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Our classic spinach salad with balsamic dressing is not your basic side dish. It is loaded with fresh spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, red onions, hard boiled eggs, and yes, real bacon (because what’s life without bacon?).
Toss it all in a bold, tangy balsamic vinaigrette that brings the whole thing together like a power suit. This one earns a spot at the dinner table.
Here is Why This Spinach Salad Recipe Works
Bacon makes everything better: The crispy bacon bits are the star of this salad, and we’re not here to argue.
Homemade vinaigrette for the win: That tangy balsamic vinaigrette? It’s quick, easy, and leagues better than anything in a bottle.
Loaded with the good stuff: Eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, cucumbers. This spinach salad isn’t messing around. It’s hearty enough to be a meal all on its own.
Simple but impressive: Toss it together in minutes, but it looks (and tastes) like you put in way more effort. Perfect for weeknights or showing off at potluck
If you like this salad, you might like our Blueberry Kale Salad or Tossed green salad with Gorgonzola.
The Ingredients
- Meat: Bacon
- Produce: Baby spinach, Crimini mushrooms, Red onion, Seedless cucumbers, Grape tomatoes, Garlic
- Pantry: Olive oil, Balsamic vinegar, brown mustard (or Dijon mustard)
- Pantry Seasonings: Salt, Freshly ground black pepper
- Eggs: Hard-boiled eggs
Variations
Spinach and Blue Cheese Salad: Swap the bacon for crispy prosciutto and sprinkle in crumbled blue cheese and toasted walnuts or pecans.
Mediterranean Spinach Salad: Throw in some roasted chickpeas, Kalamata olives, and some feta cheese. Toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds would be great as well.
Southwest Spinach Salad: Mix in roasted corn, black beans, and diced avocado, and top with a smoky chipotle lime dressing instead of balsamic vinaigrette.
For more fresh, crisp salad recipes, try our Cucumber Radish Salad or strawberry spinach salad.
Tips for Success
- Cook the bacon ahead of time and let it cool completely for easy crumbling. Pro tip: save a little bacon grease for a smoky twist in the vinaigrette.
- Slice everything thin and bite size.
- Don’t overdress the salad: Start with a little vinaigrette and toss. You can always drizzle in more, but you can’t take it out once it’s soggy.
- This spinach salad shines when it’s freshly made. Toss it with the dressing just before serving to keep the spinach crisp and the bacon crunchy.
- This spinach salad is already pretty hearty and loaded with protein, but feel free to add grilled chicken or steak strips for easy weeknight dinners.
Storage
If you have leftovers, store the salad and vinaigrette separately to prevent the spinach from wilting. Keep the salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. The vinaigrette can be stored in a sealed jar for up to a week.
Spinach Salad with Bacon and Balsamic Vinaigrette
This easy spinach bacon salad owns the dinner table and is hearty enough to hold its own as the main event. With crispy bacon, a bold balsamic vinegar dressing and all the fresh, crunchy veggies, this salad is proof that greens don’t have to be boring. Serve it up for lunch, dinner, or when you just want to show off a little.
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Classic Spinach Salad
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Ingredients
- 5 ounces fresh baby spinach, stems removed
- 4 ounces medium Crimini mushrooms, sliced
- ½ medium red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 small seedless cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 8 ounces grape tomatoes, halved
- 4 eggs, hard-boiled, peeled and sliced
- 8 thick slices bacon, cooked crisply
For the Balsamic Vinaigrette:
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard
- 1 garlic clove, minced or grated
- ¼ teaspoon table salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ cup olive oil
Instructions
- Place the spinach in a large salad bowl and add the sliced mushrooms, red onion, cucumber slices, tomatoes and the sliced hard boiled eggs. Crumble or chop the bacon and sprinkle on the salad.
- In a small dish, whisk together the vinaigrette ingredients, pour on the salad, toss and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this recipe? Rate & comment below!
Love spinach salad! Yours looks terrific — and always love both bacon and hard-boiled eggs with spinach salad. Made spinach salad with hot bacon dressing a couple of weeks ago — it’s been years since I’ve made that. It’s worth a try if you’ve never made it. Anyway, good stuff — thanks.