This strawberry goat cheese salad is fresh, crisp, and tossed in an easy homemade balsamic vinaigrette. Made with strawberries, cucumber, greens, walnuts, red onion, and creamy goat cheese, it's the perfect healthy summer salad for a side dish or light meal.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ✅ Recipe Name: Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
- 🕒 Ready In: 10 minutes
- 👪 Serves: 6
- 🍽 Calories: ~200 per serving
- 🥣 Main Ingredients: Strawberries, goat cheese, mixed greens (or spinach), cucumber, walnuts, red onion, balsamic vinaigrette
- 📖 Dietary Info: Gluten-free, vegetarian, naturally refined sugar-free
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: Extra crisp from cucumber and tossed in a simple balsamic dressing - fresh, light, and easy to customize with spinach or protein.
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Strawberry goat cheese salad is one of those recipes I come back to every spring and summer - it's fresh, quick, and always hits. After testing many versions, I found most were either too heavy or lacked the perfect balance of texture.
So I created my version: lighter, extra-crisp, and tossed with a simple balsamic vinaigrette - similar to the flavor balance in my Mediterranean Dense Bean Salad.
I always add cucumber for crunch (trust me, it makes a difference), use just enough goat cheese for creaminess, and keep the dressing simple so the strawberries really shine. You can use mixed greens or make a spinach, strawberry, and goat cheese salad, depending on what you have.
It's one of my go-to salads for hosting, meal prep, or throwing together a quick lunch or dinner; I just add some sliced Crispy Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs or Hot Honey Garlic Steak Bites.
Jump to:
- A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients You'll Need
- Best Greens for Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
- Easy Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
- How to Make a Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad (Step-by-Step)
- Expert Tips
- What to Serve with Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
- More Easy Summer Salad Recipes You'll Love
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Fresh, light, and flavorful: Sweet strawberries, creamy goat cheese, and tangy balsamic are the perfect combo.
- Extra crisp texture: The cucumber adds the best crunch (don't skip it!)
- Ready in 10 minutes: Quick enough for busy days or last-minute hosting
- Easy to customize: Use spinach, arugula, or mixed greens
- Make it a full meal: Add chicken, salmon, shrimp, tofu, or steak
- Healthy and balanced: A lighter version than most, made with simple ingredients
Ingredients You'll Need
For the Salad:
- Strawberries: The star of the salad. Use ripe but firm strawberries so they're sweet and juicy without getting mushy - I've tested softer ones and they break down too fast once dressed.
- Goat Cheese: Adds that creamy, tangy bite that balances the sweetness. I like using a soft log and crumbling it myself for better texture (pre-crumbled can be a bit dry).
- Mixed Greens (or Spinach): Mixed greens give a light, balanced base, but I often use baby spinach when I want something a little softer and slightly sweeter - both work great here, just like in my Greek Spinach Salad.
- Cucumber: My secret for the best crunch. Most versions skip this, but I've found it makes the salad feel fresher and more balanced.
- Walnuts (or Pecans): Add crunch and a nutty flavor. I usually toast them for a few minutes to bring out more flavor - it makes a big difference.
- Red Onion: Gives a sharp bite that cuts through the sweetness. Slice it thin so it doesn't overpower the salad.
For the Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette:
- Balsamic Vinegar: The base of the dressing. Use a good-quality balsamic for the best flavor - it should be slightly thick and naturally sweet.
- Olive Oil: Adds richness and helps balance the vinegar's acidity.
- Honey (or Maple Syrup): A touch of sweetness to complement the strawberries and mellow out the tang.
- Dijon Mustard: Helps emulsify the dressing and adds a subtle depth of flavor.
- Salt & Pepper: Enhances all the flavors - don't skip it.
Scroll to recipe card for quantities!
Best Greens for Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
The base of your salad makes a big difference in flavor and texture. Here are the best options:
- Mixed greens: My go-to (includes spinach and other lettuce varieties). They're light, balanced, and let the strawberries and goat cheese shine
- Baby spinach: Softer and slightly sweeter - perfect if you want a spinach strawberry goat cheese salad
- Arugula: Adds a peppery bite that pairs really well with the sweet and tangy dressing
- Romaine: Crisp and crunchy, great if you want more texture
Easy Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
- Make it a spinach strawberry goat cheese salad: Swap mixed greens for baby spinach for a softer, slightly sweeter base.
