Learn how to make a better wedge salad than any restaurant version! Made with crisp iceberg lettuce, sweet tomatoes, salty bacon, and the best creamy blue cheese dressing that brings all the flavors together.
A classic wedge salad is simple, yet the flavors are exceptional when done right! I won’t call myself a wedge salad connoisseur, but I will say I’ve had many over my 30 years of life, and this one is hands down my favorite.
Even though wedge salad ingredients are very basic, it comes down to the dressing to bring flavor and depth to the whole salad. This dressing has the perfect balance of tanginess and creaminess! The creamy dressing is paired with bites of crispy, salty bacon, sweet cherry tomatoes, crumbled blue cheese, and a “wedge” of crisp iceberg lettuce. Hence the name, wedge salad.
This is one of my parent’s favorite salads, and let me tell you, they get so excited when I make it! It’s just that good.
Ingredients
Iceberg lettuce – Any classic wedge uses iceberg lettuce, which forms the perfect “wedge” shape when cut into fourths. This lettuce is crisp, refreshing, and mild in flavor!
Cherry tomatoes – We love using cherry tomatoes because they have the sweetest flavor.
Bacon – Crispy bacon must always be included to add crunch and a nice salty bite to the salad! You can use pork or turkey bacon.
Dressing – As stated above, the dressing makes a wedge. This dressing combines blue cheese, sherry vinegar, mayonnaise, sour cream, chives, and garlic! It’s my favorite wedge salad dressing and brings a tangy, creamy flavor to every bite of this salad.
Fresh chives – should always be included in a wedge for herby flavor. I use them in this recipe in the dressing, but they are essential to any wedge salad!
Recipe Variations
- Instead of blue cheese. You can also use gorgonzola, which is a type of blue cheese!
- Different types of lettuce you can use. Although iceberg is the best because it forms the best wedge shape and is crisp and firm, you can also use butter lettuce or crunchier romaine.
- Additional toppings. Add thinly sliced red onion, crispy fried onions, or lightly pickled beets.
- Use Greek yogurt for sour cream. I’ve tested this recipe with Greek yogurt, and it works almost identically to sour cream. So, to make it healthier and add more protein, use a good-quality plain Greek yogurt.
What to Serve with a Wedge Salad
This salad is typically served at almost all steakhouse restaurants because it goes perfectly with that kind of food—burgers, steaks, ribs, etc. We love serving this with our weekly steak, crispy chicken wings, honey dijon grilled chicken thighs, baked potatoes, or any barbecue-type recipe!
Classic Wedge Salad
Ingredients
- 1 large iceberg lettuce, cut into fourths to make wedges
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 5 bacon strips
The Dressing
- 1/3 cup sherry vinegar
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 1/2 Tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
- 1 large garlic clove, or 2 small, finely minced
- 1/2 heaping cup crumbled blue cheese
- salt & black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the bacon. In a hot pan on medium heat, cook the bacon until it's crispy throughout (3-4 minutes per side). After the bacon is cooked, place on a paper towel and let the oil dry off. Once cooled, chop the bacon into bite-sized pieces.
- Make the dressing. In a bowl, whisk together the olive oil and sherry vinegar, then stir in the sour cream, mayonnaise, crumbled blue cheese, minced garlic, fresh chives, and a healthy pinch of salt and black pepper.
- Make the wedge. Then serve each wedge of iceberg lettuce with cherry tomatoes, bacon bits, and blue cheese dressing drizzled over top.
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