Strawberry Spinach Pasta Salad Fresh and Tasty Dish

Name: Strawberry Spinach Pasta Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 8 oz whole wheat fusilli pasta; 4 cups fresh spinach, washed and chopped; 2 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced; 0.5 cup feta cheese, crumbled; 0.25 cup red onion, thinly sliced; 0.5 cup walnuts, chopped; 0.25 cup olive oil; 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; 1 tablespoon honey; to taste salt and pepper

November 20, 2025June 26, 2025 by Mia

Looking for a fresh and tasty dish that revives your summer meals? This Strawberry Spinach Pasta Salad is just what you need! Packed with vibrant colors and flavors, it’s perfect for a quick lunch or a crowd-pleaser at gatherings. I’ll guide you through step-by-step instructions, tips for customizing, and ideas for storing leftovers. Let’s dive into this delicious recipe that blends juicy strawberries with fresh spinach and pasta!

Why I Love This Recipe

Fresh and Vibrant: This pasta salad is packed with fresh spinach and strawberries, making it a colorful and nutritious dish that brightens up any meal.
Perfect for Meal Prep: It’s easy to make in advance and is perfect for lunches or potlucks, as the flavors develop beautifully after chilling.
Versatile Ingredients: You can easily swap out the ingredients based on what’s in season or your personal preferences, making it customizable.
Deliciously Balanced: The combination of sweet strawberries, savory feta, and crunchy walnuts creates a delightful mix of flavors and textures.

Ingredients

List of Ingredients

To make a delicious Strawberry Spinach Pasta Salad, gather the following:

8 oz whole wheat fusilli pasta
4 cups fresh spinach, washed and chopped
2 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced
½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
½ cup walnuts, chopped
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
Salt and pepper to taste

Using fresh ingredients makes a big difference in flavor. Fresh spinach and strawberries give a crisp taste. Whole wheat pasta adds fiber and a nutty flavor. Choose ripe strawberries for the best sweetness. Feta cheese adds creaminess that contrasts well with the crunchy walnuts.

You can customize this salad to suit your taste. Try adding:

Grilled chicken for extra protein.
Avocado for creaminess.
Different nuts like almonds or pecans.

Feel free to adjust the amounts to your liking. Cooking should always be fun and personal!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Cooking the Pasta

To cook the whole wheat fusilli, start with a large pot. Fill it with water and add a generous pinch of salt. Bring the water to a rolling boil. Once boiling, add 8 oz of pasta. Stir it gently to prevent sticking. Cook according to the package directions, usually about 8 to 10 minutes. You want the pasta to be al dente, which means it should be firm yet tender. To check, taste a piece a minute or two before the time is up. When done, drain the pasta in a colander. Rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking and cool it down. This step keeps the pasta from sticking together.

Preparing the Dressing

For the dressing, gather these ingredients:

¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
Salt and pepper to taste

In a small bowl, add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper. Whisk these ingredients together until they are well combined. You want a smooth and creamy texture. If you don’t have a whisk, a fork works well too! This dressing adds a nice tangy sweetness to the salad.

Mixing the Salad

Now it’s time to mix everything together. In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, 4 cups of chopped spinach, 2 cups of sliced strawberries, ½ cup of crumbled feta cheese, ¼ cup of thinly sliced red onion, and ½ cup of chopped walnuts. Be sure to mix in this order. Starting with pasta helps distribute the dressing evenly. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss everything together. You want every bite to be full of flavor.

Chilling and Serving

To get the best flavor, let the salad chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This time allows the flavors to meld together. When you’re ready to serve, toss the salad again to refresh the ingredients. Taste it and adjust the seasoning with more salt or pepper if needed. This salad tastes great on its own or as a side dish. Enjoy!

Tips & Tricks

Customizing the Recipe

You can easily change this salad to fit your taste. If you want to switch the spinach, use arugula or kale. These greens add a peppery kick. You can also try mixed greens for a fresh flavor.

Looking for extra toppings? Add sliced almonds for crunch. You could also use sunflower seeds for a nut-free option. Grilled chicken can turn this salad into a meal.

Making Ahead

Planning a party? You can make this salad the day before. Just prepare everything, but wait to add the dressing. This keeps the salad fresh and crisp.

Store it in an airtight container in the fridge. If you have leftovers, eat them within three days for the best taste.

