Red White and Blue Salad

This red white and blue salad is bursting with all the goodness of summer! Ripe, juicy berries combine with spinach and goat cheese for a strawberry spinach salad that is sweet, savory, and oh-so-nutritious.

The combination of blueberries and strawberries makes it one of the best options for a fabulous Memorial Day or 4th of July salad.

Ready in minutes and perfect for picnics, you’ll love this pretty garden-fresh salad that can be displayed as an American flag or more traditionally mixed.

With just four ingredients for the salad and your favorite dressing or my go to strawberry poppyseed dressing, this summer salad is not only easy, but so delicious.

I’m always up for taking advantage of the fresh and beautiful summer berries while they’re in season. In summer, I like a slightly sweet salad inspired by these flavors.

Simple and refreshing, this strawberry spinach salad is great for a Picnic Lunch or even a light dinner when combined with my favorite Bruschetta or Picnic Sandwiches. It’s also one of the best summer appetizers and I know you’re going to enjoy it!

From Memorial Day through the Labor Day, summer always feels patriotic to me, so I deem this the red, white and blue salad! If you love to celebrate with classic patriotic style, don’t skip this incredible round-up of 65+ of the BEST 4th of July Recipes.

Much like our family favorite Strawberry Salad with Poppyseed Dressing, the fresh fruit in this salad makes it super kid-friendly, too! I don’t know about you, but it’s easier to convince our kids to eat a salad when it’s loaded with juicy berries.

Whether you make a big batch and bring to your next party, or serve it up at you next weeknight dinner, it’s sure to be the talk of dinner.

I like serving salads on a platter to make them artful, easily to serve and prevent the bottom from getting soggy. It also allows for equal distribution of toppings!

Why You’ll Love this Red White and Blue Salad

• Healthy and Nutritious
• Full of Vitamins A and C along with Calcium and Iron
• Easy to Make
• One of the best Pulled Pork Sides
• Minimal Ingredients
• Perfect for Summer Potlucks and Picnics

4th of July Salad Ingredients

For the Salad

• Spinach – I used fresh baby spinach as a base for the salad. You can switch it up and use whatever greens you like, of course!
• Strawberries – Fresh is always best! Slice them on the diagonal if you’re creating the flag shape, as it makes the stripes more clear.
• Blueberries – Fresh blueberries work beautifully for a bright pop of color and the “stars” part of the stars and stripes in this 4th of July salad.
• Goat Cheese – Fresh goat cheese is ideal in this salad because it can be rolled into little balls for a neat appearance as the white stripes on the flag.

For the Dressing

• Olive Oil
• Vinegar – White white vinegar, champagne vinegar, even raspberry vinegar work well.
• Honey
• Mustard
• Poppyseeds
• Strawberries

Variations

• Different Berries – Make this salad with raspberries, blackberries or even cherries.
• Cheese – Not a fan of goat cheese? Try Feta, Blue Cheese or even Mozzarella.
• Add Nuts – This salad is delicious with a little added crunch, too. Try my Candied Nuts, or add chopped pecans, walnuts or almonds.
• Make it vegan – by using a dairy-free cheese.
• Add protein – with slices of my ever-popular Baked Chicken.

How to Make this Strawberry Spinach Salad

1. Combine dressing ingredients in a jar or dressing shaker and shake well.
2. Toss with spinach to evenly coat your greens.
3. Spread the coated spinach onto a platter if you’re creating a flag.
4. Add your blueberries to the left top corner of your salad display.
5. Add sliced strawberries into stripes across, lengthwise.
6. Finally, create small balls of coat cheese by rolling it into 1/2 inch spheres in your hands.
7. Add goat cheese spheres to be the white stripes in your 4th of July salad display!

Tips 

• To make this salad ahead of time, you can make the dressing and keep it in an airtight container for up to five days in the refrigerator.
• It’s best not to dress the salad until just before serving or the salad can be come soggy.
• Be sure to wash your salad ingredients and then spin them so that they stay crispy and don’t have excess water.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this red white and blue salad at your favorite patriotic holidays or any time of the year!

Try it with any of the following summertime favorite combinations for a delicious picnic inspired meal.

• Picnic Sandwiches
• Strawberry Brie Bruschetta
• Juicy Sliders
• Mozzarella Bruschetta
• Baked Chicken Breasts
• Grilled Pizza

How to Store

• Room Temperature – This strawberry spinach salad can remain at room temperature for up to two hours while serving.
• Refrigerate – Once the spinach is coated in dressing, it will wilt as it’s stored. It can be kept up to two days in the refrigerator after serving. However, if you want to prep this salad ahead of time, just make the dressing up to five days ahead!

Dietary Considerations

• Gluten Free
• Nut Free
• Vegetarian
• Vegan (replace goat cheese with a vegan substitute)

I’d love to hear from you! Do you celebrate all summer long? Don’t skip this delicious round-up of BBQ Sides for more summertime inspiration.