If you are craving a fresh, crunchy, and deeply satisfying salad that feels like a delicious celebration of simple, bold flavors, this Classic Wedge Salad Recipe is your go-to dish. Imagine chilled iceberg lettuce wedges drenched in a creamy tangy dressing, generously topped with smoky bacon, juicy cherry tomatoes, sharp blue cheese, crunchy pecans, and a sprinkle of green onions. Whether it’s a casual lunch or a special dinner starter, this salad never fails to impress with its perfect balance of textures and flavors.
Ingredients You’ll Need
With just a handful of straightforward ingredients, this salad shows how simplicity can yield extraordinary results. Each component plays a vital role in building the dish’s texture, flavor contrast, and visual appeal, making the prep both effortless and rewarding.
- Iceberg lettuce: Provides the crisp, refreshing crunch and sturdy wedge shape that’s iconic to this salad.
- Bacon: Adds a smoky, savory bite that contrasts beautifully with the cool, creamy dressing.
- Cherry tomatoes: Bursting with juiciness and sweetness, these add lovely color and acidity.
- Blue cheese (crumbled): Delivers a pungent creaminess that ties all the flavors together.
- Coarsely chopped pecans: Offer a delightful crunch and a subtle nutty flavor.
- Sliced green onions: Bring a mild sharpness and fresh aroma to the salad’s finish.
- Mayonnaise: Creates the richly creamy base for the dressing.
- Sour cream: Adds a tangy smoothness that balances the richness of the mayo.
- Worcestershire sauce: Infuses an umami depth to the dressing.
- Buttermilk: Lightens and thins the dressing with its subtle acidity.
- Salt and pepper: Essential for seasoning, enhancing every ingredient’s natural flavor.
How to Make Classic Wedge Salad Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Dressing
The secret to this salad’s irresistible flavor lies in its homemade dressing. Start by whisking together mayonnaise, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, buttermilk, crumbled blue cheese, salt, and pepper in a bowl or jar. Shake or whisk until smooth and creamy — the combination of tangy, savory, and sharp notes will elevate the entire salad.
Step 2: Prepare the Lettuce Wedges
Next, carefully cut a large head of iceberg lettuce into four equal wedges. Rinse them well under cold water to keep them crisp and refreshing. Pat them dry gently to avoid sogginess but keep the wedges intact so they hold their beautiful shape when plated.
Step 3: Assemble the Salad
Place the iceberg wedges on a large platter or divide among individual plates for easy serving. Pour a generous amount of the homemade dressing over the wedges, letting it cascade down every crevice. Then sprinkle on the cooked, crumbled bacon, quartered cherry tomatoes, additional blue cheese, coarsely chopped pecans, and sliced green onions for bursts of flavor in every bite.
How to Serve Classic Wedge Salad Recipe
Garnishes
For that extra fancy touch, consider adding freshly cracked black pepper on top or a few sprigs of fresh herbs like chives or parsley. These little extras complement the crunchy lettuce and creamy dressing perfectly while brightening up the presentation.
Side Dishes
This salad pairs beautifully with grilled steak or roasted chicken for a complete meal. The crisp, cool salad offers a refreshing contrast to rich, meaty dishes, making it a timeless favorite on any dinner table.
Creative Ways to Present
Want to impress your guests? Serve the wedges on chilled plates or place them inside crisp lettuce cups for a bite-sized version. Drizzle the dressing artistically using a squeeze bottle, or serve the dressing on the side for a customizable experience.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
You can store any leftover salad components separately. Keep the wedges wrapped in paper towels inside an airtight container to maintain crispness, while storing dressing and toppings in separate containers in the fridge to avoid sogginess.
Freezing
The best approach is not to freeze the assembled salad due to the lettuce’s high water content, which will become mushy. However, you can freeze cooked bacon for later use or blue cheese to extend shelf life.
Reheating
This salad is best enjoyed fresh. If you have bacon stored, reheat it gently in a skillet or microwave until warm and crispy before using it again in the salad.
FAQs
Can I use romaine lettuce instead of iceberg?
While romaine offers a lovely flavor and crunch, it doesn’t hold its wedge shape as sturdily as iceberg. For an authentic Classic Wedge Salad Recipe, iceberg is preferred.
How can I make this salad vegetarian?
Simply omit the bacon and consider adding toasted nuts or roasted chickpeas for added crunch and protein. The dressing remains delicious and pairs well with those substitutions.
Is there a dairy-free version of the dressing?
Yes! You can replace mayonnaise and sour cream with vegan alternatives and use a dairy-free blue cheese or omit it altogether to retain the creamy tanginess.
Can I prepare the dressing in advance?
Absolutely! The dressing can be made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator. Just give it a good stir or shake before serving to bring it back together.
What is the purpose of the pecans in the salad?
Pecans add a delightful crunch and a hint of natural sweetness that contrasts with the creamy dressing and savory bacon, enhancing the salad’s texture profile.
Final Thoughts
Sharing this Classic Wedge Salad Recipe feels like passing on a delicious secret that is always ready to elevate any meal effortlessly. Its combination of crispness, creaminess, and bold flavors makes it a standout favorite in my kitchen, and I hope it becomes one of yours too. Give it a try, and watch how a few simple ingredients come together to create something truly unforgettable.
Print
Classic Wedge Salad Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Description
Classic Wedge Salad is a refreshing and crunchy appetizer that features crisp iceberg lettuce wedges topped with a tangy blue cheese dressing, smoky bacon, fresh cherry tomatoes, crunchy pecans, and green onions. This easy no-cook salad combines creamy, savory, and crunchy elements, making it a perfect starter or light meal for any occasion.
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 large head iceberg lettuce, cut into 4 wedges and rinsed well
- 1 cup cooked and crumbled bacon
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
- ¼ cup crumbled blue cheese
- 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped pecans
- 1 tablespoon sliced green onions
Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- â…“ cup crumbled blue cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Make the dressing: In a bowl or jar, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, buttermilk, crumbled blue cheese, salt, and pepper. Whisk or shake until smooth and well blended.
- Prepare the lettuce wedges: Arrange the rinsed iceberg lettuce wedges neatly on a large platter or divide them onto individual serving plates.
- Assemble the salad: Drizzle the blue cheese dressing generously over each lettuce wedge. Then sprinkle cooked and crumbled bacon, quartered cherry tomatoes, additional crumbled blue cheese, chopped pecans, and sliced green onions evenly over the salad. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use crispy cooked bacon for best texture and flavor.
- Adjust the amount of blue cheese in the dressing to your taste preference for creaminess and tang.
- Chill the dressing before serving to enhance its flavor.
- Can be made vegetarian by omitting bacon and substituting with smoked nuts if desired.
- Serve the salad promptly after dressing to keep the lettuce crisp.
