Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

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Brighten up your table with this colorful Strawberry Salad featuring fresh strawberries, crisp lettuce, bacon and a creamy poppy seed dressing. This perfect summer salad is a crowd pleaser that’s easy to make and packed with flavor. Or try this fun variation: Strawberry Avocado Salad with Poppyseed Dressing!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe!

This Strawberry Salad! Oh boy, it’s one of my favorite salads ever! So tangy and so so good! It is so incredible and can make you forget all your cares in the world. Bacon-salty. Strawberries-sweet. Almonds-crunchy. Dressing-creamy. Everything eaten together-priceless. Super simple and super delicious!

Ingredients Needed For Strawberry Salad

There are two parts to this Strawberry Salad, the salad and the homemade poppy seed dressing. For the best salad, be sure to use fresh ingredients where you can. Here are all of the ingredients you’ll need for both:

For the Stawberry Salad

• Sweet Strawberries – our star of the show! Make sure you grab some fresh and juicy strawberries and slice those babies up.
• Bacon – cooked and crumbled. Try making bacon in the oven! It’s a life-saver.
• Candied Almonds – Buy these from the store OR make your own homemade which is what I did for this recipe. (They’re easier to make than you think!)
• Lettuce – this is a strawberry salad so you’re going to need lettuce! Baby spinach is also a popular choice, or use any leafy greens you have on hand.

For the Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe

• Mayonnaise – real mayo works best here.
• White Vinegar –  a nice acidic flavor in comparison to the sweetness of the strawberries. If your strawberries aren’t as ripe (therefore not as sweet) use less of this.
• Sugar – to balance out the other flavors.
• Salt and Black Pepper – season to taste!
• Poppy Seeds – this wouldn’t be a poppy seed dressing without poppy seeds!

Variations

• Feta Cheese: Crumble feta over the salad for a tangy kick and great addition.
• Mandarin Oranges: Add for a burst of citrusy sweetness.
• Red Onion: Thinly sliced onion for a bit of bite.
• Goat Cheese: Use instead of feta for a creamier texture.
• Grilled Chicken: Make it a full meal by adding grilled chicken.

How to Make Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Guys when I said this Strawberry Salad was easy, I meant it. For full recipe details, including ingredient measurements, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here is step by step how to make this strawberry salad:

1. Prep Salad Ingredients

Rinse your lettuce in cold water. Then, tear into bite-sized pieces, dry and pour into a large bowl. You can buy a clamshell of ready made lettuce for ease OR use a salad spinner. Top with sliced strawberries, candied almonds and cooked bacon.

2. Make Dressing + Serve

To make the sweet poppy seed dressing, pour all ingredients (mayo, vinegar, sugar, poppy seeds, S+P) into a small bowl and whisk. Drizzle salad generously with poppy seed dressing and serve immediately.

Storage + Make Ahead Directions

Sadly, I wouldn’t recommend keeping any leftover strawberry salad. I mean you totally can, but the longer it sits, the more limp and soggy the lettuce gets, so it wouldn’t be quite the same. Definitely not one you could freeze either. If you do need to save any leftovers, store in a sealed container with a tight-fitting lid.

To Make Ahead: I would add lettuce and strawberries to my serving bowl, cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. Keep almonds and bacon in baggies along with the salad in the fridge. Make the dressing and keep in a small airtight container in the fridge. When you are ready to serve, top the salad with almonds and bacon, then drizzle with dressing and serve.

More Fruit Filled Salads to Try!

If you love this strawberry salad, then you need to try these other flavorful salads with homemade salad dressings! They’re all great as a main dish, side dish or mid-day snack!

• Watermelon Mint Salad
• Harvest Apple Blue Cheese Salad
• Pear Salad
• Kale Pomegranate Salad with Maple-Bacon Dressing
• Chinese Chicken Salad (with Mandarin Oranges!)

This strawberry salad with creamy poppy seed dressing is the perfect addition to your summer salads collection. With fresh strawberries, crunchy bacon, and a delicious poppy seed dressing, it’s a healthy and tasty lunch option. The printable recipe card is down below! Enjoy, friends!! Have a fabulous food filled day!

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.