Go Back
A close-up view of the cranberry spinach salad, highlighting the textures of the fresh baby spinach, crumbled feta, and sweet dried cranberries.

Cranberry Spinach Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

A vibrant and delicious Cranberry Spinach Salad featuring crisp spinach, sweet cranberries, tangy feta, and a homemade creamy poppy seed dressing. The perfect easy recipe for holidays or weeknight dinners.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 285
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Salad
  • 10 oz Fresh Baby Spinach Washed and dried.
  • 3/4 cup Dried Cranberries
  • 1/2 cup Crumbled Feta Cheese
  • 1/2 cup Pecans Toasted and roughly chopped.
  • 1/4 cup Red Onion Thinly sliced.
For the Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing
  • 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
  • 3 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 2 tbsp Sugar
  • 1 tbsp Poppy Seeds
  • 1/4 tsp Onion Powder
  • 1-2 tbsp Milk To thin.

Equipment

  • 1 Large Salad Bowl
  • 1 Whisk
  • 1 Small Bowl For dressing

Method
 

  1. In a small or medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, poppy seeds, and onion powder until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
  2. Slowly add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time, whisking continuously, until the dressing reaches your desired creamy consistency. Set aside.
  3. In a large salad bowl, add the fresh baby spinach, dried cranberries, crumbled feta cheese, toasted pecans, and thinly sliced red onion.
  4. Just before serving, pour about half of the prepared dressing over the salad. Toss gently to coat all the ingredients evenly. Add more dressing if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

Toast Your Pecans: For the best flavor, toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until fragrant. Let them cool before adding to the salad.
Make-Ahead Tip: Prepare the dressing and chop the salad ingredients ahead of time, but store them separately in the refrigerator. Combine and dress just before serving to maintain maximum freshness and crunch.