Presentation Ideas

To make your salad look great, use a large bowl. Layer the salad for color. Start with pasta, then add greens, fruits, and cheese.

For garnishing, sprinkle some feta on top. You can also add a few whole strawberries for a pop of color. A drizzle of balsamic glaze can add shine and flavor.

Pro Tips

Use Fresh Ingredients: Always opt for the freshest strawberries and spinach to enhance the flavor and nutritional value of your salad.
Customize Your Nuts: Feel free to swap walnuts for your favorite nuts like pecans or almonds for a different texture and taste.
Make Ahead: Prepare the salad a few hours in advance and store it in the fridge. This allows the flavors to blend beautifully.
Adjust the Dressing: Taste the dressing before adding it to the salad; adjust the balsamic vinegar or honey to suit your palate.

Variations

Fruit Variations

You can add different fruits to your salad. Try using blueberries or peaches for a twist. Mixing fruits gives your salad a fun flavor. Each fruit adds a unique taste and texture.

Protein Additions

Adding protein makes this salad heartier. You can include grilled chicken or chickpeas for a boost. For a vegetarian option, try adding tofu or black beans. They add great texture and keep the meal filling.

Dressing Alternatives

Switch up your dressing for new tastes. A citrus vinaigrette works well and adds a zesty kick. You can also use fresh herbs like basil or mint to change flavors. Experimenting with spices can create exciting new profiles.

Storage Info

Storing Leftovers

To keep your salad fresh, place it in an airtight container. Make sure to seal it well to prevent air from getting in. This helps keep the flavors strong. You can store it in the fridge for up to three days. However, the salad is best when eaten fresh. After a couple of days, the spinach may wilt, and the strawberries can lose their crunch.

Freezing the Salad

Freezing is not the best option for this salad. If you must freeze it, keep the pasta, spinach, and fruit separate. This way, they stay fresh. You can freeze the pasta and walnuts for up to a month. When you’re ready to eat, thaw them in the fridge overnight. To refresh the salad, mix in fresh spinach and strawberries after thawing. This keeps the salad vibrant and tasty.

FAQs

How long can I store Strawberry Spinach Pasta Salad?

You can store this salad in the fridge for up to three days. Keep it in a sealed container to maintain freshness. The flavors will blend more over time. However, the spinach may wilt. I suggest eating it within two days for the best taste and texture.

Can I make this salad gluten-free?

Yes, you can make this salad gluten-free! Use gluten-free pasta instead of whole wheat fusilli. There are many good options available, such as rice pasta or chickpea pasta. They cook well and taste great in this dish.

What can I pair with this salad?

This salad goes well with many dishes. Try serving it with grilled chicken for protein. It also pairs nicely with a light soup, like tomato basil. If you want a vegetarian option, serve it with a side of roasted veggies.

This blog post covered a delicious Strawberry Spinach Pasta Salad. We explored fresh ingredients, cooking pasta, and making the dressing. I shared tips for customizing, storing leftovers, and serving suggestions. Remember, this salad is easy to make ahead, and you can add your favorite proteins or fruits. Personalize it to your taste. Enjoy your tasty creation, and share it with other

