What To Serve with Spinach Salad

My favorite Spinach Salad combines crumbly bacon, cheddar cheese and a light poppy seed dressing into an irresistible side dish or main meal. Pair it, or any other spinach salad recipe, with any of these recipes to really fill you up!

Spinach salad with a small bowl of poppyseed dressing served in the middle of the bowl.

Spinach is such a versatile leafy green vegetable. Not only can it be used in amazing warm dishes like this sauteed spinach or spinach pie, but it seems like everyone has their go-to Spinach Salad recipe that must be included in their holiday celebrations or at a dinner party.

The beauty is there are so many variations to a simple spinach salad from the fresh ingredients to the homemade dressing. You can add fresh fruits like sweet strawberries, apples and pears and mix them with raisins, cranberries or even mandarin oranges. In my favorite recipe, fresh spinach leaves pair perfectly with poppy seeds, bacon, and cheddar cheese.

It makes sense, then, that Spinach Salad doesn’t have to be served only at holidays and it doesn’t need to be relegated to just a side dish salad either.

If you’re craving a flavorful salad and need some ideas for what to serve with your easy salad recipe, I’ve got you covered! Read on to find my favorite suggestions to include with your tasty salad.

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FAQs about Spinach Salad

Two plates with a serving of spinach salad and a fork on each plate.

Is Spinach Salad a Healthy Salad?

There’s a reason why spinach salads are a popular addition to many American holiday meals–they are entirely customizable! Some recipes call for filling your salad with leafy greens, olive oil, fresh fruits and vegetables, and healthy additions like nuts.

Alternatively, you can also choose to fill your spinach salad with cheese, sugar-filled dressing, or unhealthy toppings. The health of your salad relies entirely on your desire to make it so!

Spinach itself is sometimes considered a superfood. It’s full of calcium, magnesium and iron which are good for bone health, metabolism, blood pressure, and energy.

How Do You Cut Spinach for a Salad?

Whether or not you chop your spinach leaves is totally up to you. Some recipes call for cutting spinach leaves off of the stems, but you can also keep it simple and use pre-washed spinach leaves from a bag.

The smaller you chop your leaves, the more dressing they will soak up and the quicker they will become soggy so I prefer to keep my leaves whole.

Make sure to serve your salad in a large bowl so that it is easy to mix the toppings and dressing together without making a mess!

Can I Save some Salad for Later?

If you’re hoping to enjoy spinach salad later, I would suggest leaving the dressing off at first. The rest of the salad ingredients can be stored together; just add the dressing when you are ready to enjoy.

Could Spinach Salad be Served as a Main Dish?

Absolutely! If you want to make your salad more filling, it’s easy to add some grilled chicken or steak, farro or quinoa. Salads come together so easily and are one of my favorite things to have as a quick meal.

Is it Safe to Eat Spinach Raw?

Yes, it’s perfectly safe to eat spinach raw. Fresh baby spinach is best. It’s a good idea to wash your spinach before using, even if it is pre washed in a bag.

Favorite Spinach Salad Recipes

This Spinach Salad with Bacon and Poppyseed Dressing is such an easy spinach salad and is always a HUGE family favorite at our gatherings. It’s one of my favorite salads and the perfect addition to every holiday meal.
Most restaurants serve a strawberry spinach salad like this spinach salad from Well Plated.
I love this versatile Apple Spinach Salad from Gimme Some Oven
Eating Bird Food has a recipe for a Spinach Salad with a simple balsamic vinegar dressing that is delicious!
You can also serve warm spinach salad for a unique addition to the dinner table. My favorite is this salad with warm bacon dressing!

Expert Tips

Hand drizzling poppyseed dressing over a spinach salad.

Serve your recipe soon after applying salad dressing. Your spinach will soak up the dressing and become soggy the longer it sits.
Mixing the salad up about ten minutes before serving will give you the best mix of flavor and texture.
When building a spinach salad, try to choose one addition from each of the categories in the “What to Serve with Spinach Salad” section below. You will end up with a delicious and nutritious dinner idea!
Use store bought dressing for quick dressings with lots of variation. Use homemade dressings for healthier alternatives without so much added sugar!

