Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
You can never go wrong with bacon, and a fair amount of it. There’s just no other food like it. It has that unique melt-in-your mouth crunch, a delicious slow-smoked depth of flavor and a crave-worthy saltiness. We are always fighting for the last slice at my house. I try not to live on the stuff — if only it were as healthy as fresh veggies, then I would! This spinach salad with warm bacon dressing is all about the bacon. It’s definitely the highlight here, and then everything added was to complement its flavors. Swiss cheese, eggs, mushrooms, red onion and croutons all pair well with bacon. Then, of course, spinach salads and bacon are a no brainer, those not so crunchy leaves need a little somethin somethin. Like most easy salad recipes I share, this makes a big salad. I like to serve them as a main dish. But if you’ll only be serving one or two people, definitely split it. Then add the dressing just before serving in case you happen to have some left over.
Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing Ingredients
Unsure how to make warm bacon dressing for this spinach salad? Don’t fret, it’s really easy! For this filling salad recipe, you’ll need:
Bacon Eggs Baby spinach Button mushrooms Red onion Swiss cheese Croutons Olive oil Red wine vinegar Dijon mustard Honey Salt and pepper
How to Make Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
Make the warm bacon dressing. Whisk together bacon drippings with browned bits, olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon and honey. Season with salt and pepper. Let that simmer over medium heat for 1 minute. Stir in crumbled bacon and allow to cool slightly. Toss together spinach, bacon, mushrooms, red onion, and Swiss. Drizzle with warm bacon dressing and toss. Add eggs and croutons to top and serve.
Does it Matter What Type of Bacon I Use?
For the warm bacon dressing, I recommend using a traditional pork bacon. I haven’t tested this recipe with alternatives like turkey bacon, so I’m not sure how this bacon dressing would turn out if you used a different kind of bacon.
Can I Use Another Leafy Green Instead of Spinach?
Yes, of course. Feel free to use whatever greens you have on hand with this warm bacon dressing.
How to Store Warm Bacon Dressing
If you don’t think you’ll be able to finish this spinach salad with warm bacon dressing in one sitting, don’t pour all of the dressing on top at once. You’ll need to store the bacon dressing leftovers in the fridge and reheat it on the stove when you’re ready to finish it.
Tips for the Best Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
Allow the bacon dressing to cool slightly before pouring it over the spinach salad, otherwise you run the risk of burning your mouth and/or wilting the spinach leaves. Use bacon that isn’t flavored for the best results. You want a regular pork bacon for this recipe. Store the dressing and salad fixings separately in the fridge if you have leftovers. Otherwise the salad will wilt.
More Easy Spinach Salad Recipes You’ll Love:
Cranberry Almond Spinach Salad Grilled Chicken, Sun-Dried Tomato & Avocado Spinach Salad Mandarin Pomegranate Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing Red Berry & Avocado Spinach Salad with Strawberry Poppy Seed Dressing Strawberry Avocado Spinach Salad with Grilled Chicken & Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing Apple, Pecan & Feta Spinach Salad with Maple Cider Vinaigrette
