This berry spinach salad is one of my most requested sides during spring and summer. Baby spinach is tossed with fresh berries, creamy goat cheese, red onions, and the best sweet-tangy raspberry vinaigrette.
Why You’ll Love This Berry Spinach Salad
I call this my elevated strawberry spinach salad. It has all the classic fresh ingredients you’d expect, but with an extra handful of raspberries and blueberries for a sweet berry twist. We’re in berry season after all! But here’s why it’s a must-make spring and summer salad recipe:
- It’s so simple. It comes together in under 10 minutes, including the raspberry vinaigrette!
- It can be turned into a full meal. Add grilled chicken, grilled salmon, or even pulled pork for a more filling option.
- It’s perfect for summer cookouts. Just like my watermelon salad or fruit salad, this is always a hit at 4th of July parties, Memorial Day gatherings, and other potlucks and picnics.
Berry Spinach Salad Ingredients
- Spinach: Fresh baby spinach provides the perfect mild, leafy base for all the toppings.
Berries: This is a strawberry-forward salad, with pops of raspberries and blueberries. Feel free to use any combination of your favorite berries. - Red onion and goat cheese: Thinly sliced red onions add a zippy bite, while creamy goat cheese adds richness and balances the tangy vinaigrette.
- Pecans: Toasted or candied pecans add a delicious crunch and a touch of sweetness.
- Raspberry vinaigrette: The star of the show! This fruity, tangy vinaigrette ties everything together with bright flavor.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
How To Make This Spinach Salad
Add all the ingredients to a large mixing bowl, drizzle the raspberry vinaigrette on top, and toss everything together. To finish, I like to crack a bit of black pepper on top for a final touch.
If you’re serving it as a side salad, it pairs beautifully with my hot honey chicken drumsticks, baked pork chops, grilled lamb chops, turkey burgers, and crispy baked chicken thighs. So yum!
More Salad Recipes
- Broccoli Salad: Another crowd favorite for every occasion.
- Easy Cucumber Salad: The best side dish for grilled meats.
- Greek Salad: The best Mediterranean salad.
- Caesar Salad: Always a fan favorite!
- Or give these summer salads or healthy salad recipes a try!
If you try this berry spinach salad recipe, let me know how it turns out in the comments below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more healthy food inspiration and exclusive content, join my free newsletter here.
Description
Ingredients
- 6 cups baby spinach
- 1 cup strawberries, halved
- ½ cup raspberries
- ½ cup blueberries
- ⅓ cup goat cheese, crumbled
- ⅓ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup pecans, roughly chopped
- ½ recipe Raspberry Vinaigrette
Instructions
- Add everything to a bowl. Add the spinach, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, red onion, goat cheese and pecans to a large mixing and toss together.
- Add the dressing. Drizzle the raspberry vinaigrette over the salad, toss together, and serve.
Lisa’s Tips
- Storage tip: This salad is best enjoyed fresh, as the spinach wilts and berries soften once tossed with the vinaigrette. To prep ahead, store the ingredients separately and toss just before serving. This keeps everything fresh for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Recipe originally posted August 2014, but updated to include new photos and information for your benefit!
I am allergic to nuts so what do you suggest beside the pecan nuts to give same sort of idea
Hi Sue – You can use any nut of your choice, whether that’s sliced almonds, chopped walnuts, or even pistachios!
Use toasted garbanzo beans or edame.
This flavor combo is delicious and a winner at my house of teenagers. Its also elegant and festive. It was my go-to for my son’s 15th birthday party this summer.
Happy to hear this berry spinach salad is such a hit every time, Geraldine!
Since I have beautiful raspberries and blueberries at their peak in my garden right now, I made this for dinner tonight with the raspberry dressing. Very delicious and easy to make. I used sliced almonds instead of pecans – really good! Thank you for such an interesting recipe Lisa!
Glad this berry spinach salad was the perfect way to utilize the berries in your garden, Judy!
Made the Spinach berry salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing. Was used with grilled chicken. Everyone loved it! Left with a copy of recipe and your book title. Thank you, Lisa.
