Spinach and Bacon Salad

This delicious Spinach and Bacon Salad is a breeze to prepare! The sweet dressing with the salty bacon keeps you wanting more. Served for lunch or as a light dinner, it’s the best way to get your daily greens.

We eat a lot of salads around here, but they’re never boring. This Watermelon Salad is a summertime staple and I never show up to a picnic without a bowl of The Best Potato Salad.

Spinach salad with bacon, croutons, and dressing.


Why this Recipe is Best

While I love salads that have all the colors of the rainbow, sometimes you just don’t have time to chop a ton of veggies.

  • This Spinach and Bacon Salad recipe comes together in no time. Even with homemade dressing and freshly cooked bacon, it’s ready to eat in just 10 minutes!
  • We kept the ingredients for this salad simple: just fresh spinach, bacon and croutons. It’s the dressing that really makes this salad stand out. Tangy and sweet, it’s the perfect compliment to salty bacon.
  • Since it’s made with pantry staples, chances are you won’t need to make a special grocery trip for this recipe either!

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients needed for spinach salad with bacon.
  • Bacon. Either fresh cooked crumbled bacon or leftover cooked bacon can be used.
  • Croutons. Any croutons you enjoy, plain or seasoned, taste great in this salad.
  • Ketchup. Sound weird? Just try it! The ketchup adds the hint of sweetness to the dressing that ties all the flavors together.

Serving Suggestions

Spinach and Bacon Salad is wonderful enjoyed as a meal on its own, especially for a summer lunch or light dinner.

Smaller portions can be served as a side dish to a heartier main dish, too. Serve it as a starter or side to Caprese Chicken Skillet or this Instant Pot Balsamic Beef.

This salad is also perfect stuffed into a wrap! Leave off the croutons and roll the salad in an herb garlic tortilla for an on-the-go lunch.

Of course it’s also delicious with meatloaf or stuffed peppers!

Spinach salad in a white bowl with croutons and bacon.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this recipe with turkey bacon?

Yes, this salad would be delicious with turkey bacon instead of pork. My vegetarian family members enjoy this with meatless bacon substitutes too!

What can I substitute for the spinach?

Spring mix salad greens or your other favorite dark, leafy salad greens make fine substitutes. If you like raw kale, that’s a great alternative to the spinach too. (Make sure to remove the tough bitter stems.)

How far in advance can I prepare the dressing?

You can make the dressing up to a couple of weeks ahead of time! It’s highly acidic so it’ll stay good for quite a while in the fridge.

I don’t have time to wait for the dressing to chill. Can I just use it right away?

Yes, you can! The extra time to let the dressing flavors mingle is optional.

More Easy Dinner Recipes

Spinach and Bacon Salad

5 from 6 votes
By: Aimee
This delicious Spinach and Bacon Salad is a breeze to prepare! The sweet dressing with the salty bacon keeps you wanting more. Served for lunch or as a light dinner, it's the best way to get your daily greens.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients 

For the Dressing:

  • ÂĽ cup olive oil
  • 2 Tablespoons white vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon worcestershire sauce

For the Salad:

  • 10 oz fresh spinach washed and stemmed
  • ÂĽ cup bacon cooked and crumbled
  • 1 ½ cup croutons any variety
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Instructions 

  • In a bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, ketchup, sugar and worcestershire sauce. Refrigerate overnight or several hours to allow the flavors to combine. (Not required, but makes a little difference).
  • To serve, add spinach and bacon bits in a large bowl. Top with croutons and serve with dressing. ENJOY!

Notes

  • Can I make this recipe with turkey bacon? Yes, this salad would be delicious with turkey bacon instead of pork. My vegetarian family members enjoy this with meatless "bacon" substitutes too!
  • Dressing can be made up to a week in advance!

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl, Calories: 175kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 4mg, Sodium: 256mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 6g
Course: Side Dishes
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

Spinach and Bacon Salad is full of fresh greens and salty bacon. A crunch of croutons and the best ever homemade dressing will get everyone begging for seconds!



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About Aimee

Aimee is a dessert lover (specifically rice krispie treats), workout enthusiast, self-taught foodie, and recipe creator.

Learn more about Aimee.

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Posted on November 17, 2021

Comments & Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    I’ve been trying ot eat more salads lately and came across this one to try and I’m so glad I did! It was fantastic… thank you!

  2. 5 stars
    Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!

  3. This salad looks awesome, I am loving the recipe for the dressing and the fact that it’s topped with bacon, of course!

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