Fresh Strawberry Salad with Goat Cheese

There's a time and place for a basic side salad, but this strawberry salad with goat cheese is not that. This one brings juicy strawberries, creamy goat cheese, crisp red onion, cinnamon pecans, and strawberry poppyseed dressing together for a salad that feels fresh, flavorful, and worthy of the summer table.

As a Southern dietitian, I love a recipe that makes produce feel fun without making things complicated. This salad works for cookouts, brunches, Mother's Day, or a simple dinner on the porch when you want something colorful and easy.

This salad uses a quick homemade strawberry poppyseed dressing and cinnamon pecans, which make it feel a little more special than your typical salad. I made this for my daughter's birthday party, and everyone loved the sweet and savory combo!

If you love easy summer recipes, you'll also want to try my strawberry pasta salad or peach tomato burrata salad for more colorful side dishes!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Fresh but still satisfying: The juicy strawberries, creamy goat cheese, crisp greens, and crunchy pecans give this salad the best mix of textures.
• Perfect for summer hosting: This strawberry goat cheese salad looks pretty on the table and works for brunches, cookouts, showers, or simple weeknight dinners.
• Comes together fast: Once your strawberries are sliced and your dressing is ready, this salad takes just a few minutes to assemble!

Ingredients for Strawberry Fields Salad

This salad uses simple summer ingredients that bring a mix of sweet, creamy, crunchy, and tangy flavors to every bite.

• Mixed greens: I like using spring mix or a blend of tender greens because they make the salad light, colorful, and easy to pair with the strawberries.
• Fresh strawberries: Look for berries that are bright red, fragrant, and firm without mushy spots for the best flavor and texture.
• Red onion: Thinly sliced red onion adds just enough sharpness to balance the sweet strawberries and creamy goat cheese.
• Goat cheese crumbles: Goat cheese gives this salad a creamy, tangy bite that works so well with the berries and pecans.
• Cinnamon pecans: My homemade cinnamon pecans add a sweet crunch and a little Southern-inspired flavor that makes this salad stand out.
• Strawberry poppyseed dressing: A quick strawberry poppyseed dressing ties everything together with a creamy, fruity flavor that keeps the salad fresh and summery. Feel free to use a store-bought version for a shortcut!

See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and measurements.

Substitutions & Variations

This salad is easy to customize depending on what you have on hand or how you plan to serve it.

• You can swap the greens with baby spinach, arugula, romaine, butter lettuce, or whatever tender greens you already have in the fridge.
• Try feta, blue cheese, or fresh mozzarella if you want to use a different cheese instead of goat cheese.
• You can add protein like grilled chicken, salmon, shrimp, steak, or rotisserie chicken to make this salad more filling.
• Use candied walnuts, pistachios, sliced almonds, or sunflower seeds if you want to try different nuts instead of cinnamon pecans.
• You can change the dressing with balsamic vinaigrette, apple cider vinaigrette, or a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
• Toss in avocado, cucumber, blueberries, peaches, or mandarin oranges if you want to add extra produce and more color.
• You can make it heartier by adding cooked quinoa or farro for a satisfying boost of whole grains.

How to Make the Ultimate Strawberry Greens Salad

This salad comes together quickly, so it's a great one to assemble right before serving.

Step 1: Wash and dry the mixed greens and strawberries well.

Step 2: Slice the strawberries and thinly slice the red onion.

Step 3: Add the mixed greens to a large bowl or serving platter.

Step 4: Top the greens with sliced strawberries, red onion, goat cheese crumbles, and cinnamon pecans.

Step 5: Drizzle with strawberry poppyseed dressing right before serving, then gently toss or serve with the dressing on the side.

Tips For the Freshest Salad

A few small details will help this strawberry salad with goat cheese stay crisp, pretty, and full of flavor.

• Make sure you dry the greens well before assembling so extra moisture does not make the salad soggy.
• Wait to add the dressing right before serving so the mixed greens stay crisp and the cinnamon pecans keep their crunch.
• You can serve the dressing on the side when taking this salad to a potluck, baby shower, or cookout so guests can add it when they're ready to eat.

Storage

This salad stores best when the ingredients are kept separate until you're ready to serve.

• You can store the greens separately in an airtight container with a paper towel to help absorb extra moisture.
• You'll want to keep the dressing separate until right before serving so the salad stays crisp instead of getting soggy.
• You'll get the best texture when you enjoy the assembled salad right away after adding the dressing because the greens soften over time.