When the summer heat rolls in and the smell of barbecue smoke fills the air, you know it’s time for easy entertaining! This Fourth of July Strawberries Salad is my absolute go-to. Seriously, it’s the most refreshing thing you can whip up for those big holiday gatherings. I’ve been bringing my version of these dazzling 4th of July Strawberries to every backyard cookout since college, and people always ask for the recipe because it’s so bright and requires zero oven time.

Forget heavy desserts; this fruit situation is light, vibrant, and comes together so quickly you’ll have extra time for sparklers later. If you’re looking for other quick fruit ideas to get your morning started right, check out my thoughts on the strawberry banana smoothie for breakfast recipe. Trust me, you need this simple recipe on your summer rotation.

Why This 4th Of July Strawberries Salad Is a Summer Essential

There’s really nothing better when you’re hosting a crowd than a dish that does most of the work itself, which is exactly what my 4th of July Strawberries salad offers. It checks every single box for summer entertaining.

It’s lightning fast to pull together—we’re talking 15 minutes of actual work!
The red, white, and blue colors are naturally patriotic without needing any strange food coloring.
It’s incredibly refreshing when that summer humidity decides to settle in.
It travels like a dream; just keep it cool until serving time.

It pairs perfectly with grilled chicken or pulled pork. If you need another light side dish, don’t miss my recipe for refreshing sorbets!

Gathering Ingredients for Your 4th Of July Strawberries Salad

Keeping this recipe simple means we don’t have a huge grocery list, which is perfect when you’re trying to manage a busy Fourth of July schedule! For the best results with these beautiful 4th of July Strawberries, make sure your berries are ripe—that’s half the battle won. Everything else is just pantry staples or simple additions.

For the Fruit Base

You need 2 cups of fresh strawberries. Make sure they are hulled and nicely sliced up—nicer pieces mean better dressing coverage!
Grab 1 cup of blueberries; no prep needed other than a quick rinse.

For the Light Balsamic Dressing

This dressing is what elevates this beyond a simple fruit bowl. It’s so easy!

We’re using 1/4 cup of regular granulated sugar.
A splash of good quality balsamic vinegar—just 1 tablespoon—adds that amazing tang.
And we need 1 tablespoon of poppy seeds for texture!

Finishing Touches

Don’t forget the crunch! These nuts take the salad from good to great.

Finally, get yourself 1/4 cup of slivered almonds. Remember, you have to toast these up separately, but it’s worth it, I promise. If you want to make a whipped topping to go with this, I have a great strawberry whipped cream recipe idea!

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Perfect 4th Of July Strawberries Salad

Okay, listen up, because this is where the magic happens, and honestly, it’s so much easier than it looks. Before you even touch the bowl, take a minute to really wash those beautiful 4th of July Strawberries and blueberries. I mean *really* wash them. You want that fresh, clean flavor, not any lingering dirt from the field—that always ruins the subtle dressing!

Prepare the Fruit and Dressing

First things first, get your gorgeous fruit together. Just toss your sliced strawberries and the blueberries right into a medium mixing bowl. Don’t mix them yet, we don’t want them bruised!

Then, grab a tiny bowl—a measuring cup works great—and whisk up that dressing. You need the sugar to combine with the balsamic vinegar and those poppy seeds. Whisk until that sugar starts looking a little dissolved, not totally gone yet, but definitely getting there.

Macerate and Chill

Now, pour that sweet, tangy dressing right over the fruit. Gently, now! Use a big rubber spatula and just coax the fruit until everything has a light, shiny coating. This step is called macerating, and it pulls out even more of the berry juices.

Cover that bowl up tightly and pop it into the fridge. Seriously, this chilling step of at least 30 minutes is non-negotiable. That waiting time lets the flavors truly meld together into something incredible. If you skip this, you’re missing out on the flavor punch!

