Description
A quick, stress-free picnic salad featuring crisp romaine, smoky bacon, tangy blue cheese, and sweet apples with a homemade vinaigrette. Perfect for last-minute gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 heads hearts of romaine lettuce, chopped (about 6 cups)
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled (about 1 cup)
- ½ cup crumbled blue cheese (about 60g)
- 1 medium green apple (Granny Smith), diced (about 1 cup)
- ¼ medium red onion, thinly sliced (about 2 tablespoons)
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Lay bacon strips in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway, until crispy. Let cool and crumble into bite-sized pieces.
- Wash and thoroughly dry the romaine hearts. Chop into bite-sized pieces and place in a large mixing bowl.
- Dice the apple and toss with a little lemon juice to prevent browning. Thinly slice the red onion. Add both to the bowl with the lettuce.
- In a small jar with a lid, combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds until emulsified.
- Just before serving, pour the dressing over the greens and toss gently to coat.
- Add the crumbled blue cheese and half of the bacon. Toss one more time to distribute.
- Transfer to a serving bowl, top with remaining bacon, and serve immediately.
Notes
Ensure lettuce is completely dry to prevent watery dressing. Keep dressing separate if making ahead; toss 15-20 minutes before serving. For extra flavor, reserve a tablespoon of bacon grease to add to the dressing. Can be made vegan by swapping cheese for vegan alternatives and bacon for tempeh.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 10
Keywords: picnic salad, labor day recipe, bacon salad, blue cheese salad, quick dinner, no-cook salad, summer salad, romaine salad