Description
A crisp and refreshing salad with cucumbers, crispy bacon, and a creamy homemade ranch dressing that brings a burst of flavor to any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 medium English or 8–10 Persian cucumbers (2–2.5 lbs)
- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 pint (2 cups) cherry/grape tomatoes, halved
- 8 slices thick-cut beef bacon, cooked crispy & crumbled
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried dill weed
- 1/2 tsp dried parsley flakes
- 1/4 tsp dried chives (optional)
- 1/4 tsp salt, to taste
- 1/8 tsp black pepper, to taste
- Pinch of sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare vegetables: Peel the cucumbers partially or fully and slice into 1/4-inch rounds. Lightly salt cucumbers for 15-20 minutes, then blot dry. Thinly slice red onion and halve cherry tomatoes.
- Make homemade ranch dressing: In a bowl, whisk mayonnaise, sour cream (or yogurt), buttermilk, and lemon juice. Add garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, parsley flakes, optional chives, salt, pepper, and sugar. Chill for 30-60 minutes.
- Cook beef bacon: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and bake bacon for 15-20 minutes until crispy. Drain on paper towels and crumble once cool.
- Prepare add-ins: Shred cheddar cheese and chop fresh dill and chives.
- Assemble salad: In a large bowl, combine cucumbers, red onion, tomatoes, crumbled bacon, and cheddar cheese.
- Dress, toss, and serve: Whisk ranch dressing smooth and pour two-thirds over salad. Toss gently and fold in dill and chives. Chill for 15-30 minutes before serving cold.
Notes
Make ahead by prepping ingredients a day in advance. Dress salad just before serving for freshness. Customize with additional vegetables if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 30mg