With an abundance of sweet ripe berries, fresh green spinach, chewy pasta, and a bright and flavorful light balsamic dressing, this strawberry spinach salad is an unexpected and delicious pasta salad that is certain to become one of your family’s new favorites.
Strawberry Spinach Salad
This is not your average spinach pasta salad. With strawberry season on its way (and blueberry season not far behind), this strawberry and spinach salad should be on your radar as you plan your summer meals. It is the perfect light lunch or side dish for a summertime dinner.
In the abundance of pasta salad recipes, there’s something especially irresistible about the sweet bite of berries in this particular dish. I often use a combination of strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries for a uniquely delicious combination of flavors and textures.
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.
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 often use a combination of blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries in this particular strawberry spinach pasta salad, if you don’t have all those types of berries you can easily substitute with all of one kind of berry.
Berry Salad
If you prefer to make a berry salad without pasta, classic Strawberry Spinach Salad 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.
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!
Spinach Salad with Strawberries
This salad is wonderfully potluck-friendly as well. It can easily be prepared ahead of time and kept in the fridge, especially if you wait to toss the fruit, vegetables, and pasta with the dressing until just before serving.
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this salad:
- cooked pasta
- fresh strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries
- fresh spinach
- red onion
- goat cheese, optional
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.
White Balsamic Vinaigrette
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this dressing:
- light-flavored olive oil
- white balsamic vinegar
- white sugar
- salt and pepper
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.
To make the salad, combine the cooked pasta, berries, spinach, and red onion in a large bowl and 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.
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. Readers have been raving over that one for a while now and I agree it’s a keeper.
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.
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.
Strawberry Spinach 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
- ¼ small red onion, very thinly sliced
- 4 ounces plain or honey goat cheese, crumbled
Dressing Ingredients
- ¼ cup light flavored olive oil
- 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ 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
{originally published 5/14/19 – recipe notes and photos updated 6/10/24}
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.