Spinach and Arugula Salad with Honey-Dijon Vinaigrette Recipe

Looking for a bright, flavorful salad that comes together fast and feeds a group? This Spinach Arugula Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette is full of taste, texture, and nutrients—and it’s simple to prepare.

Using a mix of spinach and arugula creates a vibrant base: spinach adds subtle sweetness while arugula brings a peppery bite. Each additional ingredient—berries, chickpeas, nuts, red onion, and crumbled feta—was chosen to balance sweet, tangy, crunchy, and savory notes for a satisfying salad every time.

Below you’ll find straightforward instructions for assembling the salad and a quick method for whisking up a four-ingredient Honey Dijon Vinaigrette using a jar so the dressing emulsifies easily.

As a busy home cook and parent who loves big flavors, I rely on recipes like this when I want a delicious meal without heating the oven.

Two plates of Spinach Arugula Salad next to the serving bowl — I love using a combination of spinach and arugula as the base of my salads. The spinach is subtly sweet and the arugula is peppery, so they work together to make for a dynamic bite.

Spinach Arugula Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette — Ingredient Highlights

Choose berries that are in season—blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries all work beautifully here. Use whichever flavor and texture you prefer.

Select nuts to suit your taste: pecans, walnuts, almonds, cashews, or pistachios add crunch and richness. This recipe uses shaved almonds, but candied nuts are a great upgrade for extra sweetness and crunch.

For the simple vinaigrette you can use grainy or smooth Dijon mustard—both deliver great flavor. Apple cider vinegar is recommended, but sherry, white wine, or champagne vinegar would also make excellent substitutes.

Ingredients for spinach arugula salad including feta cheese, spinach, chickpeas, red onion, arugula, berries, nuts. — In addition to arugula and spinach, all you need is feta, chickpeas, red onion, berries, and nuts.

Ingredients for honey Dijon vinaigrette - apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, olive oil. — You can whip up an easy Honey Dijon Vinaigrette at home with just vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, and olive oil.

Spinach Arugula Salad — Tips and Tricks

What to Add and How to Prep

Peel and thinly slice the red onion so it blends into the salad without overpowering each bite. Drain and rinse canned chickpeas to remove excess salt and liquid. Rinse berries gently and dry them well to avoid watering down the salad.

Most packaged greens are sold pre-washed, but always check and, if needed, rinse and spin them dry. Add the spinach and arugula to a large bowl first so you can distribute the remaining ingredients evenly as you assemble the salad.

Toss the greens, then add the red onion, chickpeas, berries, nuts, and crumbled feta. Use salad tongs or clean hands to fold the ingredients together gently so the berries don’t get crushed.

Oil and vinegar separate naturally; to make a smooth vinaigrette, combine the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake vigorously until the dressing emulsifies and thickens slightly—this gives the dressing a pleasant, nearly creamy texture.

I recommend serving the vinaigrette on the side when possible so guests can dress their own plates. This prevents sogginess, allows everyone to control how much dressing they want, and keeps leftovers fresher in the refrigerator.

Adding spinach and arugula together in a large mixing bowl. — Toss the spinach and arugula together first.

Adding chickpeas to Spinach Arugula Salad. — Add the chickpeas, onions, berries, nuts, and feta and toss again.

Mixing up Honey Dijon Vinaigrette in a glass jar. — Mix the olive oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey together in a jar and shake well.

Adding Honey Dijon Vinaigrette to salad just before serving. — Dress the salad right before serving for best texture.

Additional Serving Ideas

This salad is great on its own as a side or light lunch. To turn it into a main course, add a protein such as roasted salmon, grilled white fish, or roasted seasonal vegetables—these pair well with the sweet-tangy dressing and fresh berries.

Almond-crusted salmon
Crispy blackened cod
Roasted maple balsamic Brussels sprouts

Spinach Arugula Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette on salad plates

Storing Leftover Spinach Arugula Salad

If the salad is undressed, it will keep at room temperature for up to four hours. Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, undressed greens will stay fresh for up to three days.

Leftover Honey Dijon Vinaigrette can be kept in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to three months; shake well before using. If the salad has already been dressed, aim to enjoy it within a couple of hours to avoid sogginess.

Spinach Arugula Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette

Recipe by Marley Goldin

Crisp, refreshing, and filling—this salad comes together in about 10 minutes and pairs perfectly with the quick 4-ingredient Honey Dijon Vinaigrette.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Total time: 10 minutes

Servings: 6

Equipment

Glass jar with lid (optional, for emulsifying the vinaigrette)

Ingredients

Quick and Simple Honey Dijon Vinaigrette

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons honey or agave nectar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Spinach Arugula Salad

5 ounces spinach
5 ounces arugula
6 ounces berries of choice
15 ounces chickpeas (one 15-oz can), drained and rinsed
½ large red onion, thinly sliced
¾ cup nuts of choice
2 ounces crumbled feta

Instructions

Honey Dijon Vinaigrette

Add the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey (or agave or maple syrup) to a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Close the lid and shake vigorously until the dressing emulsifies and thickens slightly.

Spinach Arugula Salad

Rinse and dry the leafy greens and berries if needed. Slice the red onion thinly and drain the chickpeas.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the spinach and arugula and toss gently. Add the berries, red onion, chickpeas, nuts, and crumbled feta. Toss again to distribute everything evenly.
Just before serving, add the Honey Dijon Vinaigrette to the salad or serve it on the side so everyone can dress their own portion. Enjoy.