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Home » Recipes » Salads

Super Simple Spinach Salad

By: Kathryn Doherty | Last Updated: Mar 5, 2025 | Published: Feb 9, 2015
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A simple spinach salad with an easy homemade balsamic vinaigrette makes for a delicious and healthy side dish! This recipe takes just minutes to prepare and is perfect with dinner on a busy night.

Baby spinach dressed with balsamic vinaigrette in a large blue and white bowl with wooden salad utensils to the side.

You guys know I love my salads, right?

I'm ALL about the veggies and I'm usually finding new ways to load up with more, more, more veggies in my life.

I adore my farro, kale and strawberry salad with goat cheese, cannot get enough of my healthy broccoli apple salad and my mixed greens salad with fruit is a summertime and brunch favorite.

But sometimes, you just need a salad to serve with dinner. Like, right now. With whatever you've got in the fridge.

It needs to be easy, quick and delicious.

Enter this super simple spinach salad that's just baby spinach and homemade balsamic vinaigrette. Voila!

Close up of a spinach salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing in a large serving bowl.

So, I love baby spinach salad recipes all kinds of ways, but in this case, it’s the dressing that does it, really.

The balsamic vinaigrette is so tasty. Homemade really is miles above and beyond anything you can get in the store, so it makes this salad a joy to eat.

And it couldn't be easier.

You just add garlic, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper and olive oil to a small jar or container.

Then shake it, shake it, shake it and you are set! (Or whisk it in a bowl if you'd rather.)

Seriously, homemade salad dressings should not be intimidating. They can be oh so fast and easy and you'll be blown away by how much more flavorful they are.

(You should also check out my homemade Italian dressing, which is another great staple. And homemade soy ginger dressing is perfect for Asian-style dishes and so addictive!)

OK, let's dive in.

A bowl full of fresh baby spinach sitting on teal napkins with a bowl of balsamic vinaigrette nearby. A bowl of balsamic vinaigrette with a whisk resting in it set on teal napkins.

Now, I’ve got some notes and substitutions coming up for this spinach salad recipe. Just tryin’ to be helpful.

If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.

Recipe Notes

  • Oil and vinegar: It helps to have really good balsamic vinegar and olive oil here since those are your big flavors. You don't have to go buy the most expensive, just very good quality and flavor. In fact, I like the Costco brand. Find something you love.
  • Ratio: I use a ratio closer to 1:1 for my oil:vinegar in this dressing and that suits our tastes. Feel free to add more oil if you want to get closer to the traditional 3:1 oil:vinegar ratio.
  • Spinach: You also want fresh, bright baby spinach to use in this salad for the best flavor. If it's old and wilting, it won't make for a good salad.
  • Greens: Or you can swap out your favorite green for this salad if you want to change things up. A spring mix, arugula or butter lettuce would be great here too. Or use a combination!
  • Assembly: Make sure to wait to add the dressing until right before you are ready to serve. Greens, once tossed with a vinaigrette, have a short shelf life before they begin to wilt.

A spinach salad served in a large blue and white bowl with smaller bowls of toppings around it, including tomatoes, cucumbers, pecans, Parmesan cheese and olives.

OK, so the whole point of this salad is to keep it really simple. And I adore it all on its own. Have for years.

But you may want to spruce up this salad a bit with some fun toppings on occasion.

You know I love some toppings, so of course I've got you covered!

Salad Toppings:

  • Cheese - Blue cheese, feta, goat, Parmesan, mozzarella, etc.
  • Nuts - Walnuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, slivered almonds, etc.
  • Fruit - Diced strawberries, sliced peaches, blueberries, diced apple, etc.
  • Dried fruit - Dried cranberries, dried cherries, dried apricots, etc.
  • Veggies - Tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, bell pepper, etc.
  • Crunchies: Croutons, Parmesan crisps, wonton strips, etc.
  • Cooked, crumbled bacon
  • Sliced hard boiled eggs

Use any of those that you love or mix and match and make some combos that work for you. 

Here's a few of our favorite combinations: 

- Feta cheese, olives and cherry tomatoes

- Shaved Parmesan cheese, pecans and diced strawberries

- Dried cranberries, walnuts and goat cheese

- Sliced hard boiled eggs, cooked, crumbled bacon and tomatoes

A salad bowl with spinach dressed in balsamic vinaigrette with other salad toppings in individual bowls in the background.

There's really tons of ways to customize this. Mix it up with your favorites!

May you have a family that thinks this easy salad rocks as much as my family does.

And if not, change it up with some of those topping ideas above and you're still covered with a great go-to any night of the week.

Enjoy!

XO,

Kathryn

P.S. Check out all of my other healthy salad recipes for more inspiration!

A simple spinach salad with balsamic vinaigrette in a blue and white bowl.
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4.29 from 130 votes

Simple Spinach Salad

A simple but divine spinach salad with homemade balsamic vinaigrette!
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Total Time5 minutes mins
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

For the salad:

  • 5 cups fresh baby spinach

For the dressing:

  • ½ clove minced garlic
  • 1 ½ tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Pinch of sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper

Instructions

  • Put your spinach into a big bowl. If you're using any add-ins, go ahead and add them now. (See notes for ideas.)
  • Mix all of the dressing ingredients together in a small jar or container with a tight-fitting lid. Shake them up until it's well mixed. (Alternatively, you can whisk them together in a small bowl.)
  • Pour the dressing over the spinach right before you’re ready to serve and toss well to get the salad evenly coated. Enjoy!

