Simply the best, easy Spinach Salad Recipe with eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, sesame seeds, and a healthy salad dressing. Quick, customizable and is the perfect side salad to any meal!

Along with strawberry spinach salad and spinach avocado salad, I promise this is one of the best salad recipes you will ever make!

Easy spinach salad in a bowl topped with hard boiled eggs, cucumbers, tomato and sesame seeds.

I have the best spinach salad recipe for you! Fifteen years ago we used to live in Calgary and I was a brand new mom. One night, a friend invited us over for dinner. Part of dinner was this spinach salad.

She tossed it with the dressing in a garbage bag! Not environmentally friendly choice but every spinach leaf got coated in delicious spinach salad dressing.

Since then, this recipe for spinach salad has become my go-to salad recipe and I use tongs for tossing it because I feel bad to throw out plastic bag after a single use.

I am sure you will love it too! Spinach is full of good for your nutrients. With its mild taste, I have come to use it in everything from healthy spinach dip to a green smoothie!

Ingredients for Spinach Salad Recipe

You can actually add whatever you want to this simple spinach salad recipe but here is the basic guideline of what I use because I always have these simple ingredients on hand.

Baby spinach, sesame seeds, hard boiled eggs, cucumber, mushrooms, tomatoes, olive oil, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar.
  • Baby spinach: The leaves are more tender, flavorful and honestly just fit on your fork better.
  • Grape tomatoes: Add a burst color and juicy flavor.
  • Cucumber: I love mini cucumbers for taste but English cucumber or summer garden cucumber works.
  • Mushrooms: Sliced white mushrooms or brown mushrooms add some great texture to the spinach salad.
  • Hard boiled eggs: Add protein and that egg yolk is so creamy!
  • Sesame seeds: Add crunch with a nutty flavor.
  • Spinach salad dressing: An easy dressing with extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard and soy sauce. You can substitute the apple cider vinegar with lemon juice.

How to Make Spinach Salad

The beauty of this spinach salad recipe is it’s a cinch to whip up with only a little prep work!

Cutting hard boiled egg on cutting board with tomatoes, mushrooms and cucumbers.

Prep ingredients: Slice hard boiled eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes and cucumbers. I love to make hard boiled eggs in Instant Pot or hard boiled eggs in air fryer as they turn out perfectly every time.

Now is a good time to toast sesame seeds. I love to quickly toast my sesame seeds in a small skillet on the stove. You can opt not to toast your seeds, but they do add another layer of flavor to this spinach salad.

A hand pouring a small bowl of sesame seeds over spinach salad.

Place ingredients in bowl: Fill large bowl with spinach, then add eggs, mushrooms, cucumbers and tomatoes. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds last.

Dressing in small jar being poured on a bowl of salad with spinach.

Make spinach salad dressing: In a small jar with a tight fitting lid, combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard and soy sauce. Shake until well mixed or just whisk salad dressing in a small bowl.

Then drizzle dressing over spinach salad, use as much or as little as you like.

Spinach salad being tossed with salad tongs.

Toss spinach salad: Toss salad with spinach gently. I like to start with a small amount of dressing and then add more as needed while tossing.

A bowl of spinach, hard boiled eggs, mushrooms and tomatoes being served with salad tongs.

Serve immediately: This spinach salad is best served fresh right after you toss the spinach with the dressing.

Variations

This spinach salad recipe is so flexible! Feel like sprucing it up? Here are a few ideas.

Spinach salad with hard boiled eggs, cucumbers and tomatoes dressed in a white bowl.

What To Serve With Spinach Salad?

The beauty of this spinach salad recipe is it’s just as good for a weeknight dinner as it is for a holiday meal! You can serve it with a variety of main dishes.

Baked chicken breast goes with it well for a low carb dinner. So does baked salmon or air fryer lamb chops.

For a quick and budget friendly vegetarian dinner make simple spaghetti recipe or low carb cheese almond flour crust pizza.

During the holidays serve with sirloin tip roast or eye of round roast.

Can You Make It Ahead of Time?

Yes. Once tossed, it is best to enjoy spinach salad the same day. Fresh spinach wilts extremely fast.

