Summer Berry Salad with Roasted Walnuts, Goat Cheese, and Orange Vinaigrette

This Summer Berry Salad with walnuts and goat cheese is a light and refreshing summer salad. You’ll love the sweet, citrusy orange vinaigrette!

An Easy, Beautiful Summer Berry Salad

I know, I know. It’s summer, and everyone is talking about salads right now.

I’m not the girl who’s going to tell you you need to eat salad in preparation for “hot girl summer.” Every body is a swimsuit body, and I think we should enjoy the comfort and pleasure of food just as much in the summer as we do any time of year! After all, it’s also the season of Ranch Burgers and Peach Pie Crumble, too. (Manifesto over).

I will tell you to make salad, because it’s DELICIOUS and LOVELY, especially when fresh greens and juicy berries are at their peak.

Here’s why I regularly crave this Walnut and Goat Cheese Salad:

• It takes less than 30 minutes. 10 minutes of cook time (for the walnuts), 10 minutes of prep, and you’re good to go. You can spend less time in the kitchen and more time outside in the sun!
• It’s the opposite of boring. We have so much flavor and texture going on here.. Sweet strawberries and blueberries contrast the tangy goat cheese. Crunchy walnuts balance the soft, light greens. The sugary and acidic vinaigrette ties everything together beautifully. It’s a party in your mouth!
• It’s refreshing. Ya know, it’s funny. When I stopped feeling like I had to eat salad, I found myself craving it much more often. Sometimes a crisp , tangy salad just hits the spot on a hot day.
• The COLORS. There’s something about a brightly colored salad that draws you in. The rich greens, blues, and reds are perfect for warmer weather. Now, who wants to join me for a day of poolside lounging (and munching)?

Key Ingredients for Walnut Goat Cheese Salad

• Spring mix and spinach. I love the combination of mixed greens and spinach for this salad. It gives the salad base some dimension and variation in texture.
• Blueberries. You’ll need 6 ounces of fresh blueberries for this recipe. Make sure they are firm and not mushy.
• Strawberries. I used a pint of strawberries, thinly sliced. I can usually tell a ripe strawberry from the smell. Pick up a pint and give it a whiff. You should be able to smell the sweetness!
• Walnuts. I love adding toasted walnuts to this salad, but you could use almonds or pecans if you aren’t a big walnut fan.
• Goat cheese. The creamy, tart flavor of goat cheese takes this salad to another level. It paris beautifully with berries. You can also try this combo in my Strawberry Bacon Grilled Cheese! 
• Vinaigrette ingredients. We’re keeping it simple here. White wine vinegar, olive oil, sugar, and the juice of an orange. A light, sweet dressing for our summer salad.

How to Make My Summer Berry Salad

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place walnuts on an aluminum pan. Bake in the preheated oven until fragrant, or about 10 minutes, tossing halfway through. Remove and allow to cool.
2. Toss greens, sliced strawberries, blueberries, walnuts, and goat cheese in a large bowl.
3. In a mason jar, combine all the vinaigrette ingredients and shake them up until well combined. Store in the fridge until ready to serve or pour directly over the salad. Give it a good shake before pouring.

FAQs

What can I substitute for goat cheese in this Summer Berry Salad?

If you don’t have/like goat cheese, feta crumbles would also be delicious.

Can I make a summer salad ahead of time?

You can do most of the prep for this salad in advance. Toast the walnuts and store them in a covered container at room temperature. The vinaigrette can be made and stored in the fridge for up to 5 days, and the berries should keep well washed, sliced, and stored in a paper towel lined container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

How do you keep Summer Berry Salad from getting soggy?

To avoid a soggy salad, assemble all the ingredients right before serving. Hold off on mixing everything together until you’re ready to eat.

If you’re packing a salad for lunch, place the vinaigrette at the bottom of the container, followed by the walnuts and the berries. Put the greens and goat cheese on top. Give it a good shake before eating!

How can I add more protein to this salad?

While the walnuts and goat cheese provide some protein, you can always add some grilled chicken to this to make it more filling. I recommend using leftover rotisserie chicken or Italian Dressing Chicken.

More Salad Recipes

I’ve got salad recipes for daysssss. Here are some of my summer faves:

• That Good Salad– This one appears at lots of summer BBQs.
• Asian Sesame Salad– A perfect Panera dupe.
• Doritos Taco Salad– Arguably the trashiest salad ever, but I love it with my whole heart.
• Strawberry Spinach Salad with Sweet Lemon Dressing– If the summer berry salad was your vibe, you’re going to love this lemon version!
• Big Mac Salad– Get all the tangyness of the fast food favorite in a crisp and crunchy salad!

More Summer Recipes

Wondering what to serve with a summer berry salad? Try these:

• Mexican Chicken Marinade
• Classic Bacon Cheeseburger
• Grilled Skirt Steak Sandwich
• Grilled Steak Kabobs with Basil Mint Chimichurri
• Grilled Tilapia in Foil

And don’t forget some Bumbleberry Pie or Blackberry Peach Cobbler for dessert!