Strawberry Salad with an abundance of berries, fresh spinach, chewy pasta, and a bright, sweet, light balsamic dressing is an unexpected and delicious cold pasta salad.
In the abundance of pasta salad recipes, there’s something especially irresistible about the sweet bite of berries in this particular dish. I use a combination of strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries for a uniquely delicious combination of flavors and textures.
This is definitely NOT your average pasta salad. With strawberry season on its way (and blueberry season not far behind), Strawberry Spinach Pasta Salad should be on your radar as you plan your summer meals. This strawberry pasta salad is the perfect light lunch or side dish for a summertime dinner.
Strawberry Salad
Strawberries are the ultimate sweet bite in many of our favorite recipes. I’m always amazed by how much flavor strawberries add to a simple salad. As it turns out, pasta salad is no exception!
While I used a combination of blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries in this particular strawberry spinach pasta salad, if you don’t have all types of berries you can easily substitute with all of one kind of berry.
If you’re looking for a version of this without noodles, this Strawberry Spinach Salad is a pasta-free recipe that combines spinach and strawberries beautifully along with crisp fresh onions and sliced almonds. It’s a warm-weather staple that’s fancy enough to serve at a dinner party and easy enough for a fast weeknight meal.
Summer Berry Pecan Salad with this Homemade Poppyseed Dressing is a family and friend favorite that I probably make once a week all summer long. I’m a big fan of using berries in as many meals as possible for as long as they’re available and at their best.
We also love this Strawberry Chicken Salad with Warm Vinaigrette. The combination of cold vegetables with the warm chicken and citrus-y vinaigrette is a delicious lunch or dinner for any time of year. It’s also wonderful served in a wrap for lunch the next day.
More Strawberry Recipes
Want a fun tip for hulling strawberries? Did you know you can use a drinking straw?? And for the ultimate in simple strawberry recipes, try dipping fresh strawberries in basil sugar. It might blow your mind.
Whipped Strawberry Butter is amazing on warm biscuits or scones, but it’s also delicious on a simple slice of toast. And for a few of our favorite strawberry desserts, you need to check out Strawberry Cobbler, Strawberry Crisp Ice Cream, and this Strawberry Rhubarb Crunch.
Spinach Pasta Salad
If it’s greens you’re in the mood for, I can’t recommend this simple Spinach Pasta Salad recipe enough. It’s full of colorful veggies with tangy garlicky flavor and, like most of my favorite go-to dinner recipes, comes together in almost no time at all.
If you’re only going to try a few new recipes this year, make the Spinach Pasta Salad one of them. Readers have been raving over that one for a while now and I agree wholeheartedly. It’s a keeper.
Cold Pasta Salad
There’s nothing like a chilled pasta salad on a hot summer night. When it’s too warm to think of turning on the oven but you want something a little more filling than a vegetables-only salad, it’s cold pasta salad all the way.
This Strawberry Spinach Pasta Salad is the perfect balance between light and filling. I enjoy a Creamy Pasta Salad as much as the next girl but sometimes you need something that’s free of mayonnaise, ranch or other ingredients that can spoil.
I’ve been serving Italian Pasta Salad at barbecues and picnics when I want to be sure whatever I bring won’t spoil in the heat.
The strawberry pasta salad I’m sharing today is similarly potluck friendly.
It can easily be prepared the night before and kept in the fridge, especially if you wait to toss the fruit, vegetables, and pasta with the dressing until just before serving.
Like the Orange Parsley Salad that I lost my mind over a few years ago (thanks again, Jenny!) This salad features my beloved White Balsamic Vinaigrette.
The dressing itself has just a touch of sugar to help bring out the sweetness of the berries without being overbearing. Shake the dressing ingredients together in a jar, tighten the lid and you have a perfect homemade dressing ready to go whenever it’s time to enjoy a delicious salad.
Plenty of bright fresh green spinach and sweet ripe strawberries with a white balsamic vinaigrette dressing tossed with cooked cooled pasta make Strawberry Spinach Pasta Salad a recipe that’s certain to become one of your family’s new favorites.
A sprinkle of goat cheese adds a salty, savory tang that ties all the flavors in this salad together. I’ve used both honey goat cheese and regular goat cheese in this recipe and they were both delicious.
Still can’t get enough salads with strawberries? (And who can?) This Strawberry Broccoli Salad from Will Cook for Smiles and Strawberry Caprese Farro Salad from A Beautiful Plate are two other must-try salads that feature fresh berries!
Strawberry Pasta Salad
- Combine the cooked pasta, berries, spinach, and red onion in a large bowl. Combine the oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper in a small jar and shake to combine.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta salad ingredients. Toss with tongs to coat well. Top with crumbled goat cheese. Stir to mix throughout. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Strawberry Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounces pasta, cooked and cooled
- 4 cups sliced fresh strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries
- 2 cups packed fresh spinach, about 3 large handfuls
- 1/4 small red onion, very thinly sliced
- 4 ounces plain or honey goat cheese, crumbled
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/4 cup light flavored olive oil
- 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Combine the cooked pasta, berries, spinach, and red onion in a large bowl. Combine the oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper in a small jar and shake to combine.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta salad ingredients. Toss with tongs to coat well. Top with crumbled goat cheese. Stir to mix throughout. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Nutrition
Trish Stewart says
Have you tried substituting honey for the white sugar? I make this dressing but also add 1/2 tsp of my homemade grainy mustard.
Mary Younkin says
I’ve made versions of this dressing with both honey and maple syrup. They’re all delicious, but the white sugar version is my favorite. I like the simplicity of the flavors.
Amy says
Loved it! Substituted rice wine vinegar for white balsamic
Sandi J Watson says
Made this tonight to go with some leftover chicken…it was soooo good!!!!…it’s a salad that will go in our rotation for sure!…it just sounds like a weird mixture, but it sure works!!!,,,5 stars of yumminess!!!
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad you enjoyed the salad, Sandi! We’ve served it with chicken many times. Happy to hear that it’ll be in your rotation for a while.