This spinach salad with mandarin oranges and berries is bright, fresh, and full of flavor. Made with tender spinach, juicy mandarin oranges, sweet berries, dried cranberries, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy pistachios, it is an easy salad recipe that works beautifully for lunch, dinner, meal prep, or a colorful side dish.
Spinach Salad Recipe
If you love salads that taste fresh, fruity, creamy, and crunchy all at once, this mandarin orange spinach salad is a recipe you will want to make again and again. It was inspired by a restaurant salad that combined some of the best salad ingredients: fruit, spinach, goat cheese, nuts, and a light sweet dressing.
The best part of this spinach salad recipe is how simple it is. There is no cooking required, and the whole salad comes together in about 10 minutes. It is refreshing enough for summer, but the mandarin oranges, cranberries, and pistachios also make it feel right at home on a winter table.
The creamy goat cheese balances the sweetness of the fruit, while the pistachios add the perfect salty crunch. The spinach gives the salad a soft, fresh base that lets all the colorful toppings stand out. Finished with a honey orange vinaigrette, this salad is light but still satisfying.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This spinach salad with mandarin oranges and berries is easy to make, flexible, and packed with texture. It is a great choice when you want something that feels fresh but still has plenty of flavor.
- It can be made in any season with mandarin oranges, blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, or other favorite berries.
- It works well as a meal-prep lunch when the dressing is stored separately.
- Baby spinach makes a tender, mild base for sweet fruit, creamy cheese, and crunchy nuts.
- The honey orange vinaigrette is quick to shake together and adds a bright citrus flavor.
- It can be served as a side salad or turned into a main dish with chicken, steak, or another protein.
Every bite has something different: juicy oranges, tangy cranberries, soft goat cheese, crisp greens, fresh berries, and pistachios. It is simple enough for a weekday meal but pretty enough to serve to guests.
Ingredients
This mandarin orange spinach salad uses simple, whole ingredients that are easy to find. The combination is fruity, sweet, tangy, creamy, and crunchy, so it checks all the boxes for a balanced salad.
These are the ingredients you will need:
- Mandarin oranges: Use canned mandarin oranges with no sugar added, and drain them well before adding them to the salad. Canned peaches can also work as a substitute.
- Fresh spinach: Baby spinach is ideal because it is tender and mild. Kale can be used if you prefer a heartier green.
- Dried cranberries: These add chewy sweetness and a little tart flavor. Raisins or chopped dried apricots can be used instead.
- Blackberries: Fresh blackberries add juicy berry flavor. Strawberries or blueberries are also good options.
- Goat cheese crumbles: Goat cheese gives the salad a creamy, tangy finish. Feta cheese can be used if you prefer.
- Chopped pistachios: Pistachios add crunch and a nutty flavor. Sliced almonds, chopped pecans, or sunflower seeds are easy substitutes.
This salad is light enough to serve with dinner, but it can also become a filling main dish. Add grilled chicken, leftover chicken, sliced steak, or another favorite protein if you want a more substantial meal. You can also add red onion, green onion, peaches, sunflower seeds, or extra berries based on what you have on hand.
Honey Orange Vinaigrette Dressing
The honey orange vinaigrette is one of the best parts of this spinach salad recipe. It is sweet, tangy, and citrusy without being heavy. A homemade vinaigrette only takes a minute to prepare, and it helps the fruit and goat cheese shine.
For the dressing, you will need:
- Red wine vinegar
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Honey
- Fresh orange juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Shake everything together in a salad dressing shaker or a mason jar until combined. If you like a tangier dressing, add a little more red wine vinegar or reduce the honey slightly. If you prefer a sweeter vinaigrette, keep the honey as written.
If you do not want to make dressing from scratch, poppy seed dressing or balsamic vinaigrette also pairs well with this spinach salad with mandarin oranges and berries.
How to Make Mandarin Orange Spinach Salad
This salad is quick and easy to assemble. Start by making the dressing so the flavors have a few minutes to blend while you prepare the salad ingredients.
Measure the red wine vinegar, olive oil, honey, and fresh orange juice into a dressing shaker or mason jar. Add salt and pepper to taste, then shake well until the vinaigrette is combined. Set it aside.
Next, wash and dry the spinach thoroughly. A salad spinner is helpful for removing extra water, but paper towels also work. Drain the mandarin oranges so they do not make the salad watery.
Add the spinach, mandarin orange slices, dried cranberries, blackberries, goat cheese, and chopped pistachios to a large bowl. Use tongs to gently toss everything together, being careful not to crush the berries or oranges.
If you are serving the salad right away, drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss lightly. You can serve it in the same large bowl, on a platter, or divided onto individual salad plates. If you are preparing it ahead of time, keep the dressing separate until just before eating so the spinach stays fresh.
More Salad Recipes
- Simple fruit salad recipe
- Asparagus chickpea Mediterranean couscous salad
- Pomegranate brown rice kale salad
- Easy pasta salad without mayo
If you enjoy fresh salads, this spinach salad with mandarin oranges and berries is a great recipe to keep in your rotation. It is colorful, easy to customize, and perfect for both everyday meals and special occasions.
Did you make this recipe?
If you make and love this recipe, please leave a ★★★★★ review below. It is always helpful to hear how the recipe turns out, and comments are welcome if you have questions.
Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges and Berries
Equipment
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Salad dressing shaker or mason jar
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Large salad bowl
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Salad spinner, optional
Ingredients
For Dressing
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- Juice from 1 orange
- Salt and pepper to taste
For Salad
- ½ cup canned mandarin oranges no sugar added, drained
- 9 oz spinach
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup blackberries
- ½ cup goat cheese crumbles
- ½ cup chopped pistachios
Instructions
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Make the dressing: Add the red wine vinegar, olive oil, honey, orange juice, salt, and pepper to a dressing shaker or mason jar. Shake until well combined, then set aside.
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Prepare the salad: Drain the mandarin oranges. Wash and dry the spinach thoroughly.
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Add the spinach, mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, blackberries, goat cheese, and pistachios to a large bowl.
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Gently toss the salad with tongs until the ingredients are evenly distributed.
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Drizzle the dressing over individual servings, or toss the salad with dressing just before serving.
Notes
For meal prep, store the salad and dressing separately until ready to eat.
Poppy seed dressing or balsamic vinaigrette can be used instead of the homemade honey orange vinaigrette.
Add chicken, steak, or another protein to make this salad a main dish.