$To make a delicious Strawberry Spinach Pasta Salad, gather the following: - 8 oz whole wheat fusilli pasta - 4 cups fresh spinach, washed and chopped - 2 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced - ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled - ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced - ½ cup walnuts, chopped - ¼ cup olive oil - 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar - 1 tablespoon honey - Salt and pepper to taste Using fresh ingredients makes a big difference in flavor. Fresh spinach and strawberries give a crisp taste. Whole wheat pasta adds fiber and a nutty flavor. Choose ripe strawberries for the best sweetness. Feta cheese adds creaminess that contrasts well with the crunchy walnuts. You can customize this salad to suit your taste. Try adding: - Grilled chicken for extra protein. - Avocado for creaminess. - Different nuts like almonds or pecans. Feel free to adjust the amounts to your liking. Cooking should always be fun and personal! {{ingredient_image_1}} To cook the whole wheat fusilli, start with a large pot. Fill it with water and add a generous pinch of salt. Bring the water to a rolling boil. Once boiling, add 8 oz of pasta. Stir it gently to prevent sticking. Cook according to the package directions, usually about 8 to 10 minutes. You want the pasta to be al dente, which means it should be firm yet tender. To check, taste a piece a minute or two before the time is up. When done, drain the pasta in a colander. Rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking and cool it down. This step keeps the pasta from sticking together. For the dressing, gather these ingredients: - ¼ cup olive oil - 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar - 1 tablespoon honey - Salt and pepper to taste In a small bowl, add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper. Whisk these ingredients together until they are well combined. You want a smooth and creamy texture. If you don’t have a whisk, a fork works well too! This dressing adds a nice tangy sweetness to the salad. Now it’s time to mix everything together. In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, 4 cups of chopped spinach, 2 cups of sliced strawberries, ½ cup of crumbled feta cheese, ¼ cup of thinly sliced red onion, and ½ cup of chopped walnuts. Be sure to mix in this order. Starting with pasta helps distribute the dressing evenly. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss everything together. You want every bite to be full of flavor. To get the best flavor, let the salad chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This time allows the flavors to meld together. When you’re ready to serve, toss the salad again to refresh the ingredients. Taste it and adjust the seasoning with more salt or pepper if needed. This salad tastes great on its own or as a side dish. Enjoy! You can easily change this salad to fit your taste. If you want to switch the spinach, use arugula or kale. These greens add a peppery kick. You can also try mixed greens for a fresh flavor. Looking for extra toppings? Add sliced almonds for crunch. You could also use sunflower seeds for a nut-free option. Grilled chicken can turn this salad into a meal. Planning a party? You can make this salad the day before. Just prepare everything, but wait to add the dressing. This keeps the salad fresh and crisp. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge. If you have leftovers, eat them within three days for the best taste. To make your salad look great, use a large bowl. Layer the salad for color. Start with pasta, then add greens, fruits, and cheese. For garnishing, sprinkle some feta on top. You can also add a few whole strawberries for a pop of color. A drizzle of balsamic glaze can add shine and flavor. Pro Tips Use Fresh Ingredients: Always opt for the freshest strawberries and spinach to enhance the flavor and nutritional value of your salad. Customize Your Nuts: Feel free to swap walnuts for your favorite nuts like pecans or almonds for a different texture and taste. Make Ahead: Prepare the salad a few hours in advance and store it in the fridge. This allows the flavors to blend beautifully. Adjust the Dressing: Taste the dressing before adding it to the salad; adjust the balsamic vinegar or honey to suit your palate. {{image_2}} You can add different fruits to your salad. Try using blueberries or peaches for a twist. Mixing fruits gives your salad a fun flavor. Each fruit adds a unique taste and texture. Adding protein makes this salad heartier. You can include grilled chicken or chickpeas for a boost. For a vegetarian option, try adding tofu or black beans. They add great texture and keep the meal filling. Switch up your dressing for new tastes. A citrus vinaigrette works well and adds a zesty kick. You can also use fresh herbs like basil or mint to change flavors. Experimenting with spices can create exciting new profiles. To keep your salad fresh, place it in an airtight container. Make sure to seal it well to prevent air from getting in. This helps keep the flavors strong. You can store it in the fridge for up to three days. However, the salad is best when eaten fresh. After a couple of days, the spinach may wilt, and the strawberries can lose their crunch. Freezing is not the best option for this salad. If you must freeze it, keep the pasta, spinach, and fruit separate. This way, they stay fresh. You can freeze the pasta and walnuts for up to a month. When you’re ready to eat, thaw them in the fridge overnight. To refresh the salad, mix in fresh spinach and strawberries after thawing. This keeps the salad vibrant and tasty. You can store this salad in the fridge for up to three days. Keep it in a sealed container to maintain freshness. The flavors will blend more over time. However, the spinach may wilt. I suggest eating it within two days for the best taste and texture. Yes, you can make this salad gluten-free! Use gluten-free pasta instead of whole wheat fusilli. There are many good options available, such as rice pasta or chickpea pasta. They cook well and taste great in this dish. This salad goes well with many dishes. Try serving it with grilled chicken for protein. It also pairs nicely with a light soup, like tomato basil. If you want a vegetarian option, serve it with a side of roasted veggies. This blog post covered a delicious Strawberry Spinach Pasta Salad. We explored fresh ingredients, cooking pasta, and making the dressing. I shared tips for customizing, storing leftovers, and serving suggestions. Remember, this salad is easy to make ahead, and you can add your favorite proteins or fruits. Personalize it to your taste. Enjoy your tasty creation, and share it with others!$