Hi Cindy – I’m sure grilled chicken tasted amazing with this berry spinach salad!
Yum! I am so boring with my salads. This looks tasty.
Will mixed greens work ok with the salad. I dont have spinach on hand. Do I need to swap out anything if I do go with mixed greens?
Yep, that’s totally fine!
Yummy fresh salad. I tweaked it a bit by adding seared Ahi tuna and substituted blackberries for strawberries and used Feta while drizzling the raspberry vinaigrette
Hi! I am just about to make this, I just wanted to ask if I could use walnuts instead of pecans?
Yes you can swap it for whichever nuts you’d like!
I added chicken thigh bites and used blueberries and boysenberry. Your dressing made the Bunco Babes very happy with this salad.
Wonderful! Glad you all enjoyed this salad Mindy :)
I can’t wait to make this. Here is my question: I am going to a pool party and am wondering should I make it when I get there? She lives 30 minutes away. Or maybe just put the dressing on when I get there?
You can just add the dressing when you get there :)
Sorry just saw the chicken comment. Thanks!
Oh my, such an inviting dish! And that color is mesmerizing – can’t wait to have a big bowl of this salad in front of me!
It’s got a delectable sweet taste that contrasts perfectly with the spinach. Enjoy the recipe :)
Låter jätte gott 👍😊
What a colorful looking and healthy salad. The dressing is so delicious and is perfect for this salad.
A great way to utilize any berries you have laying around in your fridge :)
So…the salad looks amazing, but would love to add some meat to it. Any suggestions?
Type “shredded chicken” into the top search bar. ;)
I just bought a LOT of spinach when I was in the grocery store last with nothing in mind. This is perfect! My absolute favourite combo. Thank you for the recipe :)
This will be the perfect way to use up that spinach before it goes bad!
What a gorgeous salad! I am loving all of those beautiful berries. :)
Hi Carrie- The berries are really the star of the show in this salad :)
A perfect summer salad! I normally have all the ingredients on hand, so I can whip this up at any time. It looks so pretty on the plate!
Hi Becky – This really is an easy and simple salad to whip up for the summer time :)
This looks yummy! We don’t care for goat cheese. Do you think Parmesan cheese would work well instead?
This looks yummy! We don’t care for goat cheese. Do you think Parmesan would be good in this salad?
Hi Stephanie – Absolutely! If you’re not a fan of goat cheese, you can substitute it with parmesan or even feta crumbles.
Love this recipe, easy to follow and share with my family
Hi Alondra – Glad you loved this simple, yet delicious recipe! It’s great for a quick family meal.
So yummy!!! Made this today and my mom absolutely loved it as well. Thank you
Wonderful! I’m glad you both loved the salad recipe. It’s so great this time of year with all the fresh berries in season. :)
What goat cheese brand do you recommend?
I don’t have a specific brand I buy, but I do look for organic. :)
I made this today for lunch for a friend. I served it with shredded chicken on the side. I added a bit of honey to the dressing as well. I’ll be making this again. It was so good and fresh tasting.
So happy you enjoyed the salad Karen! This salad is one of my favorites and always a crowd-pleaser! :)
This salad looks amazing! So summery!
Thanks Karly! Yes, it’s great for spring and summer when fresh berries are in abundance. Enjoy!
I was just telling a friend I was craving a colorful, spring inspired salad and then I came across this recipe. It’s light and bright and just what I needed. Thank you!
Awesome – gotta love that perfect timing. :) Enjoy the recipe!
What a beautiful salad. Love all the tastes, textures and colors.
Thanks so much Roxanna! It’s a bright and fresh salad for sure. Hope you enjoy it!
Baby spinach and goat cheese… how awesome those two are when combined! Drizzle some sweet vinaigrette on top and you will get a burst of flavors in one bowl! Delicious recipe.
I agree! I’m such a fan of goat cheese on spinach salads as well. :)
This salad has my name written all over it! Looks so fresh and delicious!
Thanks Taylor! I hope you enjoy the recipe.
This has to be one of my favorite salads!
Thanks Suzy! It the salad recipe I make most frequently as well. :)