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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!

Mixed greens salad topped with a strawberry dressing.

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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Jar of strawberry dressing.

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!

👉 How to Meal Prep Salads

mixed greens salad
4.70 (731)

Strawberry Mixed Greens Salad

Jen Hansard
This strawberry mixed greens salad is a fresh, flavorful way to enjoy a variety of fruits and veggies in one bowl. Crisp greens, juicy strawberries, crunchy almonds, and creamy avocado come together with a bright strawberry basil dressing for the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and satisfying. It’s quick to make and ideal for a light meal or refreshing side.
Serves: 2 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

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.
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Recipe 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

Serving: 3 cups | Calories: 462 kcal | Carbohydrates: 38 g | Protein: 6 g | Fat: 35 g | Saturated Fat: 5 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 24 g | Sodium: 13 mg | Potassium: 1016 mg | Fiber: 13 g | Sugar: 21 g | Vitamin A: 378 IU | Vitamin C: 67 mg | Calcium: 93 mg | Iron: 2 mg

Common Questions

Can I make this salad with a different dressing?

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!

Can I swap mixed greens for baby spinach?

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.

What’s the point of the sliced almonds?

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.

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About the Author

Jen Hansard

I’m the mom who swapped Lucky Charms for green smoothies— and never looked back. Here you’ll find smoothie recipes and plant-based recipes made simple and tasty.

4.70 from 731 votes

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Comments

  1. 4 stars
    Late summer fruits in Australia- I thought the strawberries may have been too sweet but I found it surprisingly yummy. I will make it again.

  2. 3 stars
    This wasn’t a very tasty salad in my opinion. I think that it isn’t a good time of year to get fruits in my area, they weren’t sweet or even tasty. The dressing was nice on its own but got lost in the salad. I also didn’t care for the combination of avocado and cucumber in the same salad.

  3. 3 stars
    This wasn’t my favorite salad. It could be that it’s not a great time of year in my area to get fruit with sweetness/flavor. The dressing was nice on its own, but seemed to get lost in the salad. I wasn’t so pleased with textures of avocado and cucumber together either.

  4. 5 stars
    So good!! First time using fresh strawberries in a salad dressing recipe and that changed the game!! I added grilled chicken for additional protein. Will def make again!

    1. I used strawberries that I picked myself and agree that the quality of the fruit makes a big difference in the final outcome.

  5. So so good! Perfect combinations of ingredients in both the dressing and the salad. It added white beans for a bit more hardy salad. It would be great with some quinoa as well, as the quinoa would soak up all that beautiful dressing.