Strawberry Spinach & Bacon Salad
Fresh strawberries, crispy bacon and the best sweet balsamic dressing! This delicious salad is so easy to make and perfect for the warmer weather!
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 1 6 oz. package of fresh spinach (about 4 cups)
- 2 cups strawberries, sliced
- 8 strips of bacon, cooked & crumbled
- ½ cup goat cheese or feta cheese, crumbled*
- ½ cup toasted pecans (toasing is optional, see notes for directions)
For the maple-balsamic dressing:
- 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup
- 2 Tbsp olive oil (I like using extra light tasting olive oil)
Instructions
To make the maple-balsamic dressing:
- Whisk all of your ingredients together in a bowl. Set it aside while you make the rest of your salad.
To make the salad:
- Add your spinach, strawberries, bacon and goat cheese to bowl and drizzle your desired amount of dressing over the top. Toss your salad until it's full coated and serve immediately with toasted pecans on top.
Notes
*Using goat cheese will make your salad more creamy & sweet, while feta will make it more on the salty side.
To toast your pecans: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and line a baking pan with parchment paper. Spread your pecans out in an even layer in the pan and bake for 506 minutes. Let them cool completely before eating.
How to bake your bacon: Preheat your oven 400 degrees & line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay out your bacon strips in a single layer in the pan, making sure the pieces aren't touching. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until they reach your desired crispiness. Transfer your bacon to a tray lined with a paper towel and let them cool completely.