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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! 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’m in Northern Michigan so sweet strawberries can only be found frozen. I was worried they wouldn’t work, but they did! Perfect combo with the peppery basil and touch of maple. Kept thinking it would need red onion but am glad I didn’t cave to that temptation. We loved everything about this salad. Can’t wait to try the other 9!
Frozen strawberries absolutely work for this dressing! Great idea!
The salad was delicious and my crew absolutely loved it! I loved the slightly sweet combination of fruit with the veggies. I try to eat an avocado a day so it was a creative way to make my goal. The basil in the dressing really hit the spot too!
This was a great salad. Our dinner conversation was what we could add to change it up and discussed little sprinkle of Dried cranberries or cubed chicken or shrimp. Maybe grapes sliced in half. Of course hubby said maybe crumble slice of bacon! The dressing is our new favorite. I always make our dressings. I will post a pic on FB page. Grrreat!
Those are some great ideas for future toppings! Glad you loved the dressing – it’s a good one!
Delicious!! Dressing is like summer in a jar! Avocado adds a creamy satisfying addition! Will be making this one again 🙂
I loved the dressing. I made it without the maple syrup. I have a lot leftover dressing. Couldn’t find granny apples. The mixed greens salad probably would have gotten 5 stars if I had them to add to the salad. A lot of chewing.
Really enjoyed the different textures, and the sweet/tart combination. Substituted water for the oil to save on calories.
Not my favorite salad. But for someone who is not a fan of nuts or fruit in my salads, it was a pleasant combination. I did forget to add basil to the salad dressing, maybe I’ll fix that when I eat the leftovers tomorrow.
This was an easy recipe to make and quite good. I plan on making this for a co-worker of mine n keeping in my recipe box.
Great Salad, Easiest salad every made, great dressing, my avocado was not good, substituted frozen and tasted fine. Enjoy
Oh my goodness, the salad dressing was delicious and is a keeper! The rest of the salad came together quickly and was satisfying enough to have it for lunch tomorrow.
Loved the flavor and the crunch! Forgot to buy strawberries but had some frozen ones so I defrosted them and they worked fine in the dressing. Will definitely make again. Love your challenges!
Frozen works great!
This was quick, easy, and fun to make. I added a couple of sliced strawberries to the salad for some added color and only used 1/2 the dressing. It was delicious and I will definitely be making it again! I loved the different textures with the crunch of the apple and the sliced almonds mixed with the creamy smoothness of the avocados. I had it for dinner and I feel quite sated. Yum!!