25 Fresh Strawberry Recipes to Make This Spring

Spring is the best time to enjoy fresh strawberries, they’re sweeter, juicier, and more flavorful than any other time of year. If you’re looking for easy, healthy ways to use them, these strawberry recipes from our CFC site will help you make the most of every berry.

Generally speaking, peak strawberry season in the U.S. runs from April through June, but here is the breakdown so you can plan your berry-picking dates:

• The Deep South (Florida/Texas): You lucky ducks get them early! The season usually starts in late February or March and goes through April.
• The Middle States (California/Carolinas): This is the heart of the season, typically peaking in April and May. California actually produces strawberries almost year-round, but they are at their absolute sweetest in the spring.
• The Northern States & Canada: You have to wait a little longer, but it’s worth it! Peak season is usually June and early July. This is why “June-bearing” strawberries are so famous in the Northeast and Midwest.

Interesting Strawberry Facts

Here are a few facts that you may not already know about strawberries:

• Considered a perennial, strawberry plants will grow back year after year.
• Eight strawberries contain more vitamin C than an orange.
• Strawberries are members of the Rosaceae (rose) family, which explains why their blossoms smell sweet.
• Strawberries contain malic acid, which can serve as a natural whitening agent to remove stains from teeth.
• If you do not foresee using the strawberries before they go bad, freeze them. Frozen strawberries are useful in smoothies & drinks!
• Strawberries are unique as the only fruit with seeds on the outside, averaging 200 tiny seeds per berry.

25 Strawberry Recipes

Strawberry season means fresh strawberries are at their sweetest, juiciest, most flavorful peak…but it also means they are plentiful and often on SALE! Now is the time to grab some ripe strawberries and make one of these delicious strawberry recipes!

1. Fresh Strawberry Vinaigrette

This fresh strawberry vinaigrette is one of my favorite ways to use fresh strawberries in the spring. The berries sweeten this vinaigrette naturally while also flavoring it so it is simple, fresh, and delicious. This easy strawberry recipe goes with just about any salad but I especially love using on spring salads with crisp asparagus, tender spinach, and berries.

2. Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

The tart flavor of rhubarb combined with the sweetness for fresh spring strawberries are what make this strawberry rhubarb crisp so delicious. Topped with a sweet and crumbly gluten free topping, you are going to want to take this clean dessert to every party this spring!

3. Strawberry Watermelon Sorbet

Need a healthy dessert when the weather starts to get warm? Then you are going to love this springtime favorite, strawberry watermelon sorbet. Just take a juicy ripe watermelon and blend it with frozen strawberries, then voila! You have a thick and creamy treat that is sweet and full of summer flavor!

4. Alcohol-Free Strawberry Margaritas

Back in 2019, I decided to get really serious about my health and fitness goals. That meant that having too many cocktails on the patio would probably derail those goals, so I came up with several mocktails I could enjoy without over-indulging. My favorite…this alcohol-free strawberry margarita. It’s light and full of fresh spring time strawberry flavor, perfect for a guilt-free afternoon refreshment.

5. Strawberry Chia Seed Protein Pudding

This strawberry chia seed pudding is the perfect way to enjoy your fresh strawberries in a high protein way! With the addition of cottage cheese, the combination of strawberries and cream becomes the perfect recipe to eat for breakfast, snack, or dessert.

6. Strawberry Avocado Toast

Did you know that 8 Strawberries contain more vitamin C than an orange?! It’s true, and during the spring and early summer we love growing our own. We add them to everything, even this Strawberry Avocado Toast! Strawberries are great in place of tomatoes in this recipe and add fiber, manganese, and potassium on top of the vitamin C. If you’ve never tried strawberries with avocado and eggs, I promise you’re going to love it!

7. Strawberry Mimosas (CFC Mocktail Version)

Having a light bubbly mimosa with brunch is a lot of fun, but what about those who want the same experience without the alcohol? Well, I created this delicious strawberry mimosa mocktail for that reason. With freshly squeezed orange juice, a splash of lime, and the bubbles we all love coming from sparkling water instead of champagne, you will still be able to hit those health and fitness goals!

8. Strawberry Baked Pancakes

We are trying hard at CFC to make all of our recipes with whole food, healthy ingredients, and these strawberry pancakes are no exception. They are made with oat flour, chopped pecans, and of course, fresh strawberries, then baked on a sheet pan instead of fried in a skillet. Honestly, they are an easy breakfast recipe that can easily feed and please a crowd.

9. Sweet + Spicy Strawberry Salsa

Strawberry salsa is a fun twist on traditional salsa creating something that is sweet, tangy, and a little spicy. During the spring and early summer months, I make a big batch and use it on just about everything from grilled chicken to salads, to chips! It is one of our favorite dishes!

10. Crispy Quinoa Chicken & Strawberry Spinach Salad

This strawberry spinach salad with crispy quinoa chicken is a great light lunch or dinner during the spring. It uses both sliced strawberries and fresh spinach, which are both at their peak season in spring. I topped this salad with crispy quinoa chicken for some extra protein and dressed it with a light vinaigrette. It is the perfect springtime salad.