Spinach salad is so versatile. Try it with these additions:

Protein: Grilled chicken thighs, chicken breasts, steak, shrimp, tofu, turkey
Fruits or Vegetables: Sweet potato, avocado, cranberries, craisins, red onion, apples, pears, mandarin oranges, fresh strawberries
Grains: Farro, quinoa, pasta, sourdough bread, dinner roll, pasta salad
Cheese: goat cheese, feta cheese
Main Dish: Hamburgers, ham, turkey, chicken, soup, ribs, pork tenderloin

Best Recipes to Serve with Spinach Salad

Pork Ribs

12345 pork ribs (from Greedy Girl Gourmet) are delicious, finger-licking asian-style pork spare ribs that are as simple to cook as 12345. using only the pantry staples of wine, dark soy sauce, vinegar and sugar to braise the meat and only a few minutes of active cooking, this is the best easy sticky Chinese spare ribs for when you don’t have time to do the grocery.

Wood spoon stirring beef stroganoff with egg noodles.

This beef stroganoff recipe (from Fantabulosity) is an old-fashioned favorite that’s easy to make for a quick weeknight dinner. You only need ground beef, egg noodles, cream of mushroom soup, and a few other simple ingredients and it’s ready in 30 minutes!

Two bowls of butternut squash and lentil soup with a creamy drizzle over the top.

You’re three ingredients away from the most wonderful butternut squash lentil soup (from Vintage Kitchen Notes) ever! It’s low carb, nutritious, delicious, and can be made vegan. It freezes well and is ready in 30 minutes.

A spinach feta turkey burger being held up by a hand with sweet potato fries served alongside.

Spinach Feta Turkey Burgers (from A Paige of Positivity) with tasty ranch seasoning and a big brioche bun are just what your week needs. They’re bursting with flavor, have a super moist texture, and can easily be made macro-friendly. Oh and did I mention, these Turkey Burgers with Feta are just 5 ingredients!

Sweet and spicy chicken thighs in a skillet with a spoon of sauce to pour over the chicken.

These sweet and spicy chicken thighs (from Christian Guzman) combine the flavors of honey and chipotle for the spicy heat you crave. Searing the chicken before baking gives a tasty crust on the outside.

Three stuffed shells on a plate, sprinkled with parmesan cheese and topped with parsley.

Stuffed Shells are a family favorite in our house, and it’s no secret why! Creamy ricotta, sauteed spinach, gooey mozzarella… all stuffed into pasta. Plus, it’s made in the Instant Pot! This recipe for Easy Stuffed Shells will make your next dinner so much easier.

Pan fried panko chicken on a plate with a side salad.

This easy panko chicken (from Through the Fibro Fog) is coated with a flavourful breading giving the best crispy texture! A quick and easy pan-fried chicken recipe that comes together in 20 minutes.

Creamy sage chicken served in a bowl with white cream sauce.

This creamy sage chicken (from Through the Fibro Fog) has the best fragrant sauce, and is made with minimal ingredients. It comes together fast in just 30 minutes, making it perfect for a busy weeknight meal!

Chicken cutlets with mustard sauce served on an oval serving plate.

These delicious Chicken Cutlets with Mustard Sauce (from Kalyn’s Kitchen) are a super quick-and-easy low-carb chicken dinner that the family will love!

Herbs de Provence Roasted chicken and potatoes served on a plate.

This whole roast chicken recipe (from foodworthfeed) is infused with the flavors of fresh herbs de Provence and lemon served with baby potatoes and a buttery white wine pan sauce!

Filet served in a cast iron skillet with rosemary next to it.

This recipe is made with thick, 7 oz filet steaks that are cooked in a cast iron skillet, then served with a cream sauce. This recipe is inspired by Eswatini’s national dish, but can be enjoyed anywhere!

Cubed steak on a plate with cooked onions and baguette slices.

