• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sweetphi logo

  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Five Ingredient Fridays
    • Meal Plans
    • Reader Recreations
  • About
    • About & Contact
    • Partnerships
  • Cookbooks
  • Life
    • Love Lists
    • Catching up with the Kelnhofers
    • Travel
  • Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Spinach Salad and Dressing Recipe

Feb 16, 2021 · 33 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

What’s the hardest part of making a good salad? Dressing and figuring out what the best dressing is for your salad ingredients. Today I’m going to share with you the best spinach salad and dressing recipe.

Mixing a salad with wooden utensils this image

This spinach salad was first introduced to me by my mother-in-law, and after having it a million times at parties (it’s THAT good, always getting requested) I decided it was high time I learn how to make it at home.

It’s a spinach salad that has apples, pears, pecans and feta in it, and has the most amazing dressing.

Fruit, cheese, nuts and dressing in small bowlsSalads are something that I wish I would eat more of. The problem is, that unless I LOVE it, I don’t want it lol. When I find a salad I love, I can’t stop thinking about it and make it lots of times!

Just like my spinach salad with soft boiled eggs, bacon and a mustard vinaigrette which I’ve made more times than I can count (I’m even eating it for lunch this week), this spinach salad is one I rave about and have started making all the time.

What ingredients are needed to make the salad?

  • Spinach
  • Apples
  • Pears
  • Pecans
  • Feta

Salad in a wood bowl with wooden serving utensilsSalads are awesome to serve when you have guests over, they add that special something to the meal to make it balanced.

Spinach salad ingredient swaps -salads are also something that are easily adaptable to what you have on hand.

  • Don’t have pecans? No worries, add walnuts!
  • Don’t have feta cheese? You could use goat cheese instead!
  • Only have 2 apples or 2 pears instead of 1 of each? That’s ok, use double of one or the other!
  • Don’t have spinach? Use other spring greens or arugula or kale.

Hands holding a wood serving bowl with salad and wood serving utensilsBecause this spinach salad is so amazing and versatile, I’ve left the title vague as ‘spinach salad & dressing’ (it also gives it a little mystery) instead of saying spinach salad with apples, pears, pecans, feta and a homemade vinaigrette, haha, because it could just as easily be called spinach salad with fruit, nuts, cheese and homemade dressing.

In the recipe below, I’ll share the recipe I used, and then the different adaptations you could make. I also love using a wooden bowl and wooden utensils to serve this salad.

Spinach salad in a wooden serving bowl with dressing on the sideNext time you’re in need of a truly wonderful spinach salad and dressing recipe, look no further!!

Other recipes you might enjoy:

  • 5 Ingredient Spinach Hummus Feta Wraps
  • The Best Vinaigrette Recipe
  • Green Goddess Dipping Sauce/Dressing with Yogurt
Mixing a salad with wooden utensils

Spinach Salad and Dressing Recipe

An easy spinach salad with fruit, nuts, cheese and homemade dressing.
4.17 from 118 votes
Print Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Equipment

  • Blender
  • Measuring cups
  • Wooden spoons

Ingredients

To make salad

  • 8-10 cups baby spinach or other greens
  • 1 apple cored and finely chopped
  • 1 pear cored and finely chopped.
  • 1/2 cup candied pecans or walnuts, or other nuts
  • 1/4 lb crumbled feta or goat cheese, or blue cheese

To make salad dressing

  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 garlic clove pressed
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • In a salad bowl, combine greens, fruit, nuts, and cheese.
    Salad in a wood bowl with wooden serving utensils
  • In a separate bowl (or blender) combine all the salad dressing ingredients (olive oil, vinegar, honey, dry mustard, garlic and salt) and whisk to combine.
  • Pour dressing over salad and serve.

Notes

Instead of 1 apple and 1 pear, you could 2 apples or 2 pears.
Nutrition information disclaimer: the nutrition information presented on this site should be considered an estimate as the calculations will change based on the exact products you use in your own kitchen.  
 
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 187kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 283mg | Potassium: 236mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 2891IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 1mg

Related Posts

  • Chinese Chicken Salad
    Chinese Chicken Salad

    Every once in a while I like to try different salad recipes, this Chinese Chicken…

  • Classic egg salad recipe
    Classic Egg Salad Recipe

    Sometimes the classics are just better. Like a good old fashioned milkshake or something that…

  • Rainbow-salad-with-blood-orange-dressing
    Rainbow Salad with Blood Orange Dressing

    This rainbow salad with blood orange dressing is packed full of vibrant flavors, not to…

Appetizers/Sides, Blog Posts, Fall Favorites, Healthy, Recipes, salad, Seasonal, Spring Favorites, Summer Favorites, Winter Favorites apple, feta, pear, pecans, spinach, spinach salad and homemade dressing, spinach salad dressing, spinach salad dressing recipe, spinach salad with apples pears feta and pecans

Did you make this recipe? Hashtag with us! Be sure to follow/tag @sweetphiblog and hashtag #sweetphiblog – we love to see what you’re cooking up!”

