Strawberry Spinach and Pecan Salad is a healthy, simple, and delicious salad with just the right mix of sweet and tart. Toasted pecans not only enhance but also balance the flavors perfectly. And this salad pairs well with so many salad dressings. However, I like it best with my Honey Lime Cilantro Dressing.
Strawberry Spinach Pecan salad is popular in the spring during strawberry season, and it's the perfect salad for an Easter side with my Easter Picnic Ham and Old Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes, with Carrot Cake for dessert! And although it makes a great side dish, just add grilled chicken, and you can make it a meal! It's ideal during warmer months, but it is a great salad any time of year. It's dairy-free (vegan), gluten-free, and Weight Watchers friendly.
Jump to:
If you love spring salads, be sure to try my Asparagus and Tomato Salad!
🥘Ingredient Notes
It's amazing how delicious the combination of only 4 little ingredients can be. You only need the following simple ingredients for this spinach and strawberry salad with pecans:
- Fresh spinach. Fresh spinach is the basis of this salad. You can use regular or baby spinach.
- Fresh strawberries. Fresh strawberries are critical for this salad! They add a fresh burst of flavor, color and sweetness.
- Pecan halves. It's much easier to buy pecan halves than to fuss with chopping them. You'll have a much better presentation if you simply buy the halves. Toasting them also adds a deeper taste, golden brown color, nutty flavor and aroma, and a delicious crunch.
- Red Onion. Red onion is sweeter than other types of onions and has a sharper flavor, which makes it ideal for this salad!
*Please see recipe card for quantities
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Onions - you can use green onions instead of red onions
- Pecans - you can use candied pecans instead of toasted pecans or substitute shelled, raw sunflower seeds
- Add-ins- add grilled chicken breast or bacon and make it a meal!
- Strawberries - you could use a different kind of fresh fruit like blueberries
- Dressing -you can use any type of dressing you prefer (homemade or store-bought) such as simple balsamic dressing with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, a homemade poppy seed dressing, raspberry vinaigrette, or blue cheese, but I highly recommend Honey Lime Cilantro because it's such a great dressing to have with this salad
🔪How to Make Spinach Strawberry Pecan Salad
PREP: Preheat oven to 350 degrees/175 degrees C.
Add pecans in a single layer on a pie plate or baking sheet and roast for 5 to 10 minutes in preheated oven (you can line the baking sheet/plate with parchment paper.)
Stir or shake the pan occasionally so the nuts brown evenly without burning.
*NOTE: Do not walk away and leave this unattended- it will burn!
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
Serve with dressing of your choice (my favorite is Honey Lime Cilantro Dressing)
Expert Recipe Tips
- Toast Pecans for Maximum Flavor. Toasting the pecans enhances their nutty flavor and crunch. Bake them at 350°F (175°C) for 5–10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Keep a close eye on them, as they can burn quickly!
- Use Fresh, Ripe Strawberries. For the sweetest and juiciest salad, choose bright red, firm, and fragrant strawberries. Avoid overripe ones, as they can become mushy when mixed
- Slice Onions Thinly. Red onions have a sharp bite, so slicing them super thin (or soaking them in cold water for 10 minutes) will mellow the flavor and make them more enjoyable.
- Add Dressing Right Before Serving. Spinach wilts quickly when dressed. To keep the salad fresh and crisp, add dressing just before serving or serve it on the side.
- Balance the Flavors. This salad is a perfect mix of sweet (strawberries), tart (dressing), crunchy (pecans), and savory (onion). If you prefer a sweeter salad, use candied pecans. For more tang, add a splash of balsamic vinegar.
- Make It a Meal. Turn this side salad into a full meal by adding grilled chicken, shrimp, or steak for protein, or goat cheese or feta for a creamy contrast.
- Use a Salad Spinner for Crisp Spinach. To avoid a soggy salad, dry your spinach well after washing. A salad spinner is the best tool, but patting with paper towels works too.
👪 Serving Size
This Spinach Pecan Strawberry Salad recipe makes 8 servings as a side salad. If you are serving it as a meal, it's about 6 servings and you're going to want to add a protein to it. However, you can half, double or triple the recipe by clicking on the serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.
