Classic Bacon Blue Cheese Wedge Salad Recipe

I think salads are so overlooked and underrated. They have the potential to be made into one of the most delicious meals or sides! Transforming a salad into a masterpiece is an art, and an easy one at that. One absolutely timeless salad that stands out as a favorite of mine is my Classic Bacon Blue Cheese Wedge Salad. It's filled with fresh veggies, bacon bits, chunks of blue cheese and a sweet balsamic glaze, all over crispy iceberg lettuce.

I'm going to give you a full guide that invites you into ALL the secrets of creating the perfect wedge salad. Beautifully colorful, flavorsome, and truly classic. Whether you're serving it as a starter salad for guests, or simply looking to add a fun twist to your weekly meal plan-this Classic Bacon Blue Cheese Wedge is a timeless beauty you'll want to keep making.

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Wedge Salad Ingredients

Simplicity makes this salad. Keeping the toppings simple is crucial in creating this beautiful dish.

1 Head of Lettuce
8 Strips Bacon cooked and chopped
2 Cups Cherry Tomatoes cut in half
1 Red Onion chopped
Blue Cheese block or crumbled
Salt & Pepper

Wedge Salad Dressing Suggestions

How to Make a Wedge Salad?

I'm going to give you a step-by-step guide to creating the perfect wedge.

It all begins with the art of cutting iceberg lettuce. Iceberg lettuce is my top choice for a wedge salad because of its density and crunch. Its compact, layered, and crisp leaves make it ideal to achieve the texture of a classic wedge salad.

Classic Bacon wedge Salad-final product.

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How Do You Cut Lettuce For a Wedge Salad?

I'm personally a bit of a clean freak. So I always want to make sure the ingredients I'm using have been cleaned. With that being said, start by washing the head of iceberg lettuce. Then you'll take the whole head and cut it into four equal quarters or "wedges". Do this by cutting it in half from the top to the stem. Then in half again.

Prepare the Bacon, Veggies & Blue Cheese Crumbles

Now we prepare the rest of the salad Ingredients. I love this recipe because it's all very simple prep work.

How to Sauté Bacon Bits

The next step is sautéing the bacon. I prefer the sauté method because it gets each individual piece perfectly crispy. You can opt to bake the bacon if you prefer. To sauté the bacon, cut the 8 slices into about ¼ inch bacon bits and sauté on medium heat. Cook the bacon bits until they are brown and reach the level of crispiness you like. Once it's done to your liking, put the bacon on a plate with a paper towel. The paper towel is used to absorb the grease.

Chop the Veggies

Next you'll cut the cherry tomatoes in half and slice the red onion into small pieces. Be sure the red onion isn't cut into pieces that are too large or the flavor will be overwhelming.

Blue Cheese Crumbles

You can buy the blue cheese in a block or crumbled. I prefer the block because it allows you to break the cheese into whatever size you want. I like large chunks on my salad, but it's all based on preference.

Assemble the Wedge Salad

Begin assembling right before you're ready to serve the salad! Get the lettuce wedges and set them on individual plates. Be sure they're the plates you plan on serving them on. Divide the toppings evenly and generously add the cherry tomatoes, bacon bits, red onion, blue cheese, and your dressing of choice to the lettuce wedge! Finish with freshly ground salt and pepper and ENJOY!

What's the Best Dressing for a Wedge Salad?

This all comes down to preference, your favorite flavors, and which flavors you want to stand out the most in this recipe! For this Classic Bacon Blue Cheese Wedge Salad, I decided to use my favorite balsamic glaze. I personally love the large chunks of blue cheese on my salad, and if I chose to use a blue cheese dressing in addition to the crumbles-the blue cheese flavor would be too overwhelming. So if I'm using blue cheese crumbles, I'll typically go with a balsamic glaze. Its sweetness beautifully enhances the flavors of this salad and adds rich depth.

Now if you're skipping blue cheese crumbles, I would 100% opt for homemade blue cheese dressing! I personally wouldn't omit blue cheese completely if you want a perfect wedge, since it is such a classic element of a wedge salad. The blue cheese flavor perfectly complements the pan-seared bacon and fresh veggies, tying together the flavors & making each bite a delight.

I know, some of you may not LOVE blue cheese. If that's you, try using feta crumbles in place of the blue cheese or a healthy ranch dressing!

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Classic Bacon Blue Cheese Wedge Salad Tips & Tricks

Choose fresh ingredients. The key to a perfect wedge salad lies in using fresh ingredients. Be sure the lettuce is crispy, not browned or soggy. My personal favorite combination of toppings is reflected in this recipe-cherry tomatoes, bacon bits, red onion, and blue cheese crumbles. No matter what toppings you choose, be sure you're using high quality and fresh ingredients!

Don't forget to season. I like to finish this Classic Bacon and Blue Cheese Wedge Salad with freshly ground salt and pepper. Whatever seasoning you choose-don't forget to add a little sprinkle to top off the salad!

More is more. Not less is more 😉 Of course this is all about personal preference, but in my opinion-a wedge salad is best when it's covered in toppings! My least favorite thing is ordering a salad and it arrives lightly sprinkled with toppings. Be generous when adding toppings-I think it levels up the flavor and makes the experience so much better.

More Wedge Salad Topping Ideas

Maple syrup candied pecans or walnuts would add a sweet and savory crunch.
Sliced strawberries or dried cranberries may bring a refreshing twist.
For a protein packed option, consider grilled chicken, steak slices, or smoked salmon.
More ingredients to consider include-avocado slices, cucumber, bell pepper, pickled onions, roasted beets, chickpeas, and boiled eggs.
Try adding some fresh herbs like chives, cilantro or parsley-the options are truly endless!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I make this wedge salad Whole30?

To make this wedge salad Whole30, be sure the bacon falls under Whole30 requirements (you could also use turkey bacon), omit the blue cheese, and use a vegan dressing.

How are you supposed to eat a wedge salad?

Use your fork to hold down a portion of the wedge. Use a knife to cut a small piece off and enjoy. It's can be a bit messy!

Can I make a vegan wedge salad?

Most definitely! To make this wedge salad vegan, I suggest replacing the bacon with chickpeas, and using a vegan blue cheese or blue cheese dressing!

Enjoy!

Eating with your eyes before actually eating is something we've all experienced! That is one of my favorite things about this Classic Bacon Blue Cheese Wedge Salad-it really is pretty to look at, and who doesn't like eating something pretty? Covered in fresh ingredients this salad is not only beautiful, but absolutely delicious. Enjoy as a starter for a steak or salmon meal. I promise, if you love all of these ingredients, this combo so good and won't disappoint!

Whether you want a light lunch or a flavorful side dish Classic Bacon and Blue Cheese Wedge Salad will make you fall in love with salads all over again! I hope you enjoy this delight 🤍 If you loved this salad-try my Berry Pecan Arugula and Spinach Salad!

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