Blueberry Salad with Balsamic Dressing

This blueberry salad with spinach, feta, and a balsamic dressing is a total crowd pleaser.

It’s not summer until I’ve picked blueberries in Michigan. After I’ve made all the blueberry pancakes and blueberry waffles, I’m usually craving something fresh. Enter: this blueberry salad.

It’s classic, fresh, and tangy sweet from the creamy balsamic dressing. It works with just about every meal, from chicken to salmon to vegetarian dinners. It’s the perfect salad for your easy weeknight meal repertoire!

Featured Reader Review

“We’re not big salad eaters, but my husband and I both absolutely love this one. So delicious, simple, and quick :)” -Kathrin

Ingredients In This Blueberry Salad

I’m always looking for side dish recipes that are easy to make and versatile, and this spinach blueberry salad is both. It goes with baked salmon or creamy pasta just as well. In fact, there’s not much that it wouldn’t go with! Here’s what’s in this blueberry salad:

Ripe blueberries: Always use fresh berries: even better if you picked them yourself! I like to wash and dry them first.
Mixed baby greens or spinach: I like using a variety of greens if you can, but anything works. I often use a mix of baby spinach and baby arugula.
Pistachios: Chop some pistachios for a crunch, or try glazed pecans or glazed walnuts for something a little fancier.
Feta cheese: I love using feta to add a salty pop, or goat cheese makes a nice pairing.
Balsamic vinaigrette: My go-to classic dressing is made with balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and olive oil.

Tips For A Perfect Balsamic Dressing

The balsamic dressing is what carries this spinach blueberry salad. The flavor is zesty and bright, tangy from the balsamic vinegar and balanced with a touch of maple syrup. Over the years, we’ve found a few tips for making a perfect emulsion (when the oil and vinegar combine into a creamy texture instead of separating):

Use a medium-sized bowl to allow for enough movement of the whisk. Trust me, I’ve done this in small bowls before and it’s almost impossible to get the oil and vinegar to meld!
Whisk the ingredients by hand. Start with the balsamic, Dijon mustard, and maple syrup. The Dijon mustard actually also helps to form and lock in the emulsion (I’ve used this technique in other vinaigrette recipes like Classic Vinaigrette and Italian Dressing).
Add the olive oil as gradually as you can: I typically add it tablespoon by tablespoon and whisk in between until the oil fully incorporates.

Best Cheese For Blueberry Salad

As I mentioned, feta is my favorite for most fruit salads, but this salad works well with just about anything:

Goat cheese is creamier and tangier
Shaved Parmesan is savory instead of tangy
Fresh mozzarella or burrata cheese would make a more decadent salad
Skip it entirely for a vegan version, and add extra nuts for a contrast

Variations With Cucumbers, Almonds, And More

You can also add other ingredients to change up the vibe based on what you have on hand:

Add cucumbers. Thin half-moons of English cucumber are a delicious flavor pairing.
Swap the nuts. Toasted almonds are classic, you could also use toasted pecans, walnuts, or hazelnuts. Candied walnuts or candied pecans make for a sweeter flavor.
Add another berry. Blackberries would be perfect here, or a mix with sliced strawberries.
Make it a meal. Grilled chicken or salmon turns this into dinner.
Use Pickled Red Onions (#) instead of raw, if raw onion is too assertive.

What To Serve With Blueberry Salad

Here are a few ways I like to serve this salad:

Baked salmon or grilled chicken thighs for an easy summer dinner
Anything off the grill: chicken burgers, shrimp kabobs, grilled corn
A creamy linguine pasta with garlic and herbs
Brunch spreads, alongside a quiche or frittata
Holiday tables, to bring freshness and color

How To Store And Make Ahead

Dressed salad doesn’t store well, so if you can store all ingredients separately. The vinaigrette holds up to two weeks in a sealed jar. Washed greens, onion, feta, and nuts can each be prepped a day ahead. Rinse blueberries right before serving; washing early softens the skins.

Dietary Notes

This blueberry salad recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, omit the feta cheese.