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Fiona says

    December 22, 2022 at 6:04 pm

    5 stars
    Made this tonight, loved it

    Reply
    • Sweetphi says

      January 4, 2023 at 9:05 am

      I’m so so happy to hear this, thanks for leaving this awesome feedback!!

      Reply
  2. Sue says

    September 15, 2021 at 1:53 pm

    5 stars
    Excellent recipe. I made it with pear, cranberries/walnut mix and blue cheese. So good! Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Sweetphi says

      September 15, 2021 at 3:34 pm

      I love that you made this with pear/cranberries/walnuts and blue cheese – yum! Thank you so much for commenting and your feedback!!

      Reply
  3. Debby says

    June 21, 2021 at 4:56 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious! I think I will be using this salad dressing on other salads too! So good compared to anything store bought 🤗

    Reply
    • Sweetphi says

      June 28, 2021 at 12:11 pm

      Oh my goodness, thank you SO MUCH for the lovely feedback, I’m so glad you love this recipe as much as I do (and I couldn’t agree more, it’s so much better than store bought!)

      Reply
  4. Lisa says

    July 31, 2020 at 6:40 am

    Thanks for the recipe – sounds delicious! Is there a particular type of apple you recommend for this salad?

    Reply
    • Sweetphi says

      July 31, 2020 at 8:34 am

      You’re so welcome, I think you’ll love this recipe!
      I usually like a Granny Smith (tart) or a Pink Lady apple for this salad 🙂

      Reply
  5. Rebecca says

    July 28, 2020 at 11:02 am

    5 stars
    I used a spicy honey and only 1 tablespoon of it. This is a fantastic recipe!

    Reply
    • Sweetphi says

      July 31, 2020 at 8:36 am

      Oh I love hearing about the modifications, so happy you loved it!!

      Reply
  6. Mrs. Crew says

    December 24, 2019 at 8:09 pm

    Love this recipe! Thank you! Quick question regarding the salad dressing. How do you store it?

    Reply
    • Sweetphi says

      December 24, 2019 at 8:10 pm

      I store it in a mason jar or Tupperware container in the fridge

      Reply
      • Mrs Crew says

        December 25, 2019 at 10:47 am

        Great! How long is it good for?

        Reply
        • Sweetphi says

          December 27, 2019 at 10:07 pm

          I’d say 2 weeks to a month 🙂

          Reply
  7. Sheryl Silagi says

    October 16, 2018 at 12:35 pm

    I tried this recipe on spinach salad and used goat cheese-my husband loves-it was a hit! All loved but held the pears on one son’s salad. Delicious! Thank you:)

    Reply
    • Sweetphi says

      October 16, 2018 at 1:03 pm

      Thank you so much for leaving your feedback, I’m so happy you liked it!! The goat cheese sounds amazing!

      Reply
  8. Nancy Truszynski says

    June 1, 2018 at 12:15 pm

    I’m currently obsessed with spinach salad too. I put avocado, rotisserie chicken, almonds or pine nuts and cherry tomatoes in mine. Sometimes sprinkle with shredded parm, but want to try your dressing next.
    Thanks.

    Reply
    • Sweetphi says

      June 4, 2018 at 11:50 am

      I love using rotisserie chicken on the salad 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 5 Ingredient Crispy Cheesy Air Fryer Chicken Dinner Recipe – #foodlover says:
    January 17, 2021 at 3:19 am

    […] Spinach salad […]

    Reply
  2. Thanksgiving Salad Recipe - Sweetphi says:
    October 20, 2020 at 8:29 am

    […] similar salads feature candied pecans of some sort.  I love eating them in recipes like my spinach salad.  You could absolutely use those, but I prefer pepitas, which are pumpkins […]

    Reply
  3. 5 Ingredient Crock Pot Pork Roast and Potatoes Rec - Spinach Salad says:
    August 2, 2020 at 9:50 pm

    […] What’s your fave spinach salad topping? I love candied pecans!! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ sweetphi.com/… ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #lunch […]