Final Assembly of Your 4th Of July Strawberries Salad

Right before you walk out the door to the patio or head to Uncle Joe’s potluck, take out your salad. Give it one last *gentle* fold.

This is the crucial last step: Sprinkle those crunchy, toasted slivered almonds right across the top. You want them sitting on top so they stay crisp when serving. If you want an even creamier version, you can fold in some whipped cream here, which I talk about in more depth later on. This gorgeous, vibrant fruit salad is ready to shine at your gathering! If you love creamy fruit sides, you should definitely look into my strawberry banana cheesecake salad recipe.

Expert Tips for Next-Level 4th Of July Strawberries

You’ve got the basic recipe down, but if you want your 4th of July Strawberries salad to be the absolute star of the party, you have to pay attention to the small things. Trust me on the slivered almonds; don’t just throw them in raw! You need to toast them in a dry skillet until they smell nutty and look lightly brown—maybe 3 to 5 minutes. If you forget this step, they just taste flat.

Also, the secret to any fantastic berry dish lies in the sourcing! Look for strawberries that are deep red all the way to the top, not pale near the leaves. That means they were vine-ripened, and that’s where the real sweetness is hiding. If you decide you want that creamy dollop on top, fold in about half a cup of heavy whipped cream right before serving. For a totally different (but still yummy) berry dessert, check out my Big Boy’s Fresh Strawberry Pie recipe!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for This Fruit Salad

Sometimes life throws you a curveball, right? Maybe you don’t have balsamic vinegar on hand for the dressing, or maybe your pantry is sadly lacking those slivered almonds. Don’t panic! This simple 4th of July Strawberries salad is super flexible, but a few swaps can change the vibe slightly.

If you’re out of the balsamic, I totally get it. My first thought is usually fresh lime juice—it gives you that necessary little bit of acid to cut through the sugar and wakes up the berries. It won’t have the same depth, but it’ll still be bright and wonderful. If you don’t have slivered almonds, pecans are a fantastic stand-in; they toast up just as beautifully! Just chop them roughly if you use pecans, so they scatter nicely.

The absolute most important thing here is keeping the fruit fresh and the dressing light so it stays refreshing for those hot summer afternoons. If you’re dreaming of making your own whipped cream to dollop on top (which is divine, by the way!), I have a great guide on how to make heavy cream at home. We want to keep the focus on that amazing fresh fruit, though!

Serving Suggestions for Your Festive 4th Of July Strawberries

This salad is so versatile! Since it’s light, it acts as a fantastic palate cleanser after something heavy. It goes just beautifully alongside all the standard BBQ fare. Think about pairing it with a big platter of smoky pulled pork or some perfectly grilled chicken breasts.

Because it’s so bright and sweet, it doesn’t sit heavy like a mayo-based slaw does. You can also use it as a topping! I sometimes spoon a dollop of this berry mix right over a slice of angel food cake—it makes for an instant, elegant dessert.

For the beverage pairing, you have to stick with the theme, right? It pairs perfectly with something red, white, and blue, of course! You should totally check out my recipe for the ultimate red, white, and blue drink to sip alongside your salad. It just completes the whole patriotic spread so you don’t have to think about it anymore!

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips for 4th Of July Strawberries

So, you made too much? Good news! This salad is fantastic the next day, provided you follow one crucial rule. The leftovers of my 4th of July Strawberries salad hold up really well in the fridge for about two days, but only if you keep the crunchy stuff separate. The balsamic dressing is harsh on nuts over time!

If you plan on making this ahead, definitely prepare the fruit and dressing mixture a day before. Mix them, cover, and chill. But, you absolutely *must* wait until you are just about to serve to sprinkle on those toasted slivered almonds. If you are worried about leftovers being too liquidy later, you can always drain off any extra juice before serving on Day Two. If you need a totally different make-ahead dessert, my no-bake Oreo dessert is always a big hit!

