14 Spinach Salad Recipes That Are Hearty Enough for a Fast Weeknight Meal

Spinach may taste fantastic when sautéed, but it’s even better when tossed with a few flavorful ingredients (and a homemade dressing!) and enjoyed fresh in a salad. Spinach is dense and hearty which means it can stand up to rich toppings like steak or bleu cheese, and it’s an easy ingredient to use when you want to whip up a quick and healthy dinner that will leave you feeling full and nourished. One of our favorite recipes? This entrée-worthy take. Hard-boiled eggs, mushrooms and bacon make it extra satisfying. Whether you enjoy this salad for lunch or a full dinner, it’s full of flavor thanks to the Dijon mustard and red wine vinegar dressing.

This easy recipe can be made in just 15 minutes, so it’s perfect for a quick lunch or a busy weeknight dinner. Salty bacon adds a decadent crunch, while grapes add a burst of juice sweetness to every bite. Crumbled blue cheese is the perfect way to add creamy tanginess to the fully-flavored salad.

When making a steak salad, opt for spinach—the hearty leaves are dense enough to stand up to thick hunks of steak. This salad pairs perfectly cooked steak with creamy sour cream potatoes and vibrant, zesty red onions. It’s a fantastic dish to serve at a potluck or dinner party because it tastes just as good at room temperature as it does when warm.

When you need to throw together a quick dish, this salad couldn’t be easier. It can be ready in just 15 minutes, which means it’s perfect for busy weeknights or a quick dinner party. The crumbled goat cheese adds a tangy, creaminess to the otherwise crunchy salad.

Salads aren’t usually served warm, but this one will make you wish they were serve that way more often. Crispy bacon is the star of this simple salad, but we upped the ante with tender mushrooms, fresh red onion and hard-boiled eggs for a hearty salad your whole family can enjoy.

Spinach is hearty and crunchy, so tossing it in a creamy dressing is a great way to balance out the textures. In this recipe, low fat plain yogurt combines with orange zest, orange juice and a bit of honey to create a sweet and tangy dressing that coats each chickpea and piece of spinach evenly. Top with fresh mint for even more flavor.

This fun recipe is a great way to mix up your typical pizza recipe. Ready in less than an hour, it’s a filling dish that the whole family can enjoy. Premade pizza dough is the key to cutting time, and sweet Italian sausage adds meaty flavor to the cheesy pie. Top with fresh spinach for extra crunch and freshness.

This quick and easy salad puts juicy strawberries on full display. The sweet, crisp fruit perfectly balances out the salty, fatty bacon, making this salad perfectly complex and balanced in every bite. Serve warm and with a garnish of almonds.

Crispy, crunchy pork Milanese tastes so much better when paired with a fresh salad. The rich dish makes a fantastic topping for fresh spinach, and blistered cherry tomatoes add bright acidity that perfectly balances out the rich fattiness of the meat.

Spinach acts as the perfect base for this salad that’s loaded with tasty add-ins. Sweet roasted pecans add sugary bite, while creamy gorgonzola adds tangy flavor to every piece. A sherry shallot vinaigrette is a perfectly simple way to pull it all together.

You don’t need a ton of ingredients to make a filling salad—this easy dish is packed with flavor thanks to a few simple ingredients. Mushrooms add earthy depth, while red onions add tangy, savory bite. Top with a squeeze of lemon, some chopped parsley and creamy feta.

If you’re looking for a salad to serve at brunch, look no further than this breakfast-themed spinach salad. The smoked salmon melts in your mouth, while everything bagel croutons add hearty crunch. English cucumber, red onion, fennel and hunks of cream cheese round out the dish with fresh flavor and crispy crunch.

Spinach can be tough and dense, so throwing it in a pan for a few minutes to wilt can make it softer and more palatable. This wilted spinach salad is so easy to make it only takes ten minutes from start to finish. Red onion and apple cider vinegar add fresh, tangy and vibrant flavor.