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For years, I thought salads had to look a certain way—bland iceberg lettuce, salty croutons, and a thick, creamy dressing. I ate them… but I didn’t love them. That all changed when I realized how fresh, vibrant, and satisfying salads can actually be.
This strawberry mixed greens salad is one of my favorites. It’s all about the balance—crisp greens, sweet fruit, creamy avocado, and that bright strawberry basil vinaigrette that brings everything to life. This is the kind of salad you’ll actually crave. Enjoy!
Table of Contents
What is a Mixed Greens Salad?
A mixed green salad is a simple salad made with a variety of leafy greens—like spring mix, spinach, arugula, or lettuce—topped with fresh ingredients and a dressing. It’s known for being light, flexible, and easy to customize based on what you have on hand.
This recipe stands out because it’s more balanced and satisfying—with fruit, healthy fats, crunch, and a homemade strawberry basil dressing that adds fresh, vibrant flavor.
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How to Make Mixed Greens Salad
This mixed greens salad recipe is filled with these greens, plus tangy green apple, creamy avocado, and crunchy almonds. Seriously, this salad is the perfect meal when your sweet tooth comes calling and you’re trying to eat healthy.
1. Wash and dry greens
A recent study done by Consumer Reports says that we should all be washing any produce that comes into our cooking spaces, whether “pre-washed”, organic or otherwise. This is because even those mixed greens carefully washed by well meaning producers can still contain contaminants from E. coli, chemicals and more.
2. Chop apples, avocado and cucumber
I like to chop them all into bite-size pieces (the smaller, the better).
3. Make the Strawberry viniagarette
Combine dressing ingredients in a high-speed blender or food processor and puree into the best dressing you’ve ever had with mixed greens.
4. prepare the plate
Add the mixed greens first, and then toppings to the plate. Drizzle dressing on top and enjoy!
Make-Ahead Tips
If you want this salad for work, prep it all in a mason jar. It’s seriously so easy! Simply layer the ingredients in the mason jar. Keep the strawberry dressing in a separate container until time to eat. When you’re ready to eat, pour the dressing on top, give the mason jar a good shake, and enjoy!
Strawberry Mixed Greens Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cup spring mix greens loosely packed
- 1 cucumber thinly sliced
- 1 green apple diced
- 1 avocado sliced
- ¼ cup sliced almonds
Dressing
- 1 cup strawberries diced
- 6 fresh basil fresh, roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 tsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp pure maple syrup
- pinch sea salt, unrefined
- pinch black pepper, ground ground, to taste
Instructions
- Arrange salad ingredients on plates.
- Puree the dressing ingredients in a blender or food processor. Taste and add more salt and pepper, if needed.
- Drizzle some of the dressing over salad (you may not need all of it). Eat immediately.
Notes
- Swap mixed greens with the leafy greens of your choice.
- Oil-free? Omit the olive oil. It’ll still be delicious and less caloric.
- Lemon Vinaigrette would also be delicious on this recipe.
- Add the nuts or seeds of your choice for more healthy fats + protein.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review for a chance to win signed copies of my cookbooks!Common Questions
Yes! If you have a favorite dressing, feel free to swap out my Strawberry Vinaigrette. Yet I do encourage you to make it one time like this because it’s out-of-this-world delicious!
You sure can. You can swap it for any leafy green you prefer or have on hand. You might check out our Leafy Greens Guide for more inspiration.
In all my salads, I try and use some sorta nuts, seeds or protein to help me stay full. A salad is typically a meal for me, which means it needs a variety of fiber, healthy fats, protein and carbs to keep me full until the next meal.
Wonderful! Had one for lunch and will add grilled chicken breast for dinner! This is going to be my “go to” salad dressing!
This one’s a keeper! Love it. ❤️
I will most likely make this again. Simple and delicious. Most importantly, my girls (5 and 3 yrs) old eat them since they like strawberry dressing.
I’m impressed! I don’t usually like fruit in my salads so I was skeptical but it was amazing! The dressing was so so good. Will definitely be making this again!
Way to challenge yourself, Ashley!!
Delish!
The strawberry mixed greens salad was such surprise of flavours and textures. I would have never come up with this creative mixture on my own. My husband has decided to join in on the 10 day salad challenge!
That’s awesome that your husband is going to join in the fun!
Very fresh dressing. Enjoy the strawberry and basil paring. I added more lemon and salt to my taste as the recipe says. Great lunch.
Delicious. The dressing was simple to make and tasted great! I’ll make in it a bigger amount next time to keep in the fridge for another day.
Very yummy!
This salad was very good! Might add chicken the next time but that dressing is going to be a staple for sure
This salad was great. The apple made it crispy and the dressing was yummy. I didn’t use oil & only half the amount of maple syrup (although I used date syrup). I will definitely make this dressing again
I made the salad into a green smoothie and added some dressing ingredients. Instead of lemon juice, I added 1/2 lemon peel and all, skipped the oil and salt/pepper. Then protein powder! Very tasty and satiating!
I made the salad and did not use lemon. Enjoyed the salad. I will make it again.
This one is def a great recipe to make into a smoothie. Super fun!
Absolutely LOVED this salad! The dressing is so yummy! It definitely tastes fresh and spring like! This will be part of a regular rotation for me!
I prefer my ingredients separate-not mixed, but it was acceptable
This is one I’ll make all Summer long, especially when my basil comes up in the garden. It’s that dressing that’s the real prize, though! It makes it worth it to spring for real maple syrup. The carbs are a little higher than I usually like for a salad, especially since I tend to eat a hunk of baguette with my greens, but I think if I back off on the dressing a bit, there won’t be much sacrifice to flavor.
Very yummy but the basil was a little too much for me. Next time I’ll use a little less.
I LOVE real maple syrup! Yum!!
I wasn’t sure if I would like the taste of this salad but was pleasantly surprised by the combination of textures and flavors, it’s definitely NOT boring! As someone who really likes a lot of crunching in my salads, I found it to be delicious!
For a “simple” salad, it was amazing. The dressing really does change the expectations of a mixed green salad. Wondering how other fruits would taste – mango, blueberry, oranges.
There’s only one way to find out!! 😉
I love mixed greens. Could do without the avocado. The dressing was a nice addition.
Def feel free to omit the avocado in the future, if you’re not a fan! Make these recipes work for you. Way to challenge yourself though!
The strawberry salad dressing is soooo good!! I added some red wine vinegar and it was top notch!! This is a good spring/summer salad but would be a great side than a meal. I think it gets a little monotone when having it as a meal but i cleaned my plate regardless (probably because of the dressing ) I used farm strawberries and it gave me the most beautiful colour on the salad!
The dressing is ssoo yummy, best dressing I’ve had in a long time. Used my frozen strawberries for the dressing. Made the salad last Thursday and then had it again on the weekend. Delicious