Strawberry Spinach Salad – The Stay At Home Chef

If you’re looking for a salad that will wow everyone, try this Strawberry Spinach Salad. It’s loaded with juicy strawberries, crunchy bacon, cream cheese, and homemade candied walnuts that give it the perfect crunch. And don’t forget the poppy seed dressing—it’s sweet, tart, and totally addictive. This salad is a total flavor bomb and is super easy to make. Perfect for any get-together or just a special treat for yourself!

Make it a meal by adding shredded or cubed chicken using our delicious marinade, or quick and easy lemon chicken.

What makes this salad even better is how versatile it is. You can easily swap out the strawberries for other seasonal fruits like blueberries or peaches, and it will still be delicious. The homemade candied pecans add the perfect touch of sweetness and crunch, but you can also use store-bought pecans if you’re in a rush. And what about the poppy seed dressing? It works wonders on just about any salad. This recipe is unforgettable and is sure to become one of your favorites!

Ingredient Notes

• Baby spinach: Choose varieties with small leaves for the best taste and texture, as large spinach leaves can be too tough and chewy for a salad.
• Strawberry: Remove the stems and cut into slices or quarters.
• Red onion: We prefer to cut the onion into thin slices, or you can also cut it into cubes. Feel free to leave it out if you don’t like red onions.
• bacon: Choose cooked, crumbled bacon instead of bacon bits for the best flavor. Baking bacon in the oven is super easy.
• candied Pecan: You can find these nuts at your grocery store, or we’ve provided instructions for making your own, too. You can substitute almost any other type of nut for the pecans, including almonds and walnuts.
• Feta cheese: It can be substituted with goat cheese. Use as much as you like.
• poppy seed sauceThe real star of this salad!

candied pecans

You can certainly buy candied pecans at the store, but if you can’t find them, you can always make your own. You’ll take 1 cup of raw pecans and place them in a bowl. Next, mix together 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons melted salted butter, and a pinch of cinnamon. Mix all of these ingredients together until the pecans are evenly coated.

In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the coated walnuts for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently. Watch the walnuts closely as the mixture darkens. Once the coating has adhered to the walnuts and is coated, transfer the walnuts to a sheet lined with parchment paper and spread them out evenly. Once the walnuts have cooled, they are ready to be enjoyed in this delicious salad.