What Is A Wedge Salad?
Wedge salad recipes are a type of salad made by chopping lettuce into wedges and piling other ingredients on top — typically bacon, tomatoes, blue cheese, and onions. It is often served with a creamy dressing, such as blue cheese or buttermilk ranch dressing, and eaten with a fork and knife.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best wedge salad ingredients, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Iceberg Lettuce – With its layered texture and tight leaves, iceberg lettuce gives this salad the perfect crunchy bite. You could combine the same flavors with other types of lettuce, such as romaine, but most other varieties won’t hold together in a wedge shape. Cooked Bacon – For the bacon crumbles, I recommend fresh cooked bacon. You can cook bacon in the oven, in the microwave, or in the air fryer. But, you could use pre-cooked bacon bits for convenience (about 8 tablespoons). Tomatoes – I used grape tomatoes, but cherry tomatoes would also work, or dice larger tomatoes if that’s what you have. If you want an extra dose of veggies, you can add some diced cucumbers or avocados, too. Onions – Because of their bright color and crispy texture, I used diced red onions. You could substitute a different onion if you prefer, or try sliced chives. Crumbled Blue Cheese – Delivers a signature sharp, creamy, peppery taste that contrasts perfectly with the crisp and sweet vegetables. Blue Cheese Dressing – Before you reach for the bottled blue cheese dressing, let me tell you how easy it is to make it yourself: Stir together mayonnaise, sour cream, blue cheese crumbles, lemon juice (or vinegar), milk of your choice, sea salt, and pepper together in a small bowl. That’s it! Get the full homemade blue cheese dressing recipe here with ingredient amounts. It’s so much better than store-bought, but store-bought does work if you prefer. Black Pepper – Although optional, I highly recommend fresh cracked pepper to balance the creamy flavors in the dressing.
How To Cut A Wedge Salad
How To Make A Wedge Salad
This section shows how to make a lettuce salad wedge with blue cheese dressing, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card. Although blue cheese dressing is the classic option for wedge salad, you could try other dressings like homemade ranch, creamy Caesar dressing, or tangy thousand island dressing.
Storage Instructions
Store: Transfer portions of leftover iceberg wedge salad into airtight containers and store in the fridge for 1-2 days. For optimal crispness, store wedges and dressing separately. Meal prep: It’s best to not compile the salad until you’re ready to eat it. However, you can make the blue cheese dressing, wash and cut the lettuce, cook the bacon, and dice the red onions ahead of time.
What To Serve With Iceberg Wedge Salad
This side just need a main dish. Here are a few reader favorites:
Beef – A simple sirloin steak or filet mignon and classic wedge salad make the perfect pair. Add air fryer baked potatoes for a classic steakhouse meal. You can also serve this salad with other steaks, such as ribeye or garlic butter steak bites, or for special occasions, prime rib or roasted beef tenderloin. Seafood – Side salads are a perfect pairing to seafood. Try lemon butter halibut, flaky parmesan salmon, or for a fancier meal, make a lobster tail recipe or cook crab legs. Chicken – Make crispy baked chicken thighs, juicy pan seared chicken breasts, or savory and creamy mushroom chicken. For a light lunch or dinner make buffalo wings. Pork – I love a simple salad with classic baked pork chops, but for even more flavor, try stuffed pork chops instead. Soup – Bring Olive Garden to you with soup, salad, and breadsticks. Try creamy pea soup, chunky zuppa toscana, creamy cauliflower soup, or comforting broccoli and cheese soup.
More Creamy Salad Recipes
With savory meats and creamy dressings, these salads make the perfect healthy side dishes or light mains. Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email.
