Name: Spinach Blueberry Salad
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 4 cups fresh baby spinach; 1/4 cup feta cheese; 1/2 cup blueberries; 1 cup cooked chicken (diced); 1 1/2 tbsp. olive oil; 1 lemon (juiced); 1/4 cup pecans; 1 tbsp. sugar; salt and pepper (to taste)

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Spinach blueberry salad features a bed of fresh spinach leaves, salty feta, chicken and pecans for protein, and ripe blueberries for sweetness! Not only is this blueberry spinach salad delicious, it is highly nutritious too!

salad with toppings in various bowls scattered around it on a wooden background

A ripe peach, a juicy watermelon, a plump blueberry. What do all of these have in common? They are delicious summer fruits! And when summer fruit is at it's finest, I love looking for every way I can to utilize it in my recipes. Fresh fruit in salad is one of those ways!

I will be the first to admit, I am more of a savory than sweet kind of girl when it comes to salad. I generally chose creamy, salty, garlicky dressings to sweet ones. And I will never say no to classic ranch. But when it's the heat of summer, and fruit is this good, it is almost begging to be enjoyed in a fresh spinach salad recipe.

There truly is no end to how many green salad recipes you can make with baby spinach! It is a mild flavored lettuce, and it pairs well with all sorts of toppings! Spinach is also highly nutrient-dense, low calorie food. One cup of raw spinach is only 7 calories! Spinach is rich in vitamins D, A, E, C, and K. It is also high in iron.

Ingredients

Ready to make this sweet and salty blueberry spinach salad? Here are the ingredients you will need.

spinach
feta
blueberries
chicken
olive oil
lemon juice
pecans
sugar
salt
pepper

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Chop cooked chicken into bite-sized piece.

Place washed spinach on a plate and top with chicken, blueberries, pecans, and feta.

lemon salad dressing in a clear glass bowl with a small fork coming out at an angle

In a small bowl combine olive oil, lemon juice, sugar, salt, and pepper.

Pour dressing over the top of the prepared salad and toss to coat everything. This salad serves two people.

Hint: Having baked or grilled chicken on hand is a great way to always have a lunch protein ready to go for salads, soups, and wraps. To make, coat 1 lb. of chicken breasts with 1 tbsp. of olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake chicken at 400 for 25 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.

Variations

This spinach blueberry salad is fresh and delicious as is-- but everyone has different tastes! The great thing about salad is the way you can keep the core ingredients the same but mix up the toppings to suit your liking. Try one of these salad variations to replace the cheese, fruit, or even the spinach itself!

Cheese: Try blue cheese, white cheddar crumbles, or goat cheese in place of feta cheese in this salad recipe.
Fruit: Just like this delicious strawberry salad recipe, lots of fruits are great in salad! Try strawberries, peaches, or even watermelon!
Lettuce: Baby spinach is great here, but so many other lettuces would be, as well. Baby field greens, arugula, or even romaine! I find tender lettuces pair best with fruit, so I suggest whatever you choose be a "baby" variety of lettuce.
Vinegar: Add apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar to the vinaigrette. You can either use these in place of the lemon juice or in addition to it.
Salad Dressing: This lemon juice dressing is delicious, but very simple! If you are looking for something with more sweetness, try a lemon poppyseed dressing. Honey mustard dressing would pair beautifully, as well.
Nuts: Not a fan of pecans or have a nut allergy? Try subbing in sunflower seeds. They keep a similar saltiness and texture (despite being smaller).

close up of blueberry spinach salad with a lemon wedge in the corner of the plate.

Storage

Spinach wilts fast, especially when it has been dressed with vinaigrette. I suggest waiting to pour on the dressing until you are ready to eat your salad!

If you would like to make this salad ahead of time, you certainly can. Combine all of the ingredients in a container and simply keep the dressing ingredients in a small container separately until you serve.

Top tip

Spinach is one of my favorite greens to keep stocked in the fridge because it is delicious both cooked and uncooked. I love it in spinach and tortellini soup, caulflower spinach curry, and creamy spinach pasta. In fact, cooking spinach in a recipe is one of my favorite hacks for helping not to waste leftover spinach or how to use spinach that is close to going bad! Try one of the following recipes if your spinach is a little past its prime.