This post contains affiliate links.
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.
Never Lose a Recipe Again!
Enter your info below and I’ll send this one straight to your inbox to have for later.
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! Winners announced each season in my newsletter.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.
I loved the strawberry dressing. It was very refreshing and a tasty addition to the salad.
This salad was amazing! The strawberry and basil dressing was an odd but delicious combination. I loved the crunch of the Apple and almonds. We will be using this recipe often
I made it yesterday, forgot to take a photo, it was so good, made it again
Where can I publish the photo?
Well, this salad makes two portions. I already told my husband I’m making him a salad, so I guess I can’t renege and eat both portions myself. It was terrific!
Love the crunchiness of today’s salad and added in shaved brussel sprouts and garbanzo beans for extra protein. Might add gorgonzola cheese next time.
Had this salad for lunch at work and will have it for dinner tonight. The dressing is a mild flavored dressing, tasty enough to eat it again
Great taste combinations! Loved it!
I was surprised by how much I liked this salad. I wasn’t sure this was going to be for me but followed the recipe except I used a yellow apple variety my toddler really wanted to buy for the house. The dressing really made this salad refreshing in a way I wasn’t expecting and it’s a very simple salad to make. Most of these ingredients are staples in my house so I’m looking forward to adding this one as a go-to since it’s an easy one to put together with little planning.
Made this salad for Day 1 of the 10 Day Salad Challenge and enjoyed it as a late lunch. I really dislike cucumbers so I subbed in a stalk of chopped celery. Also added 3 sliced strawberries to the greens. The salad dressing is delicious and most of the creaminess comes from the strawberries, with a tiny bit of olive oil. I would 100% make this again.
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!!