11. Chicken Strawberry Salad Bowls

This beautiful strawberry salad bowl is one of my favorites to make. There is just something about the combination of strawberries and avocados, a sweet and creamy texture that I just love! Plus, I get to eat bacon with this salad bowl, which I don’t do that often! To up the protein even more I also add diced chicken and crumbled cheese on top. I can’t wait for you to try this one!

12. Chocolate Strawberry Protein Balls

If you’re looking for a protein ball snack, you should try these chocolate strawberry protein balls. While they don’t contain fresh strawberries, the freeze dried strawberries still give this snack recipe a delicious strawberry flavor perfect for spring.

13. Strawberry Mozzarella Avocado Boats

These easy strawberry and mozzarella avocado boats make a great appetizer. The strawberries bring a fresh sweet burst of flavor to the creamy avocado while the mozzarella adds a bit of saltiness and protein. I love making these for showers and summer parties.

14. Chia Seed Strawberry Jam

Making your own jam doesn’t have to be difficult. This easy strawberry chia seed jam is made with clean ingredients and uses only natural sweeteners. The chia seeds are what really pull this jam together, creating the jelly consistency that would normally be created using gelatin. We love using this spring strawberry jam on Ezekiel toast.

15. Strawberry Chicken Salad

I love strawberry and avocado together, so I created this strawberry salad recipe to combine the two. It is sweet and tangy from the fresh strawberries, crunchy from sliced almonds, and then I top it all with a creamy avocado dressing. You won’t believe how delicious this is! It is always a huge hit at our grill outs!

16. Strawberry Coconut Butter

Strawberry coconut butter is so easy to make if you are looking for a way to enjoy this delicious treat but also save some money. I have tried all different varieties, but I have to say, the strawberry seems to be a household favorite. You can use this coconut butter on toast, to top pancakes, as a dip for fresh fruit, or even add it to smoothies to make them more creamy. The options are endless!

17. Shrimp Salad with Fresh Strawberries

If you have never tried a shrimp and strawberry salad bowl, then it is about time you did! This light and fresh salad bowl is crunchy, sweet, and savory all at the same time. Plus the shrimp and pecans add a healthy bit of protein. It’s topped with a delicious lime vinaigrette to bring the whole salad together.

18. No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake

This no-bake strawberry cheesecake recipe is the perfect way to celebrate spring. It is made with whole food, clean ingredients like medjool dates, pecans, cashews, fresh strawberries, and raw honey so you don’t have to feel guilty eating it!

19. Strawberry Avocado Salad 

Once again, strawberries and avocados make their way into this salad because they are so delicious together! The great thing about this strawberry avocado salad is that it’s the perfect base salad for so many different types of protein. Top it with salmon, chicken, or even shrimp for a complete meal.

20. Copycat Starbucks Pink Drink

I think we can all say that Starbucks has some great drinks that we can indulge in, but do it too often and you not only spend a lot of money, but you also add a lot of not-so-clean ingredients to your diet. That’s why I created this copycat Starbucks pink drink. It includes fresh strawberries and pure pomegranate juice that are both sweet enough to make this drink great. Plus, it is teenage daughter approved!

21. Skillet Berry Baked Pancake

Want a great way to use fresh strawberries this spring? Then try this berry baked pancake recipe. I love serving this for Mother’s Day brunch and it’s always a favorite. Made with ground oat flour, vanilla, ricotta cheese, eggs, and fresh berries, this pancake is not only delicious, but also high in protein and flavor!

22. Fresh Fruit Salad

Always a fresh and easy option for a cookout or party, this fresh fruit salad combines strawberries with blueberries, kiwi, papaya, pineapple and grapes for a fun tropical feeling twist on a classic. To bring it all together, I’ve added a sweet dressing of honey, vanilla, and poppy seeds.

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23. Blended Flavors Chopped Salad

One of the wonderful things about cooking your own food is that you get to be really adventurous in your choices. I often come up with strange combinations of ingredients that really wind up going well together, without realizing. This is one of those recipes. In this chopped salad, I blended things like cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, and pine nuts with strawberries, mint, and cilantro. While I didn’t anticipate these ingredients tasting great together, they really do. And the honey Dijon vinaigrette really pulls all the flavors together.

24. Cilantro Lime Grilled Shrimp with Strawberry-Mango Salsa

If you’re looking for a healthy, high protein meal that incorporates the fresh taste of spring and summer, then try this grilled cilantro lime shrimp with strawberry mango salsa. The sweet flavor from the strawberries and mangos pairs perfectly with the bright lime juice and spicey jalapenos. This salsa can be used on chicken, beef, salmon, or any other grilled meat you prefer.

25. Summertime Pink Smoothie

This pineapple strawberry smoothie not only tastes like dessert, but it is high in protein. The tropical flavors get a boost from protein and collagen powder so this cold treat can be considered a full meal. You’ll want to drink it all summer long!