Description
This Best Bacon Ranch Salad is a vibrant and flavorful dish featuring crisp radicchio, savory bacon, crunchy sourdough croutons, sharp stilton blue cheese, and tangy ranch dressing. The radicchio is soaked in ice water to mellow its bitterness, then combined with hot, crispy bacon and homemade or store-bought ranch dressing for a deliciously satisfying salad that balances bitterness, creaminess, and crunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 1 large radicchio (or your favorite lettuce)
- 12 ounces bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces and cooked
- ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup stilton blue cheese, crumbled
- ½ cup ranch dressing (or more to taste)
Croutons
- 2 cups sourdough bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1–2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450ºF (232ºC) to prepare for baking the croutons.
- Prepare Radicchio: Cut the radicchio into halves and then quarters. Remove the core and cut in half again. Place the radicchio in a large bowl or salad spinner, cover with cold water and 1 cup of ice. Massage the leaves gently to help reduce bitterness, then soak for 5-10 minutes. Drain and dry thoroughly to avoid sogginess in the salad.
- Prepare Bacon: Cut bacon slices into 1-inch pieces. Cook in a skillet over medium heat until crispy, then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat. Set aside.
- Make or Ready Ranch Dressing: Prepare homemade ranch dressing if desired, or use your favorite store-bought dressing to taste.
- Make Croutons: Toss sourdough bread cubes with 1-2 tablespoons olive oil and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt until evenly coated. Spread on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, tossing halfway through to ensure even crisping. Watch carefully to avoid burning. Remove from oven and cool.
- Slice Onion and Crumble Cheese: Thinly slice the red onion and crumble the stilton blue cheese. Set both aside.
- Assemble Salad: Place the dried radicchio in a large serving bowl and add half the ranch dressing. Toss to combine evenly. Top with crispy bacon pieces, sliced red onion, and sourdough croutons. Drizzle with the remaining ranch dressing. Toss gently to combine and serve immediately for the freshest taste.
Notes
- Soaking radicchio in ice water helps mellow its bitterness but drying thoroughly is essential to keep the salad crisp.
- Cooking bacon to your preferred level of crispness ensures the perfect texture contrast.
- Watch croutons closely while baking to prevent burning – tossing halfway helps them brown evenly.
- Feel free to substitute radicchio with other lettuces such as romaine or kale if desired.
- Adjust ranch dressing quantity based on taste preference for creaminess.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Bacon Ranch Salad, Radicchio Salad, Sourdough Croutons, Blue Cheese Salad, Easy Salad Recipe
