By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 2, 2026
Serves 4
247 cal · 15 min
Spinach Rice Salad
Recipe GLPRdee8286029e53b
A refreshing chilled salad combining fluffy brown rice with a light Italian vinaigrette, fresh spinach, celery, and green onions. The salad is prepared ahead and vegetables are added just before serving to keep everything crisp. Optional bacon bits add a savory touch for those who enjoy it.
Save recipes you love
Create a free Grocery List Plus account to save recipes, rate them, and add every ingredient to your grocery list in one tap.
Ingredients
1/2 cup lite Italian dressing
2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon sugar
3 cups cooked brown rice, chilled
2/3 cup fresh spinach, washed and thinly sliced
2/3 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup green onion, thinly sliced including tops
bacon bits, optional
Directions
In a small bowl, whisk together the lite Italian dressing, reduced-sodium soy sauce, and sugar until well combined.
Place the chilled cooked brown rice in a large mixing bowl and pour the dressing mixture over it.
Gently stir the rice until all grains are evenly coated with the dressing.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
Just before serving, add the thinly sliced fresh spinach, celery, and green onion to the rice mixture.
Toss all ingredients together until evenly combined. Divide into four portions and serve, topped with bacon bits if desired.
Comments
This spinach rice salad hits the Charlotte grocery sweet spot: every ingredient lives at Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Kroger, or Walmart with zero special stops. The stated 15 minutes is optimistic if the brown rice isn't precooked—budget 45 to 50 minutes for a weeknight if you're starting from scratch, though using leftover rice or microwaveable rice packets cuts that down sharply. Cost per serving lands around $1.50 to $2.00, with bacon bits and lite Italian dressing doing the heavy lifting on flavor, making it a budget-friendly rotation piece. It reheats modestly well (the spinach softens further), works as a side for four or a light lunch the next day, and requires no fussy technique or constant attention—just a bowl and a fork.
Sign in or create a free account to add your review.
