Description
The Easy Bacon Ranch Chopped Salad is a delightful culinary creation that combines fresh ingredients and bold flavors, making it an appealing choice for any meal. Whether you’re hosting a gathering or looking for a quick lunch, this salad shines with its crisp texture and savory notes. Its vibrant colors not only make it a feast for the eyes but also provide a healthy balance that keeps you feeling full and satisfied.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced or diced
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or Colby Jack cheese
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
Instructions
- Chop the vegetables: Start by thoroughly washing and chopping your romaine, halving your cherry tomatoes, and dicing your cucumber. For the red onion, you can choose to slice or dice it according to your preference. Aim for uniform sizes for even mixing.
- Cook the bacon: Prepare your bacon by cooking it until it’s nice and crispy. Once cooked, allow it to cool on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat. Crumble it into bite-sized pieces once it’s cool enough to handle.
- Toss the salad: In a large bowl, combine the chopped romaine, halved tomatoes, diced cucumber, sliced red onion, crumbled bacon, and shredded cheese.
- Dress the salad: Drizzle the ranch dressing over the salad ingredients. Use just enough to coat everything lightly — you can always add more after tossing, based on your own taste preference.
- Serve immediately: Toss the salad gently but thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated and serve right away to preserve the crispness of the vegetables.
Notes
Consider adding cooked chopped chicken for extra protein, corn for sweetness, avocado for healthy fats, or green onions for a mild onion flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 40mg