Name: Easy Spinach Salad Recipe with Berries & Goat Cheese
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 4 Cups Baby Spinach (Washed & Dried); 1 Avocado; 3 tbsp Goat Cheese; 1/2 Cup Blueberries; 1/2 Cup Strawberries (Halved); 2 tbsp Pecans (Coarsely chopped); 1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil; 2 tbsp Honey (Liquid); 2 tbsp Dijon Mustard; 1 Lime (Just the juice); 1 pinch Salt (To Taste)

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This Spinach Salad recipe features a vibrant mix of strawberries, blueberries, avocado, and goat cheese, topped with a light honey lime dressing. Finding easy salad recipes that actually taste good usually comes down to the quality of the ingredients. Unlike a store-bought dressing, this healthy salad dressing is made with just a couple of pantry staples, making it an easy go-to for anyone needing quick and healthy lunch ideas.

A close up image of a spinach salad with strawberries, blueberries, avocado, goat cheese, and pecans, lightly tossed in a honey lime salad dressing.

Why this Spinach Salad Recipe Works

Balance of Flavours and Textures: The sweetness of the fresh strawberries and blueberries pairs perfectly with the creamy and tangy goat cheese while the chopped pecans and crisp baby spinach adds some crunch to the smooth and soft texture of the avocado.

10-Minute Healthy Lunch Idea: This is one of those super easy salad recipes that doesn’t take more than 10 minutes to put together, making it perfect for lunch or dinner prep during the week. The healthy salad dressing also stays fresh in the fridge for days.

Easily Customizable: You can totally swap any of the strawberries out for raspberries, the pecans for walnuts or sunflower seeds, or add your own personal touch!

Everything You Need To Make this Easy Salad Recipe

An informative image showing the ingredients needed to make the easy spinach salad recipe which includes a big bowl of baby spinach, fresh avocado, blueberries, strawberries, and goat cheese.3

For the Spinach Salad:

Baby Spinach: If you wash the spinach before using (recommended), make sure you dry the leaves fully with a salad spinner or pat them down with some paper towel. The honey lime dressing won’t stick well to wet leaves.

Mixed Berries: I found small strawberries that were the perfect size for this salad. Which ever berry you use, make sure they are bite sized.

Goat Cheese: The perfect crumbly cheese for this spinach salad recipe.

Avocado: I prefer a ripe avocado with some firmness to add more variety to the fresh salad.

Pecans: Roughly chopped to add crunch and texture.

An Informative image showing the ingredients needed to make the honey lime salad dressing which includes extra virgin olive oil, honey, salt, dijon mustard, and lime juice.

For the Honey Lime Salad Dressing:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Quality is key here as the oil will provide the backbone of the salad dressing.

Honey: To add sweetness to the dressing. Tip: For a sweeter dressing you can always add more.

Dijon Mustard: The mustard helps add body and creaminess to the salad dressing. It also provides a nice pop of tang and complexity to the easy salad recipe.

Lime Juice: The juice of 1 lime adds acidity and brightness, and makes it a perfect salad for the warmer months of the year. Tip: Use a lemon squeezer to get every last drop of the juice.

Salt: To taste.

How To Make this Spinach Salad Recipe

Make the Healthy Salad Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, honey, lime juice, dijon mustard, and salt until fully combined and creamy. Taste and adjust as needed.

Prep the Spinach Salad: Place the dry spinach in a large salad bowl and layer in the sliced strawberries, blueberries, avocado, and goat cheese.

Toss and Garnish: Drizzle the honey lime salad dressing over the salad, then gently toss to coat. Top the salad with more fruit, goat cheese, and chopped pecans for crunch.

Close up image of a freshly made spinach salad with mixed berries, avocado, and coat cheese, tossed in a light and healthy honey lime salad dressing.

Make-Ahead & Storage Tips

Prepare ingredients in advance: Wash and dry the spinach the day before. The strawberries, blueberries, and pecans can be sliced and chopped the day before and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. The only produce that should be cut the and immediately added to the salad is the avocado, which will brown if cut too early.

Make the Healthy Salad Dressing Early: The Honey Lime dressing can be whisked together and stored in a jar or airtight container in the fridge for up to a week before consuming. Just make sure to give it a fresh whisk or shake of the jar before drizzling onto the spinach salad.

Leftovers: Like most salads, this one is also best enjoyed immediately after tossing. Any leftovers are best eaten within a few hours to keep the spinach and fruit from getting soggy.

If you’re on a healthy lunch kick, try serving this salad with a cup of my Healthy Hamburger Soup with Barley. It’s a perfect way to get your veggies in while slurping up a hearty, protein packed soup.

I’d love to hear how this turned out for you! If you made this Spinach Salad Recipe, please leave a rating and a comment below. Did you add the Dijon mustard to your healthy salad dressing, or did you try a different fruit? Let me know!