- Make it dairy-free: Skip the cheese or use a dairy-free alternative
- Make it nut-free: If you have an allergy, no worries! I like to add these crispy air fryer chickpeas instead
- Try different greens: Arugula adds a peppery bite, while romaine gives more crunch
- Swap the cheese: Feta or blue cheese both work well if you don't have goat cheese
- Change the nuts: Use pecans, almonds, or candied walnuts for extra crunch
- Switch up the dressing: Try a poppy seed dressing or lemon honey vinaigrette
- Add protein: Grilled chicken, crispy air fryer chicken cutlets, salmon, shrimp, steak, or crispy tofu make it a full meal (see my full list of protein ideas below)
- Add more fruit: Blueberries or peaches pair really well with strawberries
How to Make a Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad (Step-by-Step)
- Step 1: Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a bowl or mason jar until well combined. Then, taste and adjust based on your preferences.
- Step 2: Add mixed greens to a bowl, then layer the strawberries, cucumber, red onion, walnuts, and goat cheese on top.
- Step 3: Lightly dress with the balsamic vinaigrette, toss gently, and enjoy! You can always add more dressing, but start light!
Expert Tips
- Slice the red onion very thin (or soak it): Thick slices can overpower the salad. I like to slice it super thin or soak it in cold water for 5-10 minutes to mellow the bite.
- Use a good balsamic vinegar: A slightly thicker, naturally sweet balsamic makes a big difference - it pairs perfectly with the strawberries and goat cheese.
- Don't skip the cucumber: Most recipes leave it out, but it adds the best crunch and makes this salad taste fresher and more balanced.
- Add the dressing right before serving: This keeps everything crisp. I always wait until the last minute so the greens don't get soggy.
What to Serve with Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
This strawberry goat cheese salad works as a light side or a full meal - it just depends on how you serve it.
Make It a Full Meal (Add Protein):
- Chicken: Grilled crispy chicken thighs or grilled Greek yogurt chicken
- Salmon: Try grilled lemon salmon or this everything bagel crusted salmon
- Shrimp: Grill BBQ shrimp or oven-baked shrimp skewers
- Steak: Try these Hot honey garlic steak bites
- Tofu: Super crispy tofu (air fried or oven baked)
- Burgers: I love these extra juicy grilled turkey burgers
What to Serve with It (Sides)
- Crusty bread: Try warmed sourdough or a classic air fryer garlic bread
- Grilled veggies
- Roasted potatoes: I love these oven-roasted crispy potatoes
- Quinoa or rice
- Soup (for a light lunch combo)
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Swap the mixed greens for baby spinach for a softer, slightly sweeter base. It's one of my favorite ways to make this salad.
Yes! You can prep everything ahead of time, but for the best texture, store the dressing separately and toss the salad right before serving so the greens stay crisp and fresh.
A balsamic vinaigrette is the best option. It's tangy, slightly sweet, and pairs perfectly with the strawberries and goat cheese.
Feta or blue cheese is a great substitute if you don't have goat cheese. Both add a similar creamy, tangy flavor.
Fresh strawberries are best for texture. I do not reccomend using frozen strawberries; they will be wet and soggy.
Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
- Store leftovers in the fridge: Keep in an airtight container for 1-2 days, but note that the greens will soften over time.
- Keep the dressing separate: If making ahead, store the balsamic vinaigrette and toss right before serving to keep everything crisp.
- Prep ingredients in advance: You can slice the strawberries, cucumber, and onion and store them separately for up to 2-3 days.
- Wait to assemble: For the best texture, combine everything just before serving.
- Skip freezing: This salad doesn't freeze well - the texture of the greens and strawberries will change.
More Easy Summer Salad Recipes You'll Love
If you loved this strawberry goat cheese salad, here are a few more recipes to try next:
Did you make this recipe?
If you make this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it down below. Also, don't forget to tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram and use the hashtag #healthfulblondie so I can see your delicious creation and share it with my followers!
📖 Recipe
Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
Ingredients
The Salad:
- 10 ounces mixed green lettuce
- 1 quart fresh strawberries (about 1 ½ cups), hulled and sliced
- 1 medium English cucumber, peeled and cut into quarter moons
- ¼ red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ - ⅓ cup walnuts, pecans, or almonds
- 2 - 3 ounces soft goat cheese, crumbled
Balsamic Dressing:
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 - 2 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon salt, more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Make the Dressing: Make the dressing by whisking together ingredients in a small bowl or mason jar until olive oil and balsamic vinegar emulsify - meaning there are completely mixed and no longer separate. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking by adding more balsamic, salt, pepper, and/or olive oil, if desired.
- Make the Salad: Add mixed greens to a large salad bowl and layer on the strawberries, cucumber, sliced red onion, walnuts, and goat cheese.
- Dress the Salad: When ready to serve, drizzle dressing on the salad and gently toss to combine or serve with dressing on the side. Enjoy!
Tati Chermayeff says
My go to side salad in the summer when I "don't want to cook something." It's just very easy to throw together and search with some grilled chicken and corn.
Andy says
Love this simple recipe! I added steak to ours.
Christine Allen says
Loved this recipe! It was easy to make and we served with grilled shrimp for protein. Easy and delish.