My Favorite Spinach Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

My Favorite Spinach Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

This spinach salad is always a hit and so easy to make with a tasty combination of sweet and savory ingredients, and tossed with a delicious homemade balsamic vinaigrette. It's also really versatile - sub in whatever greens, nuts, or cheese that you have on hand.

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Total Time 15

Servings servings

Calories 262

Author Kim

Ingredients

For chicken (optional)

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast or tenders
a generous sprinkling of each - garlic powder, paprika, and salt & pepper

For salad

10-16 ounces baby spinach or spring mix
1 large apple cored and thinly sliced*
1 cup blueberries or another favorite fruit - sliced strawberries, halved raspberries, pomegranate seeds, diced pears
half a small red onion peeled and thinly sliced
3/4 cup nuts - toasted pine nuts, glazed pecans, chopped walnuts or slivered almonds use any favorite**
4-6 ounces crumbled Gorgonzola, Feta, Goat, or Blue Cheese
1 batch balsamic vinaigrette (may not use all of it)
Optional add-ins: cooked & crumbled bacon, diced avocado, dried cranberries

Instructions

To make chicken (if using): Preheat oven to 450ºF. Season chicken and bake for 17-20 minutes, (or until 165 degrees internally). Once cooked, cover with foil for 10 minutes to seal in the juices.
While chicken is cooking, you can prepare the salad ingredients.
To make the salad: Add spinach, fruit, red onion, nuts, dried cranberries, and half of the cheese to a large serving bowl. Cooked chicken can be chopped and tossed in the salad or sliced and served over the top or served alongside the salad. Drizzle the salad with the vinaigrette, and toss to combine.
Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining cheese.

Notes

*I like pink lady, Honeycrisp or gala apples best in this salad.
**My favorite nut in this salad is my glazed pecans.

***In my opinion, salad recipes are just a guide. Feel free to use as much or as little of the ingredients as you like.

****Nutritional information includes chicken, but it does not include dressing.

Photos by Sasha at Eat Love Eats.

Nutrition