Notes

Oil and vinegar: It helps to have really good balsamic vinegar and olive oil here since those are your big flavors. It doesn't need to be the most expensive, just very good quality and flavor.
Ratio note: I use closer to a 1:1 ratio of oil:vinegar, which suits our tastes. You can add up to an additional 2 tablespoons of olive oil if you'd like to have closer to the more traditional 3:1 ratio of oil:vinegar for your dressing.
Topping ideas:
  • Cheese - Blue cheese, feta, goat, Parmesan, mozzarella, etc.
  • Nuts - Walnuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, slivered almonds, etc.
  • Fruit - Diced strawberries, sliced peaches, blueberries, diced apple, etc.
  • Dried fruit - Dried cranberries, dried cherries, dried apricots, etc.
  • Veggies - Tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, bell pepper, etc.
  • Crunchies: Croutons, Parmesan crisps, wonton strips, etc.
  • Cooked, crumbled bacon
  • Sliced hard boiled eggs
Use your favorite or make some fun combinations. Here are a few of my faves:
- Feta cheese, olives and cherry tomatoes
- Shaved Parmesan cheese, pecans and diced strawberries
- Dried cranberries, walnuts and goat cheese
- Sliced hard boiled eggs, cooked, crumbled bacon and tomatoes

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 59kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 64mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or follow me on Instagram @familyfoodonthetable and tag me in your photo!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Katherine

    August 11, 2018 at 1:07 am

    Hi Kathryn,

    I love your Raw Spinach Salad recipe here and have featured it in our website GreenThickies in the post 10 Raw Vegan Spinach Salad Recipes.

    I have not shared the exact recipe but only a small quote and one image from this page. And I have given all credits to you and linked back to this page.
    Is this okay with you?

    Thanks a lot 🙂
    Katherine

    Reply
    • Kathryn

      August 13, 2018 at 10:10 am

      Hi, yes, that's fine - and thanks for featuring me!

      Reply
  2. Hellen

    June 16, 2020 at 5:19 pm

    My favorite salad. Simple and fast. I wash spinach, arugula, and lettuce in bulk, once a week with a vinegar solution. I also use sesame seeds and walnuts.

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      June 17, 2020 at 7:52 am

      Yay, so glad you love it Hellen! And yum to the mix of lettuces and the walnuts and sesame seeds on top!

      Reply
  3. Louise Sylvain

    February 09, 2024 at 7:30 pm

    I’ve eaten this salad twice this week, it was that good. Simple and easily customizable. I also appreciate how the ratio of dressing to lettuce is perfect. It coats the lettuce well but it’s not too soggy and doesn’t leave a pool of dressing at the bottom of the bowl. My new go to!

    Reply
  4. Rose Lunkwicz

    February 24, 2024 at 5:59 pm

    Love your salad ideas, yesterday I had spinach with raspberries and poppyseed dressing but today I want to use mayonnaise and Parmesan and use bell peppers and tomatoes the poppyseed was a little tart, I really don’t like oil or vinegar any suggestions

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      February 26, 2024 at 11:00 am

      I'm so glad you've found some good salad inspiration! I adore this creamy cilantro lime dressing that is mayo based and no oil or vinegar:
      https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/creamy-cilantro-lime-dressing/
      Or you might like this mayo-based creamy Parmesan dressing from a fellow blogger: https://www.aforkstale.com/creamy-parmesan-salad-dressing/

      Reply
  5. Bob Crowter

    April 21, 2024 at 5:01 am

    I enjoy using this site to figure out what I want to make & how to do it. I never follow a recipe to the letter, I just gather ideas to get mine right. For example, I made a lamb stew the other night & needed to know what exactly was supposed to go in it & how much. I still did it my way & it came out great. The only time I follow things to the letter is if I'm baking a cake or something like that, where you need the exact ingredients or you'll end up with a mess. I've always cooked for my kids, who are grown up & doing their own cooking now. I'm 77 years old & still feed the old people in this apartment building who can't cook for themselves or don't know how.

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      April 22, 2024 at 6:11 am

      I'm so happy to hear my site has been helpful! And how wonderful that you're still feeding friends and neighbors. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Jeanette Kalchik

    December 13, 2024 at 11:38 pm

    I used a garlic balsamic instead of garlic and added bacon/caramelized onion to it and it was amazing.

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      December 16, 2024 at 1:12 pm

      Oh I love the bacon and caramelized onion additions - YES! So glad you loved this!

      Reply
  7. Jo-Ann

    January 28, 2025 at 2:30 pm

    About how many people does the original salad feed?

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      February 03, 2025 at 10:26 am

      The recipe makes 4 servings. Hope that helps!

      Reply
4.29 from 130 votes (130 ratings without comment)

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Meet Kathryn

Hi there! I’m Kathryn Doherty, a cookbook author, mom of two, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I’ve got lots of easy recipes to help you get delicious food on the table for your family!

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