliced
- 1/4 cup roasted pecans, optional
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sugar, olive oil, vinegar, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and onion. Cover, and chill for one hour.
- In a large bowl, combine the spinach, strawberries, and pecans. Pour the dressing over the salad, and toss. Refrigerate 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Other fruit options: While strawberries work beautifully with the fresh spinach and poppy seed dressing, blueberries, raspberries, or grapes could easily be used instead.
- Add some feta: To add some creaminess to your salad, crumbled feta or goat cheese would be delicious additions.
- Nuts are optional. I love adding some homemade cinnamon and sugar roasted pecans to this salad, but you could easily use roasted or regular pecans or walnuts. Feel free to leave the nuts out altogether, too.
- Add some protein. I love to make this salad into a full meal by adding sliced grilled chicken!
- Make ahead and Storage Options:To make your strawberry spinach salad in advance, prepare the dressing and salad separately, then store them separately, too. Place each into an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to three days. Only add dressing to the salad right before you are ready to serve it, otherwise it can get soggy. I like to store my dressing in a glass mason jar with a lid. Shake the jar really well to mix the dressing ingredients together before dressing your salad.
I only just recently realized that I love fresh strawberries in my salad! I can’t wait to try this.
Who doesnt love a healthy colorful salad? This is perfect!
I know I’d love this salad. I am all about strawberries.
I have a recipe similar your recipe only uses half the oil. Very good, lite dressing. We live in Minnesota so waiting for strawberry season is not a good idea if you are really hungry for this salad. So, for lack of fresh strawberries I often substitute Mandarin Orange slices. They are also very tasty.
Can’t wait for strawberries to be in season to enjoy this salad! I always love spinach and berries together!
Absolutely perfect, love the poppyseed dressing!
Never thought of topping a salad with cinnamon and sugar pecans but now that I see yours, I am so trying it!! Thanks for the inspiration!
Spinach salads with strawberries are like the only salad my husband really loves haha so this recipe is perfect! Thank you!
Such a classic, light and colorful salad – looks great!
I love the contrasts of flavors in your salad. thanks for sharing it with us on foodie friday.
Thank you, Diane!
I just love this salad and it makes me feel like spring is here! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a great day!
Miz Helen
Thanks so much, Miz Helen!
Thank you for sharing this yummy, healthy recipe. I have pinned it and will make it!
Kathi
Thanks for visiting and pinning, Kathi!
So healthy! I always enjoy trying new salads. I’m a salad addict actually, lol…
Please feel free to share this one up at my link up 🙂
http://www.parentingandhomeschoolinginfaith.com/2014/05/share-your-stuff-tuesdays-46.html
Thanks for the invite, Rach! I’ll be sure to come check it out. 🙂
I’ve never tried strawberries in a salad before, usually when I buy them I just eat them as they are. Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!!
Strawberries don’t last long at my house either, Laura! My son could eat an entire package all on his own!! 🙂
I absolutely love fruit in my salads and this is awesome!
I’m loving fruit in my salad, too, girl! Thanks so much for visiting!
This is such a beautiful salad! Love those roasted pecans SO much! Thanks for sharing this on Saturday Night Fever – pinned to our group board!
Thank you so much for pinning, Jen! I love coming to Saturday Night Fever. 🙂
HI! Thanks so much for linking up at The Wednesday Roundup Link Party! This salad looks wonderful and perfect for summer! Pinning now!
Thanks so much, Angela!
My favorite salad for sure!! Yum!!
Thanks for sharing it with us at Project Inspire{d}!
Thank you, Diane!
I love strawberry spinach salad and poppyseed dressing. Thank you for sharing with us at Simple Supper Tuesday.
Thank you, Cindy!
Yum! This looks fantastic and perfect for the warmer weather months! Can’t wait to make it….and then devour it 🙂
Thank you, Ashley! I hope you enjoy it. I’m SO looking forward to some warm weather, too!
This looks amazing! I love salads like this, and the pecans take it over the top! 🙂
I know, the pecans are the icing on the cake, Dee!
Having just got home from the strawberry farm the timing is perfect plus it’s all of my favorite things in a salad! perfection. I can’t wait to try this one.
Oooh fresh strawberries from the farm sounds amazing, Trish! I would love to go strawberry picking. We used to do that with my grandma when we were younger. They would be wonderful in this salad! Thank you for stopping by!
Ohhh.. delicious looking salad! And my husband was just saying he wanted cinnamon roasted pecans today. Seriously! Now I have an easy recipe. Yay!
Yay! I hope he enjoys them, Kelley! I want to go make some more now…;)