Description
Cucumber Ranch Crack Salad is a refreshing, crunchy, and flavorful dish combining diced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, crispy bacon, shredded cheese, and creamy ranch dressing. Infused with fresh dill and chilled to meld flavors, it’s perfect as a light lunch side or a delightful addition to any meal. This easy-to-make salad offers versatility with variations to suit different tastes and dietary preferences.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 2 large cucumbers, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup red onion, finely chopped
Protein & Cheese
- 1 cup cooked bacon, crumbled
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or your choice)
Dressing & Herbs
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- ¼ cup fresh dill, chopped (or 1 tablespoon dried dill)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Vegetables: Begin by washing the cucumbers and tomatoes thoroughly. Dice the cucumbers into bite-sized pieces and halve the cherry tomatoes for even mixing and easy eating.
- Chop the Onion: Finely chop the red onion to add a zesty crunch and depth of flavor to your salad.
- Cook the Bacon: If using raw bacon, cook slices in a pan over medium heat until crispy. Remove, drain on paper towels, then crumble into small pieces. For pre-cooked bacon, simply crumble directly into the salad bowl.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the diced cucumbers, halved cherry tomatoes, and finely chopped red onion.
- Add Bacon and Cheese: Mix in the crispy crumbled bacon and shredded cheese of your preference, ensuring even distribution.
- Dress the Salad: Pour the ranch dressing over the vegetable mixture and add the chopped fresh dill. Stir gently but thoroughly until all ingredients are well coated in the dressing.
- Season: Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Adjust seasoning according to your preference to balance flavors.
- Chill: Cover the salad with plastic wrap or a lid, then place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This chilling step allows the flavors to meld and enhances the salad’s freshness.
- Toss Before Serving: Before serving, give the salad a good toss to redistribute the dressing and ingredients evenly, ensuring every bite is flavorful.
Notes
- Use fresh, in-season cucumbers and cherry tomatoes for best flavor and texture.
- For a lighter dressing, substitute ranch with a Greek yogurt-based variation.
- Add chopped bell peppers or shredded carrots for additional crunch.
- Prepare the salad a few hours in advance but add bacon just before serving to keep it crispy.
- This salad is best served chilled.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes (if using pre-cooked bacon) or 10 minutes (to cook raw bacon)
- Category: Lunch
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Cucumber Salad, Ranch Salad, Bacon Salad, Easy Lunch Recipe, Summer Salad, Cheese Salad, Dill Salad
