Strawberry-Chive Goat Cheese Salad with Lemon-Herb Vinaigrette

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-02 · Updated 2026-04-02

A refreshing spring salad featuring sweet strawberries, creamy goat cheese, and a zesty lemon-herb dressing that elevates simple greens to gourmet status. This american-inspired salads (vegetarian) ready in about 15 minutes pairs baby spinach, strawberries, goat cheese into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 310 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 5 oz baby spinach
• 1 cup strawberries
• 4 oz goat cheese
• 2 tbsp fresh chives
• 1 lemon
• 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tbsp fresh dill
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse and thoroughly dry spinach leaves; place in a large bowl. Hull and slice strawberries into 1/4-inch thick slices.
2. Step 2: Crumble goat cheese into 1/2-inch pieces and arrange over spinach. Top with sliced strawberries and 1 tbsp chopped chives.
3. Step 3: Zest 1 tsp lemon zest into a small bowl, then cut lemon in half and squeeze 2 tbsp juice. Add olive oil, white wine vinegar, honey, 1 tbsp chopped dill, salt, and pepper; whisk vigorously until emulsified and glossy.
4. Step 4: Drizzle dressing over salad just before serving. Sprinkle remaining 1 tbsp chives and lemon zest over top, then toss gently with clean hands until evenly coated.
5. Step 5: Serve immediately while greens are crisp and dressing is fresh, ensuring each bite has a balance of sweet, tangy, and herby notes.