Description

A sturdy, budget-friendly picnic salad featuring crisp romaine, thick-cut bacon, and blue cheese with a creamy sour cream dressing. It travels well, holds up in heat, and is perfect for summer gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

4 heads romaine hearts, chopped (about 24 cups)
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1 large cucumber, diced
1 small red onion, finely diced
1 pound thick-cut bacon
6 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
2 cups croutons
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Instructions

Lay thick-cut bacon in a single layer in a cold skillet. Turn heat to medium and cook for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and slightly chewy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to cool completely, then crumble into bite-sized pieces.
Wash and thoroughly dry romaine hearts, chopping them into 2-inch pieces. Halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber, and finely dice red onion. If desired, soak diced onion in ice water for 10 minutes to mellow the bite, then drain and pat dry.
In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, white vinegar, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt until smooth. Adjust consistency with water or milk if needed.
In a very large bowl, combine chopped romaine, tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion. Add croutons and drizzle with about half of the dressing. Toss gently to coat evenly, adding more dressing if desired.
Just before serving, sprinkle crumbled blue cheese and crispy bacon over the salad. Toss gently one more time or serve toppings on the side for customization.

Notes

Keep the dressing separate until serving to prevent soggy lettuce. Cool bacon completely before crumbling to maintain crispness. For a lighter version, use turkey bacon and less cheese. This salad stores well in the fridge for up to 3 days without dressing.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl
Calories: 320
Sugar: 4
Sodium: 450
Fat: 24
Saturated Fat: 8
Carbohydrates: 15
Fiber: 3
Protein: 12

Keywords: Labor Day, picnic salad, bacon salad, blue cheese salad, meal prep, budget friendly, summer recipes, family dinner, make ahead salad