    Reply
  4. Crispy Chicken and Arugula Salad Recipe - Sweetphi says:
    June 30, 2020 at 4:43 pm

    […] Spinach Salad & Dressing Recipe […]

    Reply
  5. Recipes To Make This Summer - Sweetphi says:
    June 16, 2020 at 1:45 pm

    […] Spinach salad and dressing recipe – for a refreshing salad everyone will love, bring this spinach salad, it’s amazing […]

    Reply
  6. How to Host A Virtual Dinner Party - Sweetphi says:
    May 15, 2020 at 2:12 pm

    […] or Salad – easy cucumber salad, spinach salad, 5 ingredient tortellini […]

    Reply
  7. Greek Chickpea Salad in a Jar - Sweetphi says:
    April 28, 2020 at 6:34 pm

    […] Spinach Salad & Dressing Recipe […]

    Reply
  8. Top Recipes of 2019 (with highlights and failures) - Sweetphi says:
    December 26, 2019 at 9:25 pm

    […] Spinach Salad & Dressing recipe – this is a great salad recipe, but an even better dressing recipe!  It’s always the best when you know just what goes in to your food, so I love when I make my own dressings. […]

    Reply
  9. Green Goddess Dipping Sauce/Dressing with Yogurt - Sweetphi says:
    December 9, 2019 at 7:08 pm

    […] Spinach Salad & Dressing […]

    Reply
  10. Spinach Salad & Dressing – Lori's Recipes says:
    December 6, 2019 at 10:02 pm

    […] https://sweetphi.com/spinach-salad-dressing-recipe/ […]

    Reply
  11. 40 Cosas Asombrosas Que Nunca Imaginaste Que La Sal Podía Hacer says:
    August 30, 2019 at 9:37 pm

    […] Source: SweetPhi […]

    Reply
  12. 40 Amazing Things You Never Knew Salt Could Do says:
    July 12, 2019 at 12:58 pm

    […] Source: SweetPhi ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT […]

    Reply
  13. Top 10 Recipes of 2018 - Sweetphi says:
    December 30, 2018 at 9:52 am

    […] Spinach Salad & Dressing – this is such a great and versatile recipe, so many adaptations can be made, and it turns out great every time! […]

    Reply
  14. 5 Ingredient Crispy Cheesy Air Fryer Chicken Dinner Recipe - Sweetphi says:
    September 21, 2018 at 8:59 am

    […] Spinach salad […]

    Reply
  15. Summer of Smoothies & Salads {with recipes and shopping list} - Sweetphi says:
    June 27, 2018 at 10:31 am

    […] 5: Spinach salad with grilled chicken (chicken was marinated in a dash of olive oil, juice of 1 lemon, 2 garlic […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Top 5

Related Posts

  • 1 One Pot Thai Shrimp and Quinoa
  • 2 5 Ingredient Loaded Tater Tots
  • 3 Baked Chicken, Potatoes, Carrots and Herbs
  • 4 5 Ingredient Slow Cooker Cheesy Potatoes Recipe
  • 5 Quick Pickled Asian Vegetables

Philia Kelnhofer, Danish, Chicken tacos, Kelnhofer familySweetphi.com is a destination for easy recipes, showcasing beautiful content and inspiration, everyday family life, motherhood, and fun finds from around the web. 

