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 perfect for patriotic holidays.
Ready in minutes and ideal for picnics and backyard barbecues, you’ll love this pretty garden-fresh salad, which can be arranged as an American flag for Memorial Day, Flag Day, or the 4th of July, or tossed like a traditional salad.
Any way you serve your red white and blue salad, it’s sure to be a hit!
With just four ingredients for the salad and your own favorite dressing or my go-to strawberry poppyseed dressing, this red white and blue salad is not only easy, but so delicious.
I’m always up for taking advantage of beautiful summer berries while they’re in season. In the summer, I always crave salads that are light and a little bit sweet, and with an abundance of fresh fruit at the farmers market each week, this is a recipe I find myself making again and again.
Simple and refreshing, this red white and blue 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!
A Healthy Red White and Blue Recipe
Of course, we can’t forget the fact that you can arrange the ingredients of this salad to create an American flag for all those patriotic summer holidays! (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.)
So many red white and blue recipes are desserts and treats, so I love being able to add something to the table that’s a little bit healthier. Much like our family favorite Strawberry Salad with Poppyseed Dressing, the fresh fruit in this salad makes it super kid-friendly, too!
Why You’ll Love It
Ingredients and Substitutions
See printable recipe card for complete ingredients and instructions.
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, and even raspberry vinegar work well.
- Honey – Just a bit for sweetness.
- Mustard
- Poppyseeds
- Strawberries – Sort through your strawberries and use any with imperfections for the dressing. Save the best looking ones for the salad!
Variations
- Different Berries – Make your red white and blue salad with raspberries, blackberries or even cherries.
- Switch Up the Cheese – Not a fan of goat cheese? Try feta, blue cheese or mozzarella pearls.
- 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 – Use your favorite dairy-free cheese.
- Add protein – We love this red white and blue salad with slices of my ever-popular Baked Chicken.
How to Make this Red White and Blue Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Combine dressing ingredients in a jar or dressing shaker and shake well.
- Toss with spinach to evenly coat your greens.
- Spread the coated spinach onto a platter if you’re creating a flag.
- Add your blueberries to the left top corner of your salad display.
- Arrange sliced strawberries into stripes across, lengthwise.
- Roll small balls of goat cheese into 1/2-inch spheres in your hands.
- Add the goat cheese to form the white stripes in your 4th of July salad display!
Tips
- Be sure to wash your salad ingredients and then spin them so that they stay crispy and don’t have excess water.
- To prep this red white and blue 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. This keeps the greens nice and crisp!
- I like serving salads on a platter to make them artful, easy to serve, and prevent the bottom from getting soggy. It also allows for even distribution of toppings.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this red white and blue salad for your favorite patriotic holidays or any time of the year! Try it with any of these summertime favorites for a delicious picnic-inspired meal.
- Picnic Sandwiches
- Strawberry Brie Bruschetta
- Juicy Sliders
- Mozzarella Bruschetta
- Baked Chicken Breasts
- Grilled Pizza
Tools to Use
- A glass jar or bottle with a spout (or even a gravy boat!) makes it easy for guests to add their own dressing.
- Use a large rectangular serving platter for a flag presentation.
How to Store
At Room Temperature – This red white and blue 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!
Leftover Idea
Tuck leftovers into a tortilla or pita with grilled chicken (a la my Chicken Wrap Recipe) for an easy lunch.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re using regular spinach, you’ll want to tear the leaves, but baby spinach doesn’t need to be torn.
The 4th of July is synonymous with backyard barbecues! Burgers, hot dogs, and grilled chicken are usually served with easy BBQ sides like this red white and blue salad, fruit salad, baked beans, corn on the cob, and more.
While the dressing can be made up to 5 days in advance, I don’t recommend assembling the salad more than a day ahead of time to ensure maximum freshness. If you do assemble the salad the day before, don’t dress it until you’re ready to serve.
More Salad Inspiration
Red White and Blue Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounces spinach
- ½ cup blueberries
- 1 cup strawberries sliced
- 8 ounces goat cheese room temperature
Optional Dressing
- ¾ cup strawberries
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup vinegar white wine or champagne
- 2 teaspoons honey
- ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon poppyseeds
Instructions
- Combine strawberries, olive oil, vinegar, honey, and mustard in a food processor. Pulse until smooth. Fold in poppyseeds.
- Toss with spinach to evenly coat your greens.
- Spread the coated spinach onto a platter if you're creating a flag.Add your blueberries to the left top corner of your salad display.Add sliced strawberries into stripes across, lengthwise.Finally, create small balls of coat cheese by rolling it into ½ inch spheres in your hands.Add goat cheese spheres to be the white stripes in your 4th of July salad display!
Tips
- Goat cheese is easier to work with when chilled. Make goat cheese balls ahead and refrigerate until you are ready to assemble.
- Use strawberries of a similar size to make stripes.
- Scale up for large groups.
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
Hello, I’m not a fan of honey (vegetarian). Can I substitute maple syrup for honey in the dressing? Or sugar? Thanks!!
I haven’t tested, but I would simply add a tablespoon of sugar and let it marinate.
The simplicity of this salad is awesome! I loved making it for dinner last night. So good!Â