Costco Spinach Salad Recipe – Easy Kitchen Guide

By Lori Walker, MS, RD | Published on October 6, 2023 | Last Updated on October 6, 2023

If you’re on the hunt for a healthy, delicious, and quick-to-make salad, look no further than the Costco Spinach Salad. This delightful dish is a crowd-pleaser, featuring fresh spinach leaves, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy bell peppers, and a host of other vibrant veggies. Tossed in a tangy vinaigrette and topped with a sprinkle of feta cheese, this salad is the perfect blend of flavors and textures.

Whether you’re looking for a light lunch or a hearty side dish, the Costco Spinach Salad recipe is your ticket to a meal that’s satisfying and nutritious. Let’s dive into how you can whip up this salad in your kitchen.

What is Costco spinach salad?

Costco Spinach Salad is a classic dish that can be enjoyed for lunch or as a side. It’s made with fresh spinach leaves, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and other vegetables that give it vibrant colors. The salad is then tossed in a tangy vinaigrette dressing and topped with feta cheese to create the perfect blend of flavors. The flavor of the tomatoes, bell pepper, and feta cheese is balanced with the slightly bitter taste of the spinach. It’s an easy healthy meal that can be enjoyed by all.

Why You’ll Love this Costco spinach salad?

Not only is Costco Spinach Salad healthy and tasty, but it’s also incredibly easy to make. All you need to do is chop the vegetables, mix them in a bowl, and top with the vinaigrette dressing. Additionally, this dish has an excellent nutritional profile—it’s low in calories and fat while delivering essential vitamins and minerals from its fresh veggies.

It also makes an excellent side dish for summer barbecues as it pairs well with grilled meats and fish. You can even use leftovers to create a tasty wrap for lunch the next day.

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The Ingredients 

1. Tomatoes: Tomatoes add a burst of color and a sweet, slightly acidic taste that complements the other ingredients. They are also high in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant.
2. Mushrooms: Mushrooms lend an earthy flavor that adds depth to the salad. They are packed with nutrients,s including B vitamins, selenium, potassium, and copper.
3. Spinach: As the base of the salad, spinach provides a host of nutritional benefits including iron, vitamin K, vitamin A, and fiber. Its slightly bitter taste balances out the richness of the bacon and cheese.
4. Bacon: Bacon adds a smoky, savory element that contrasts beautifully with the sweetness of the cranberries and tomatoes. It also contributes to a satisfying crunch.
5. Red Onions: Red onions bring a sharp, slightly sweet flavor that adds complexity to the salad. They also contain quercetin, an antioxidant that can help fight inflammation.
6. Croutons: Croutons provide a satisfying crunch and help to make the salad more filling. They also absorb some of the dressing, distributing the flavor throughout the salad.
7. Dried Cranberries: Dried cranberries offer a touch of sweetness that contrasts with the savory elements of the salad. They also provide dietary fiber and antioxidants.
8. Hard-Boiled Eggs: Hard-boiled eggs contribute protein, making the salad more substantial. Their creaminess helps to balance the crispness of the other ingredients.
9. Shredded Cheese: Cheese adds a creamy, salty note that binds all the flavors together. It also provides calcium and protein.
10. Poppyseed Dressing: The dressing brings everything together by adding moisture and flavor. The poppy seeds add a slight crunch and a nutty flavor, while the sweet and tangy liquid components of the dressing balance out the savory, bitter, and sweet flavors in the salad.

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: Preparing the Vegetables
Begin by prepping your vegetables for the salad. Chop the tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, red onions, and bell peppers into small, bite-sized pieces. Place these chopped vegetables into a large mixing bowl.

Step 2: Cooking the Bacon
Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add the bacon strips. Cook them until they become crispy on both sides. Once done, transfer the crispy bacon strips to a plate lined with paper towels. Allow them to cool for a while before chopping them into small pieces.

Step 3: Preparing the Poppyseed Dressing
In a separate bowl, whisk together the ingredients required for the poppyseed dressing. This typically includes a combination of oil, vinegar, sugar, mustard, and poppy seeds. Ensure the dressing is well-mixed and has a uniform consistency.

Step 4: Assembling the Salad
Return to the large mixing bowl containing the chopped vegetables. Add the previously cooked and chopped bacon pieces to the bowl. Next, add croutons, dried cranberries, hard-boiled eggs (chopped or sliced), and shredded cheese to the same bowl.

Step 5: Combining the Ingredients
Drizzle the prepared poppyseed dressing over the salad ingredients in the large bowl. With gentle movements, toss everything together to ensure all the components are evenly coated with the dressing. This step is crucial for ensuring the flavors blend harmoniously.

Step 6: Taste and Adjust
Before serving, take a moment to taste the salad. Adjust the seasonings if needed, such as by adding a pinch of salt or pepper, or a little extra dressing if you prefer it to be more flavorful.

Notes 

• If you’re using hard-boiled eggs, make sure they are boiled and peeled before adding them to the salad.
• For a heartier meal, add some cooked quinoa or couscous to the salad.
• If you don’t have poppyseed dressing on hand, feel free to substitute it with your favorite vinaigrette or creamy dressing.- If you’re not a fan of feta cheese, try substituting it with crumbled goat cheese.

Nutrition Information

How to store Costco spinach salad?

Costco Spinach Salad is best enjoyed soon after preparing, as the ingredients tend to become soggy if stored in the fridge for too long. This salad can be kept in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To ensure maximum freshness, store the salad without the dressing and add it just before serving. For even longer storage, you can freeze individual portions of the salad in airtight containers for up to a month. Defrost the frozen salad overnight in the fridge and add the dressing just before serving.

Variations 

The Costco Spinach Salad is a great base for experimentation. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Add grilled chicken or salmon to the salad for extra protein and flavor.
• Substitute spinach with kale, romaine lettuce, or arugula.
• For an Italian twist, add some chopped olives and capers.
• Give it a Mexican flair by adding some cilantro, black beans, and corn.
• For an Asian twist, add shredded carrots, edamame, and sesame seeds.
• To make it even more filling, add cooked quinoa or couscous.

FAQs

Wrapping Up

Making a Costco Spinach Salad is quick and easy, and it’s packed with goodness. The combination of textures and flavors makes this salad incredibly satisfying – you’re sure to love it! For those times when you need something healthy but don’t have the energy to cook, this salad is the perfect solution.

This is a great dish to bring along to a potluck or picnic. It’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser and will make your gathering more memorable! Plus, it’s simple enough that anyone can recreate it themselves with ease. 

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