Learn More

Footer

We all love a good salad, but hate when they end u We all love a good salad, but hate when they end up taking like 20 different ingredients to prepare 🤦‍♀️
That’s why this salad is the best 🤩 It tastes so good and comes together with 6 simple ingredients!
2 chicken breasts
1/4 cup bbq sauce
1 bag romaine/coleslaw
1 avocado
4 tablespoons Ranch dressing
1/4 cup tortilla strips (Santa Fe flavored are amazing!)
**you can also make this into a wrap or a sandwich!
https://sweetphi.com/baked-bbq-chicken-and-avocado-salad/
#recipe #salad #bbqchicken #chickensalad #saladrecipe #healthyrecipes #saladideas #mealprep #sundaymealprep #avocado #easyrecipesathome #easyrecipes #6ingredients
As soon as I made these no-bake oatmeal cookie ene As soon as I made these no-bake oatmeal cookie energy bites (which just so happen to be sugar free, gluten free, and vegan) I knew I had found my go-to snack! 😍
PLUS you only need a few ingredients to make them: dates, water, almond butter, raisins, oats and cinnamon!
Get this recipe by tapping the link in my profile! ❤️
https://sweetphi.com/no-bake-oatmeal-cookie-energy-bites/
#nobakedessert #nationaloatmealcookieday #oatmeal #energybites #oatmealbites #snacks #healthysnacks #easyrecipe #easysnacks #kidapprovedfood #kidapproved #vegan #glutenfree #glutenfreerecipes #vegansnack #food
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️ Add 5 ingredien Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️
Add 5 ingredients to your slow cooker and a few hours later you’ll have delicious corned beef and cabbage with carrots and potatoes, the perfect meal for St. Patrick’s Day! 🤩
You’ll need:
4-5 pounds corned beef brisket
1 1/2 cups beef broth
2 cups water
1 Tablespoon salt
8 red potatoes
1 pound rainbow carrots
1 head of cabbage
Find this recipe by tapping the link in my profile! ❤️
https://sweetphi.com/how-to-make-slow-cooker-corned-beef-and-cabbage/
#stpatricksday #cornedbeef #cornedbeefandcabbage #recipe #slowcooker #slowcookermeals #slowcookerrecipes #crockpotrecipes #crockpotmeals #spring #springrecipes #familydinner #stpattysday #cabbage
Sheet pan pork chops make for the perfect easy one Sheet pan pork chops make for the perfect easy one-pan dinner! 
You’re going to love how delicious the marinated pork chops are, and love how everything is cooked in one pan and how easy clean up is!
Get this recipe by tapping the link in my profile! ❤️
https://sweetphi.com/sheet-pan-pork-chops-sweet-potato-and-fennel-dinner/
#sheetpandinner #sheetpanmeals #sheetpan #porkchops #porkchop #dinner #easydinner #easydinnerideas #familydinner #recipe #dinnerrecipes #food #cooking
There’s a new Love List today! The SweetPhi team There’s a new Love List today! The SweetPhi team found the secrets to hotel room cleaning, a Lego set perfect for an Easter basket and much more in this week’s love list!
A few of our favorites are:
Easter decor from @ target 🐰
The cutest swimsuits from @limericki 👙
A new series on @netflix 
Read the full Love List on the blog ❤️
https://sweetphi.com/love-list-grapefruit-cutting-and-hotel-secrets/
#lovelist #easter #easterdecor #targetfinds #amazon #amazonfinds #lifestyle #lifestyleblog #blog #midwestblogger #swimsuits #clothingfinds
This meatball Caesar pizza is a fun pizza topping This meatball Caesar pizza is a fun pizza topping combo that combines best of both worlds: meatballs and tangy Caesar dressing 🤩
TIP: I used Costco frozen meatballs which have a little heat to them. If your meatballs are on the plainer side, I’d recommend adding a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes!
Find this recipe on the blog: https://sweetphi.com/meatball-pizza-with-ricotta-and-caesar/ 
#recipe #pizza #familydinner #pizzarecipe #caesardressing #easydinner #meatballs #meatballpizza #recipeideas #easydinners #easydinnerideas
I love an easy meal that is a fun take on a classi I love an easy meal that is a fun take on a classic and is made even better by the fact that it is a 4-ingredient recipe! 👏🏼
All you need is crescent rolls, corned beef, Swiss cheese and thousand island dressing. This recipe also makes a fun St. Patrick’s day appetizer! ☘️ 
SAVE this recipe to make for St. Patrick’s Day! 
https://sweetphi.com/corned-beef-pocket-recipe/
#cornedbeef #cornedbeefsandwich #stpatricksday #stpatricksdayrecipes #recipe #5ingredients #easyrecipe #appetizers #snacks #springrecipes #easydinner #easydinners #kidfriendlyfood #kidfriendlymeals #kidfriendlyrecipes
Unbox my first @hungryroot order with me! 📦 Th Unbox my first @hungryroot order with me! 📦
This is my newest FAVORITE – BEST healthy meal delivery service👏🏼
As a mom, finding healthy and convenient meal options (that the kids will actually eat) can feel like an impossible task. Between juggling work, school, pickups/drop-offs and after school activities, sometimes planning meals or having time to go to the grocery store seems impossible.
Hungryroot provides both easy-to-prepare meals, snacks, and groceries!! 😍
You can read more about Hungryroot on my newest blog post! https://sweetphi.com/hungryroot-meal-delivery-review/
#hungryroot #hungryrootrecipes #mealdelivery #mealdeliveryservice #review #food #groceries #groceryhaul #groceryhacks #midwestmom #midwestblogger #momlife #midwestfoodie #mealdeliveryreview #grocerydelivery #momof4 #busymomlife #busymom
  • Recipes
  • Baby
  • Cookbook
  • Five Ingredient Fridays
  • Travel
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · SWEET PHI