Description
A fresh and satisfying Spinach Salad featuring vibrant baby spinach, earthy mushrooms, crispy bacon, and creamy Swiss cheese, all tossed in a tangy balsamic vinaigrette. Ready in under 20 minutes, it’s perfect as a light lunch, side dish, or make-ahead meal prep option, offering a balanced and nutritious flavor experience with a delightful mix of textures.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 cup cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
- 4 strips bacon
- 1/2 cup Swiss cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
Dressing & Seasoning
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinaigrette
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Wash and dry fresh baby spinach thoroughly using a salad spinner to keep leaves crisp. Clean and slice mushrooms into even pieces, and thinly slice red onions for a mild punch.
- Cook the Bacon: In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon strips until crispy. Remove and place them on a paper towel to drain excess grease, then crumble or chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine Salad Components: In a large bowl, toss together the spinach, sliced mushrooms, red onions, crispy bacon, and shredded Swiss cheese for even distribution and flavor harmony.
- Dress the Salad: Drizzle balsamic vinaigrette over the salad and gently toss to ensure every leaf and ingredient gets a light, flavorful coating.
- Season and Serve: Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve immediately for optimal freshness, or chill slightly before serving to let flavors meld.
Notes
- Dry your greens well using a salad spinner to ensure dressing sticks better.
- Cut bacon into uniform strips for even cooking and perfect crispiness.
- Grate Swiss cheese fresh rather than using pre-shredded for creamier texture and better melt.
- Serve immediately to avoid spinach wilting and bacon losing crunch.
- Optionally, sauté mushrooms lightly in butter for extra depth of flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
Keywords: spinach salad, mushroom salad, bacon salad, Swiss cheese salad, quick salad, healthy salad, bacon mushroom spinach