This post may contain references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Oh Sweet Basil may receive compensation when you click on links to such products.
This is spinach and bacon salad at its very best! With crunchy bacon and fabulous homemade poppy seed salad dressing, this salad gets devoured every time I make it!
This is a perfect holiday (and every other day of the year) salad. I don’t even know where to begin with this spinach salad. When you read what the ingredients are you might think…”what’s so special about this?”, but the combination of the salty bacon with the creamy cottage cheese and flavorful swiss cheese just rocks the taste buds in all the right ways. Especially if you serve it with our famous, viral Best Chili Recipe.
Table of Contents
- Ingredients for Spinach Salad
- Possible Variations and Additions to Bacon Spinach Salad
- What Kind Of Vitamins Does Spinach Contain?
- Are Poppy Seeds Good For You?
- What to Eat with Bacon Spinach Salad?
- Can This Salad Be Made Ahead of Time?
- How Long Does Spinach Salad Keep?
- More Salad Recipes You’ll Love:
- How to Make Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
- Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe
Every time I make this recipe I make a whole boat load, and every single time I have brought it to an event the whole boat load is gone. One of the best things about this salad is that it is perfect for holiday dinners and get-togethers simply because it doesn’t require any produce that could be out of season and the ingredients list is short and simple. You can eat this beauty ALL YEAR LONG! It’s seriously so good!
Make it, eat it, enjoy it…and you can thank me later. In fact, add it to your Thanksgiving menu right now because I am for sure!
Ingredients for Spinach Salad
Let’s start with the poppy seed salad dressing. I am all about homemade salad dressings, especially when they are this easy! Making it from scratch allows for total control of what goes into the dressing making it healthier.
Dressing
- Poppy Seeds
- Vinegar
- Sugar
- Vegetable Oil
- Dry Mustard
- Salt
- Red Onions
The measurements for each ingredient are listed in the recipe card at the end of this post.
If you thought the dressing was simple, just wait until you see the list of ingredients for the salad…
Salad
- Fresh Spinach
- Green Leaf Lettuce
- Bacon
- Red Onion
- Swiss Cheese
- Cottage Cheese
- Optional Toppings (see section below)
The measurements for each ingredient are listed in the recipe card down below. The complete instructions for how to make the dressing and salad can also be found there.
Possible Variations and Additions to Bacon Spinach Salad
Want to make this salad into a dinner? Add chicken. Want it with some summer fruit? Add strawberries and avocados. Don’t let the simplicity fool you on how rich and delicious this is.
Feel free to add any other toppings you might want as well. Here are a few more suggestions:
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Pepitas
- Minced Parsley
- Sesame Seeds
- Carrots
- Celery
- Croutons
- Slivered Almonds
- Broccoli
You could also change up the greens used and add arugula or a spring mix.
What Kind Of Vitamins Does Spinach Contain?
Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin A, manganese, folate, copper, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin E, calcium, and vitamin C.
Spinach is packed with goodness!
Are Poppy Seeds Good For You?
Poppy seeds contain an excellent source of zinc, which is found to increase bone mineral density and overall bone health.
What to Eat with Bacon Spinach Salad?
If you decide to eat this salad as a side dish, here are few ideas for main dishes that it would do great with…
Main dish or side dish, this salad will have everyone talking! The leftovers make a delicious lunch too, and I’m always looks for yummy lunch ideas!
Can This Salad Be Made Ahead of Time?
This salad is super easy to prep ahead. You can make the dressing days ahead of time, and the bacon can be made ahead of time too (head to our post on how to cook bacon for all the details). Then it’s just a matter of tossing everything together right before serving. I would recommend to not add the cottage cheese too much ahead of time so it doesn’t make the salad soggy.
How Long Does Spinach Salad Keep?
Unfortunately, this salad does not keep very well. Like most salads, everything tends to get a little soggy and wilty after a while, especially if the salad dressing has been added. If you want it to last longer, keep everything separate and add together just before serving.
I love spinach salad and this recipe is one of my favorites. It seems easy and there’s nothing too fancy about it, but the homemade poppy seed dressing and the combination of simple ingredients wins every time.
More Salad Recipes You’ll Love:
- Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Brussel Sprouts and Pomegranate Salad
- Spinach Berry Salad
- Shredded Brussel Sprout Salad with Orange Poppy Seed Dressing
- Chopped Chinese Chicken Salad
- Wedge Salad
- Winter Roasted Butternut Squash Kale Salad
- Harvest Cobb Salad
- All our SALAD RECIPES!
How to Make Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons Poppy Seeds
- 3/4 Cup Vinegar
- 3/4 Cup Sugar
- 1 1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
- 3/4 teaspoon Dry Mustard
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1 1/2- 2 Tablespoons Red Onions, grated or see note
Salad
- 2 Bunches Spinach, fresh
- 1 Head Green Leaf Lettuce
- 1 1/2 Pound Bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1/4 Red Onion, sliced paper thin
- 3 Cups Swiss Cheese, grated (about 3/4 lb)
- 1 Cup Cottage Cheese, drained
- Other Toppings, optional – cooked chicken, avocados, fruit, pepitas, cherry tomatoes, etc.
Instructions
For the Dressing
- In a mason jar or bowl, whisk together the poppy seeds, vinegar, sugar, oil, mustard and salt.1 1/2 Tablespoons Poppy Seeds, 3/4 Cup Vinegar, 3/4 Cup Sugar, 1 1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil, 3/4 teaspoon Dry Mustard, 1 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- Add the onions and combine.1 1/2- 2 Tablespoons Red Onions
- Store in the fridge in a jar until ready to serve.
For the Salad
- Toss all of the ingredients together in a large bowl and then drizzle in the dressing and toss again.2 Bunches Spinach, 1 Head Green Leaf Lettuce, 1 1/2 Pound Bacon, 1/4 Red Onion, 3 Cups Swiss Cheese, 1 Cup Cottage Cheese, Other Toppings
- Only dress as much as you’d like, no need to use the whole jar if you only want a little dressing.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made this for my salad club and added roasted potatoes! So good! Converted the whole club!
Love to hear this so much!! Thank you for the support Cece!
Chef’s kiss! Will make this my go to spinach salad recipe!
Hi Taylor! Thank you so much! It is one of my absolute favorite salads!
Made it. Left out the Swiss cheese. I may of put to much bacon but still came out pretty good. Covers up cottage cheese taste so I’m able to eat it.
Too much bacon…there’s no such thing! Haha! Thanks for the feedback Stephanie!
This dressing is amazing!!
Thank you so much Diana!
This dressing is amazing. Thanks!
Margaret, Thank you so much. We love it!
What a beautiful salad! Love the colors 🙂
This looks amazing!!!
What a gorgeous salad! I look forward to making it.
How long does this dressing stay good oñ the salad?If you put it in the fridge
Hi Stephanie! The salad actually doesn’t store super well with the dressing on the salad. It is ok for a day or two in the fridge, but the spinach gets very soggy. Ideally, the salad and dressing should be stored separately and combined just before serving.