Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppyseed Dressing

This Strawberry Blueberry Spinach Salad with Poppyseed Dressing is a vibrant, fresh choice for spring and summer. Featuring a hearty base of spinach, arugula, and crispy bacon, it’s enhanced with berries, avocado, candied pecans, and gorgonzola, all drizzled with a creamy poppyseed dressing.

Need more delicious salad recipes? Try my restaurant-inspired House Salad and this refreshing Greek Cucumber Salad next!

When it comes to salad, I want something hearty and flavorful, but also fresh and bright. This strawberry spinach salad recipe is inspired by the Panera Bread Strawberry Salad, but it’s SO much better.

A bed of peppery arugula and spinach is tossed in a homemade poppyseed dressing (it’s SO simple and far more delicious than the bottled stuff!), then topped with crispy bacon, red onions, strawberries, blueberries, gorgonzola cheese, avocado, and candied pecans! 

The crunch of candied pecans and the creaminess of salty gorgonzola is a blend of sweet and savory and when you mix that up with the fresh fruit and bacon – talk about FLAVA! Whip up this luscious poppyseed dressing in seconds for the perfect finishing touch.

This is the perfect salad for a dinner party, especially during the warmer months. It’s my favorite salad during strawberry season, too. When it’s hot outside and I don’t want to bother with standing in front of a hot stove, this is my go to recipe!

Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Pecan Salad Recipe

– Easy to Customize! Each element of this simple salad is easy to swap. Try different fruits, dressings, cheeses, and add-ons.

– Warm Weather Approved! This is definitely a spring salad and summer salad. Berries are in their prime between spring and summer and you can absolutely taste the difference. This is a tasty way to use them in a sweet and savory way.

– Versatile! This salad is great for all occasions. Serve this for lunch or dinner. It’s the perfect side dish side dish to serve alongside a protein for a balanced meal. Bring it to a potluck, baby shower, or summer barbeque!

– A Crowd Pleaser! You don’t have to love salad to enjoy this recipe. I’d even say it’s perfect for those who don’t like salads. Between the fresh fruits, bacon, cheese, nuts, and mouthwatering poppyseed dressing, you’ll forget how healthy this actually is!

Salad Ingredients

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Strawberry Salad Recipe 

• Baby Spinach and Arugula – Using two types of leafy greens add some dimension to this salad. Arugula has a peppery taste while spinach has an earthy, subtle sweetness. You can use any salad greens mix too. 
• Strawberries – try your best to get sweet strawberries! I am not about sneaking a strawberry before buying. You want ripe, sweet, and juicy strawberries for best results!
• Fresh Blueberries – Fresh berries add color and a vibrant pop of fresh, fruity flavor. It also balances the more savory elements of this recipe. 
• Red Onion – Sliced onions add a crispness and a mild, sharp taste.
• Avocados – Avocados elevate anything you add it to. That mild taste and creamy flavor adds a buttery mouthfeel that makes each bite that more satisfying!
• Bacon – the smoky bacon adds a smoky and salty touch – it’s the perfect flavor balance! 
• Gorgonzola – Salty, tangy, and creamy, this is my favorite cheese to pair with berries. 
• Candied Pecans – You’ll love the caramelized flavor and the crunch it adds to your spinach strawberry salad. Use store bought candied pecan halves or pieces (whatever you can find) or make your own homemade candied pecans! 

Poppyseed Dressing

• Greek Yogurt – you get all of the creaminess but with some protein too!
• Dijon Mustard – this adds a little tang for a punch of extra flavor. It truly makes the dressing SO good. 
• Heavy cream – to make the dressing nice and creamy without becoming too thick. 
• Sugar – Balance the acidity from the ACV with a touch of sweetness. 
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil – the olive oil adds a slightly earthy flavor – but PLEASE use fresh olive oil like Corto or California Olive Oil. If your olive oil is expired/rancid, it can make your dressing taste awful. 
• Poppy seeds – I love the contrast between the nutty crunch and the smoothness of the dressing. 
• Apple cider vinegar – The brightens the overall taste of the dressing. It also cuts through some of that richness and adds a lovely acidity to the dressing.

Substitutions

• Cheese – Instead of gorgonzola, some good options are feta cheese, blue cheese, or goat cheese. Want something less tangy? Opt for fresh mozzarella.
• Dressing – Swap the creamy poppyseed dressing for a smooth homemade balsamic dressing. 
• Fruits – No need to abandon this sweet berries in the cooler months. Opt for dried cranberries, sliced apples, or mandarin oranges as fruit substitutes. You can also try pears, like with my arugula and pear salad!
• Nuts – Swap the the toasted pecans for chopped walnuts, slivered almonds. Need a nut free alternative? Try sunflower seeds instead.

Tips for the Best Strawberry Pecan Salad 

• Optimize the taste of your salad by using the freshest ingredients available. Ripe strawberries and freshly packed spinach and arugula ensure this salad has a delicious foundation. 
• Slice the red onions as finely as possible! ​No one wants a hunk of onion in their salad!
• To meal prep this – add use a small mason jar! Add a little dressing on the bottom, then add the remaining ingredients on top and cover with a lid. To see how it’s done, check out this mason jar salad tutorial!

Step-by-Step Instructions

• Cook bacon as preferred. I make mine in a the oven at 375 degrees F for about 20 minutes. Blot off any excess grease and set aside. (Image 1)
• Slice the red onions as thinly as possible and place into a small bowl of ice cold water. (Image 2) (This helps to soften the flavor of the onions, about 10 minutes is sufficient)

• While the onions are resting, whisk together the ingredients for the poppyseed dressing in a medium sized bowl.

• In a large bowl, combine the spinach and arugula. Drizzle a little dressing on top, then add the strawberries, blueberries, red onions, pecans, avocado, gorgonzola, and bacon. Add more salad dressing as you’d like, then top with candied pecans. 

What to Serve with Strawberry Pecan Salad

This strawberry salad is a feast within itself but you can make it even more filling by adding more protein like this juicy steak recipe, smoked chicken thighs, or cajun salmon. Also, don’t forget about soup – because soup and salad go together like PB and J. I love this salad with asparagus soup or tomato soup! 

For more fruit, this watermelon feta salad and creamed spinach is the perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors!

Storing Leftovers

This salad is best served immediately. Only add dressing to individual servings so leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

Store the poppy seed dressing in an airtight container or mason jar in the fridge for up to 1 week. Just shake it up to re-emulisfy it before adding it to another salad.

FAQ

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Let’s stay connected on social media and continue to cook together! Also, if you decide to make this recipe, please leave a star rating on the recipe card and leave a comment below! Tag @BritneyBreaksBread on Instagram and hashtag #britneybreaksbread so I can see your creations! I hope that you love this recipe as much as we do!