Frequently Asked Questions About 4th Of July Strawberries Salad

I get so many questions about this simple salad, especially right before the holiday weekend when everyone is trying to finalize their menus! It’s such a easy staple for those patriotic parties, and mastering its simple components means you never have to worry about a dessert slump. Here are some of the things I hear most often regarding my favorite 4th of July Strawberries recipe.

Can I use frozen strawberries in this fruit salad?

Oh, I’m going to have to say no on this one, sweetheart. I know frozen is convenient, but frozen strawberries just don’t work for this fruit salad. When they thaw, they release way too much water, and we already coat them in a light dressing. Using frozen berries means you’ll end up with a sad, watery puddle at the bottom of your bowl instead of that beautiful syrupy coating the balsamic creates. Fresh, dry berries are the key here!

How long does this 4th Of July Strawberries recipe stay fresh?

Because we are letting the fruit macerate a bit in that sugary dressing, it actually tastes *better* after chilling for a while! For the absolute best texture and flavor experience, I say aim to serve this within 4 hours of making it. It’s perfectly safe to eat for up to two days stored in the fridge, but after about 8 hours, the almonds get a little soft, and the berries start breaking down just a touch. It’s definitely a make-ahead champion, but not a multi-day wonder.

What other berries work well with strawberries for this holiday salad?

That’s a great question if you want to bring in more color! While the red and blue combo is classic for the Fourth, feel free to mix it up. The flavors are extremely forgiving. I sometimes add a cup of fresh raspberries—they hold their shape nicely. Blackberries are another wonderful addition because their slight tartness balances the sweetness from the sugar in our dressing. Just treat them gently when you fold them in!

If you’re thinking about making a cake to go alongside this refreshing salad, you’ve got to check out my recipe for strawberry cream cheese frosting—you can put that on anything!

Estimated Nutritional Snapshot

Now, I know most times when we’re eating Fourth of July food, we aren’t sitting around calculating macros, right? But since this is such a light dish, it’s kind of shocking how low the numbers are! This is just a quick look at what you’ll generally find in one serving of our incredible 4th of July Strawberries salad, based on the ingredients listed, okay?

Just remember, these numbers are estimates based on the specific amount of sugar and almonds we put in. If you use a ton more nuts or drizzle extra dressing on your plate, the numbers will shift, of course! This recipe from my personal stash is naturally vegetarian and has zero cholesterol, look at that!

Calories: Only 145 per serving! That’s a healthy dessert alternative.
Fat: Low, around 4 grams total.
Carbohydrates: About 28 grams, most of that coming from natural fruit sugars and the added sugar, which helps macerate everything nicely.
Protein: A solid 3 grams.
Sugar: Roughly 22 grams, which is why it tastes so decadent!

If you’re looking for ways to make fruit taste even better while keeping things low-carb, you absolutely have to check out my thoughts on the keto berry cheesecake salad. It’s a completely different vibe, but just as delicious!

Fourth of July Strawberry Salad

Author: memorecipes.com
Total Time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

A simple, refreshing salad featuring strawberries, blueberries, and a light dressing, suitable for summer gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted

Instructions

Combine the sliced strawberries and blueberries in a medium bowl.
In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar, balsamic vinegar, and poppy seeds until the sugar begins to dissolve.
Pour the dressing mixture over the fruit and gently toss to coat.
Cover the bowl and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Before serving, sprinkle the toasted slivered almonds over the salad.

Notes

Toast the slivered almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently until lightly browned.
For a creamier texture, you can fold in 1/2 cup of whipped cream just before serving.

Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 0 min
Category: Dessert
Method: Chilling
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
Calories: 145
Sugar: 22
Sodium: 2
Fat: 4
Saturated Fat: 0.5
Unsaturated Fat: 3.5
Trans Fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 28
Fiber: 3
Protein: 3
Cholesterol: 0

Keywords: 4th of July, strawberries, blueberries, summer salad, fruit salad, easy dessert