Strawberry Feta Salad
This Strawberry Feta Salad is a fresh and vibrant combination of sweet juicy strawberries, creamy feta cheese, and crisp greens all tossed in a light and tangy dressing that is absolutely irresistible. It’s the perfect effortless salad for summer entertaining, weeknight dinners, or anytime you need a stunning dish that comes together in minutes!
Strawberry Salad with Feta
Summer in the kitchen is truly my favorite time of year – the fresh fruit, the vibrant berries, the crisp greens. It just doesn’t get any better! While I can’t claim a garden of my own just yet (someday!), I absolutely love cooking with the best seasonal ingredients I can find. And this strawberry feta salad is the perfect celebration of everything summer has to offer!
If you are someone who literally craves a good salad, welcome to my club – membership is always open! Whether I am at home or traveling, I genuinely need my greens to feel my best. And yes, I will absolutely take that burger and fries – just make sure there is a side salad coming along with it.
Why we love this salad:
- Sweet and savory perfection – fresh juicy strawberries and tangy feta cheese are the perfect flavor combination that work together in every single bite
- That homemade balsamic dressing – honey, Dijon mustard, and balsamic create a rich, tangy, and slightly sweet dressing that ties every ingredient together beautifully
- Toasted pecans add the perfect crunch – warm, nutty, and absolutely delicious against the fresh ingredients in the salad
- Light yet satisfying – fresh greens, crisp cucumber, and vibrant strawberries make this a salad that feels indulgent without being heavy – perfect for warm weather entertaining!
What You’ll Need:
- butter lettuce (or any greens you prefer)
- fresh strawberries
- feta cheese
- cucumbers
- red onion (or pickled red onion)
- pecans
- balsamic dressing – including olive oil, balsamic dressing, dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper
How to make Strawberry Feta Salad:
Step 1
Make dressing. Add all ingredients to a mason jar – the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
Step 2
Toast pecans. Add chopped pecans to a small sauté pan. Toast until fragrant, and then remove to cool.
Step 3
Slice strawberries. Clean and hull strawberries. Use a sharp knife to slice the strawberries.
Step 4
Assemble salad. Assemble the salad to a serving platter only when you’re ready to serve — the strawberries release their natural juices over time which can make the greens soggy if the salad sits too long. If you’re planning ahead, keep all the components separate and toss everything together right before eating for the freshest results!
NOTE: You can either use sliced red onion or make pickled red onions to this salad.
Step 5
Serve salad. To serve, add balsamic dressing. If serving a group of four, you can add dressing to the entire salad (although you may not need it all so add sparingly). Otherwise, add dressing to individual servings.
Store salad ingredients in separate containers in the refrigerator. Store balsamic dressing in mason jar in the fridge.
Recipe FAQs:
Baby red butter lettuce is our top choice – it’s tender, mild, and has a beautiful color that makes the salad look stunning. Arugula, spinach, or a spring mix all work beautifully too if that’s what you have on hand!
Absolutely! Goat cheese is a wonderful substitute with a similar creamy tanginess. Fresh mozzarella or shaved parmesan also work beautifully if you prefer something milder.
You can, but homemade is so quick and easy and tastes so much better! Just whisk everything together in a jar and you’re done in under 5 minutes. Once you make it from scratch you won’t want to go back!
The dressing can be made up to a week ahead and stored in the refrigerator – just shake or whisk before using. Assemble the salad fresh right before serving though, as the greens will wilt quickly once dressed. Keep all the components separate until you’re ready to eat!
Yes, you can! Candied walnuts, sliced almonds, or pistachios all work beautifully and add a delicious crunch. Toasting any nut before adding to the salad makes a big difference in flavor – don’t skip that step!
Yes! Grilled chicken, blackened salmon, or shrimp all pair beautifully with these flavors and turn this side salad into a satisfying main dish!
Other Delicious Salad Recipes:
We’ve got so many delicious salads to choose from. Here are some other options for you!
Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)
xoxo ~Sue
Strawberry Feta Salad
Ingredients
For the balsamic dressing:
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper – to taste
For the salad:
- 5-6 ounces baby red butter lettuce – or other greens
- 8 oz. fresh strawberries – sliced
- 1/2 small cucumber (or one cup) – sliced
- 1/3 cup red onion – or pickled red onion
- 4 oz. feta cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans – toasted
Instructions
- Make dressing. Add all ingredients to a mason jar – the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 2 teaspoons dijon mustard, 1 Tablespoon honey, 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Toast pecans. Add chopped pecans to a small sauté pan. Toast until fragrant, and then remove to cool.1/2 cup chopped pecans
- Slice strawberries. Clean and hull strawberries. Use a sharp knife to slice the strawberries.8 oz. fresh strawberries
- Assemble salad. Assemble the salad to a serving platter only when you're ready to serve — the strawberries release their natural juices over time which can make the greens soggy if the salad sits too long. If you're planning ahead, keep all the components separate and toss everything together right before eating for the freshest results!5-6 ounces baby red butter lettuce, 1/2 small cucumber (or one cup), 1/3 cup red onion, 4 oz. feta cheese
- Serve salad. To serve, add balsamic dressing. If serving a group of four, you can add dressing to the entire salad (although you may not need it all so add sparingly). Otherwise, add dressing to individual servings.
Notes
- Store salad ingredients in separate containers in the refrigerator. Store balsamic dressing in mason jar in the fridge.
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To make this a full meal, pair with grilled chicken, blackened salmon, or shrimp. These proteins all pair beautifully with these flavors and turn this side salad into a satisfying main dish!