🔢WW Points
This easy strawberry spinach salad recipe is Weight Watchers friendly, 2 WW points. You will need to calculate the dressing you put on it separately. I recommend serving it as a meal with grilled chicken breast in the salad or on the side (0 points) and with Cloud bread (0 points)
🥗 What to serve with Strawberry Spinach Salad with Pecans
This fresh strawberry and spinach salad with pecans pairs so well with so many dishes! I love to serve the salad on its own for a light lunch with Italian Bread Machine Breadsticks.
If you're looking to serve it as a side, it pairs perfectly with so many main dishes, such as Baked Beef Cannelloni (shown), Greek Grilled Ribs, or Chicken in a Hurry, for a fast weeknight meal!
🍽Equipment
You will need a sharp knife, a cutting board, and a large salad bowl for this spinach strawberry salad recipe. A salad spinner comes in handy, too. *See recipe for recommended equipment links
🌡️Storage
Store this spinach strawberry salad in an airtight container, and store both the salad and dressing in separate containers, in the fridge for up to 2 days.
These ingredients don't stand up well to freezing.
❔ Recipe FAQs
Toasting raw pecans enhances the flavor of pecans, giving them a nuttier taste and aroma, as well as a golden brown color and welcome crunch!
Yes! You can prepare the ingredients ahead of time by washing and slicing the strawberries, toasting the pecans, and slicing the onions. Store them separately in airtight containers in the fridge. Assemble just before serving to keep everything fresh and crisp.
Once dressed, it's best eaten immediately. However, if stored separately, the salad ingredients will last up to 2 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
This Strawberry Pecan Spinach salad is a real crowd-pleaser and gets rave reviews from anyone who has tried it! It's the perfect summer salad and bound to become one of your favorite salads!
Did your family❤️this recipe? Did you know that commenting and⭐rating recipes is one of the best ways to support your favorite recipe creators? If you LOVED this recipe, please comment and rate it in the recipe card or share photos on social media using the hashtag #foodmeanderings or tagging @foodmeanderings !
📋 Strawberry Spinach Pecan Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 oz bag of baby spinach washed
- ¾ cup pecans halves
- 1 lb container of strawberries washed, hulled and sliced in quarters
- ⅓ cup thinly sliced red onion
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees/175 degrees C.Add pecans in a single layer on a pie plate or baking sheet and roast for 5 to 10 minutes in preheated oven. You can line the baking sheet/plate with parchment paper.
- Mix the spinach, chopped red onion, sliced strawberries and toasted pecans together in a large bowl.
- Serve with your favorite salad dressing. I love Honey Lime Cilantro!
Notes
- Toast Pecans for Maximum Flavor. Toasting the pecans enhances their nutty flavor and crunch. Bake them at 350°F (175°C) for 5–10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Keep a close eye on them, as they can burn quickly!
- Use Fresh, Ripe Strawberries. For the sweetest and juiciest salad, choose bright red, firm, and fragrant strawberries. Avoid overripe ones, as they can become mushy when mixed
- Slice Onions Thinly. Red onions have a sharp bite, so slicing them super thin (or soaking them in cold water for 10 minutes) will mellow the flavor and make them more enjoyable.
- Add Dressing Right Before Serving. Spinach wilts quickly when dressed. To keep the salad fresh and crisp, add dressing just before serving or serve it on the side.
- Balance the Flavors. This salad is a perfect mix of sweet (strawberries), tart (dressing), crunchy (pecans), and savory (onion). If you prefer a sweeter salad, use candied pecans. For more tang, add a splash of balsamic vinegar.
- Make It a Meal. Turn this side salad into a full meal by adding grilled chicken, shrimp, or steak for protein, or goat cheese or feta for a creamy contrast.
- Use a Salad Spinner for Crisp Spinach. To avoid a soggy salad, dry your spinach well after washing. A salad spinner is the best tool, but patting with paper towels works too.
Terri Gilson
I love how this Strawberry Spinach and Pecan Salad combines simple ingredients to create something really special. The mix of sweet strawberries, fresh spinach, and toasted pecans is so good, especially with your Honey Lime Cilantro Dressing. I've served it as a side for Easter dinner and as a light lunch with grilled chicken!