Description

Cucumber Ranch Crack Salad is a fresh and flavorful side dish featuring crunchy cucumbers, juicy cherry tomatoes, crispy bacon, shredded cheese, and zesty ranch dressing. This easy-to-make salad is perfect for summertime BBQs, family dinners, or as a refreshing accompaniment to grilled meats. Its creamy texture combined with savory and fresh ingredients makes it a crowd-pleaser that can be customized with various herbs, cheeses, and proteins.

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables

2 large cucumbers, diced
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cup red onion, finely chopped

Proteins and Dairy

1 cup cooked bacon, crumbled
1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or your choice)

Dressing and 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 to create a fresh vegetable base.
Chop the Onion: Finely chop the red onion to add a crisp, zesty element that complements the other ingredients.
Cook the Bacon: If using raw bacon, cook it in a pan over medium heat until crispy, then crumble it into small pieces. For pre-cooked bacon, simply crumble into desired sizes.
Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the diced cucumbers, halved cherry tomatoes, and finely chopped red onion. Mix gently to combine.
Add Bacon and Cheese: Add the crumbled bacon and shredded cheese to the vegetable mixture, folding them in evenly.
Dress the Salad: Pour the ranch dressing over the combined ingredients, then add the chopped fresh dill. Stir carefully until all components are coated well with the dressing.
Season: Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, adjusting seasoning according to your preference.
Chill: Cover the salad with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and develop.
Toss Before Serving: Just before serving, toss the salad again to redistribute the dressing and mix the ingredients thoroughly for maximum flavor.

Notes

Use fresh, in-season cucumbers and tomatoes for the best flavor and texture.
For a lighter option, substitute traditional ranch dressing with Greek yogurt-based ranch.
To add crunch, consider including chopped bell peppers or shredded carrots.
Make the salad ahead of time for better flavor but add bacon last to keep it crispy.
This salad is best served chilled and should be consumed within 2-3 days when refrigerated.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Cucumber salad, ranch salad, bacon salad, easy salad recipe, summer salad, low carb salad