Description
Cucumber Ranch Crack Salad is a refreshing, crunchy, and creamy salad featuring diced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, crispy bacon, shredded cheese, and a flavorful ranch dressing with fresh dill. Perfect as a side dish for BBQs or family dinners, its simple preparation and customizable nature make it a crowd-pleaser any time of year.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 2 large cucumbers, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup red onion, finely chopped
Proteins & 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 optimal texture and flavor distribution.
- Chop the Onion: Finely chop the red onion to add a sharp and zesty crunch, ensuring it complements the freshness of the cucumbers and tomatoes.
- Cook the Bacon: If using raw bacon, cook it in a pan over medium heat until crispy, then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and crumble into small pieces. If using pre-cooked bacon, simply crumble it into your preferred size.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the diced cucumbers, halved cherry tomatoes, and finely chopped red onion, creating the fresh vegetable base for the salad.
- Add Bacon and Cheese: Mix in the crumbled bacon and shredded cheese of your choice, adding savory depth and richness to the salad.
- Dress the Salad: Pour the ranch dressing over the combined ingredients, then add the chopped fresh dill. Stir well until all components are evenly coated with the dressing and herbs.
- Season: Add salt and pepper to taste, adjusting to your preference to balance and enhance the flavors of the salad.
- Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes. This chilling step allows the flavors to meld beautifully and the dressing to infuse the ingredients.
- Toss Before Serving: Before serving, give the salad a good toss to redistribute the dressing, bacon, cheese, and vegetables for consistent flavor in every bite.
Notes
- Use fresh, in-season cucumbers and tomatoes for the best flavor and texture.
- For a lighter option, substitute traditional ranch dressing with a Greek yogurt-based ranch.
- Add extra crunch by including chopped bell peppers or shredded carrots.
- For best texture, add bacon just before serving if making the salad ahead of time.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days; freezing is not recommended.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Cucumber salad, Ranch Salad, Bacon salad, Summer salad, No-cook salad, Easy salad recipe, Healthy salad