This recipe has many different names including Steak and Onions, Dibi, and Afra. It is a street food recipe from The Gambia made by sauteing steak pieces with mustard and onions. It is best served with a fresh baguette!

Rum Soaked Pork Loin is the perfect recipe for an easy meal. The meat will soak in the marinade for about three hours, you pop the meat in the oven, and viola… A yummy, boozy dinner straight from Belize.

A fork picking up noodles coated in palomino sauce.

This Instant Pot Pasta with Palomino Sauce is light and creamy and delicious. It comes together in just about 20 minutes and only uses 6 ingredients! This recipe is definitely going on my normal rotation from now on.

Lemon Ricotta Pasta topped with basil and pistachios next to a striped serving towel.

This Creamy Lemon Ricotta Pasta comes together in just one pot and 25 minutes. It beautifully blends the flavors of lemon, ricotta, pistachios, basil, and pasta.

A plate of creamy fettuccine alfredo noodles.

Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo is a quick and delicious way to make your favorite restaurant dish at home. It comes out creamy, cheesy, & delicious every time!

This Creamy Beef and Shells in the Instant Pot is a perfect 20 minute dinner. The pasta is cooked in a tomato and cream sauce that mixes delicious with the beef in the recipe! It is thickened up with parmesan cheese and ready to serve so quickly. You’re going to love it!

A bowl of carrot ginger soup garnished with creme and chopped pistachios.

This Carrot Ginger Soup (from Vanilla Bean Cuisine) is so easy—just simmer carrots, leeks, and ginger in vegetable broth until tender and blend. Top with crème fraiche and pistachios!

Mini Crab cakes on a platter with a side of sauce to dip.

This delicious canned crab recipe is for easy mini crab cakes (from Champagne Tastes)! Serve them with a spicy yogurt sauce as tapas or hors d’oeuvres.

Easy chicken marsala in a skillet with sauce and mushrooms over it.

Easy Chicken Marsala (from Chef Savvy) is a rich and creamy dish made in one pan and ready in under 30 minutes! It’s an Italian staple that you can easily make at home.

Bread machine breadsticks stacked together with one cut in half.

These homemade copycat Olive Garden breadsticks (from Culinary Shades) are soft, flavorful, delicious, and easy to make. Breadsticks dough can be made in the bread machine or in the stand mixer. Check out how to make soft breadsticks at home.

Parmesan crusted cod on a plate with bacon and peas.

If you love fish you definitely have a favorite. Most people tend to go for the classic fish and chips and don’t get me wrong I love a good fried fish, but this parmesan crusted cod with lemon butter sauce (from Oh, For the Love of Food) beats them all! It’s flaky and buttery fish with a crispy, salty and beautifully herbed crust. The lemon butter sauce adds some great flavor from the fat and wonderful acidity from the lemon.

Browned butter gnocchi with parmesan up close

This brown butter gnocchi with sage and walnuts is the perfect 30 minute dinner! It comes together quickly, and the browned butter adds a depth and richness to the dish. Top it with some parmesan and mwah…. perfection.

When it comes to tempeh recipes, this Harissa Tempeh (from Savory Spin) is quick, easy, packed with flavor, and can be served as a side, in a salad, or in a bowl!

Super easy flank steak on a cutting board with a few slices cut off.

This ultra-simple, Quick Flank Steak recipe (from Two Healthy Kitchens) has been a family favorite for decades. You need just 2 ingredients … seriously, JUST 2! Yet it’s flavorful, tender and delicious, every single time! And if you’re not a grill master? No worries! It’s really easy, and I break down every step so you can get it exactly right, even if you’ve never grilled flank steak before in your life!

A collage of recipes that would go well with spinach salad, including steak and gnocchi.

Other meals + what to serve

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What to serve with Ceviche
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What to serve with Chicken Chili

What To Serve with Spinach Salad – 25 Delicious Ideas!

FAQs about Spinach Salad

Favorite Spinach Salad Recipes

Expert Tips