To make spinach salad recipe ahead of time either for meal prep or busy holidays, refrigerate all salad ingredients in a bowl covered with plastic wrap separately from the dressing for up to 2 days.

I also recommend to store sesame seeds in an airtight container in a cool dry place because they will get soggy in the refrigerator. Dressing lasts for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

FAQs

What if spinach salad dressing solidifies in the fridge?

Olive oil hardens when refrigerated. Just place the jar with the dressing in a bowl with hot water for 10 minutes or so. Always shake salad dressing before adding to salad.

Is it OK to eat uncooked spinach?

Yes. Spinach like lettuce can be consumed raw.

Is spinach better for salad raw or cooked?

It depends what your goals are. According to Harvard university, to get the most lutein from spinach is best to eat it chopped raw. It also provides more fiber than cooked spinach.

However, with cooked spinach you will consume much more beta-carotene, iron and calcium. Only one problem, cooked spinach doesn’t taste good in a salad unless it is a wilted spinach salad.

How to make spinach salad taste better?

First of all, do not add ingredients you don’t like. Any vegetables and nuts are welcome in this spinach salad recipe. As for dressing ingredients, some people are not fans of soy sauce or apple cider vinegar. In this case, use 1 teaspoon of salt or white wine vinegar instead.

More Green Salad Recipes to Try

More Spinach Recipes to Try

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healthy spinach salad recipe

Easy Spinach Salad Recipe

Easy Spinach Salad Recipe with eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, sesame seeds and easy salad dressing. Best spinach salad for any occasion!
4.97 from 29 votes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 158
Diet Low Calorie
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients  

Spinach Salad

Healthy Spinach Salad Dressing

Instructions 

  • In a large salad bowl, add spinach, eggs, tomatoes, cucumber, mushrooms and sesame seeds.
  • In a small Mason jar, add olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard and soy sauce. Screw on lid tight and shake until well mixed.
  • Pour dressing over spinach salad before serving and toss gently. Serve immediately.

Video

Notes

  • Make Ahead: Refrigerate salad ingredients separately from the dressing covered with plastic for up to 2 days.
  • Dressing in a jar can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks. Place in a bowl with hot water for 10 minutes to warm up, then shake.
  • Cheese: Add fresh feta, goat cheese or parmesan. 
  • Onion: Add chopped red onion or green onion.
  • Lemon juice or red wine vinegar are a good substitute for apple cider vinegar.
  • Nuts: Toasted almonds or walnuts add additional crunch.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 158kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 268mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g
Course: Salad
Cuisine: North American
Author: Olena Osipov
Did you make this recipe?Mention @ifoodreal or tag #ifoodreal!

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About Olena

Welcome! I grew up in Ukraine watching my grandma cook with simple ingredients. I have spent the last 11 years making it my mission to help you cook quick and easy meals for your family!

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Comments

  1. I made your corned beef and cabbage in the instapot yesterday. It was amazing! I cannot wait to try this “Best Ever Spinach Salad” recipe. Looks delicious! I just need a bigger refrigerator. LOL. Still praying for peace in Ukraine Oleana. Remember, you are not alone and the whole world in watching.

  2. 5 stars
    The flavours definitely grew on me! Will be making this again since it’s super filling and nutritious.

  3. 5 stars
    This recipe is a success. I have served it several times to rave reviews! I use some everything bagel seasoning as a garnish on the eggs instead of the sesame seeds. It will be a go to salad for me. Outstanding and simple dressing!

    1. When you use gluten free soy sauce, tamari or liquid or coconut aminos this is gluten free. Enjoy!

  4. 5 stars
    This is DELICIOUS!!! I didn’t have the apple cider vinegar so I substituted rice wine vinegar. Do NOT skip the sesame seeds. They make the salad! I added a little green onion to mine as well. I scaled the recipe down for 2. And NO I did not share! lol

  5. I am making this to add in my meal plan and just wondering how much the nutritional values change leaving out the mushrooms.

  6. Question: If I make the dressing with rice vinegar will it make a big difference in taste vs apple vinegar?

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