Guess what? Your new favorite salad dressing has bacon in it!
If you’re someone who loves bacon as much as I do, you might be looking for new and inventive ways to use it. Maybe you’re tired of BLTs or a lumberjack breakfast. Well, today is your lucky day because I’m sharing a recipe for hot bacon dressing. Admittedly, I might be the one who is a little late to the party because this has been a Southern delicacy for a while. However, it’s better late than never when it comes to discovering a new use for bacon.
Obviously, this isn’t your ordinary salad dressing. But keep in mind that a lot of people put bacon bits in their salad, so this isn’t that different. The apple cider vinegar and onion or shallot in this dressing bring a tangy, pungent flavor, and black pepper brings a hint of spice. If you want your dressing extra spicy, see my tips below. This hearty dressing is perfect for adding more flavor to any salad. Basically, it helps you transform a salad into something your kids or even Ron Swanson would eat.
Is This Hot Bacon Dressing Healthy?
Hot bacon dressing is low in carbs and keto-friendly. That being said, the bacon in this recipe does produce plenty of grease, so there is a high volume of fat and calories compared to most other salad dressings. Of course, the bacon does provide a little bit of protein. But other than that, this dressing doesn’t offer much nutritional value. You could make it healthier by swapping the refined sugar for coconut sugar, which has a lower glycemic index. But look on the bright side: you can up the health factor by choosing a salad that is rich in fresh veggies, fruit, and fiber.
Extra Crispy And Extra Spicy
The key to making hot bacon dressing is ensuring the bacon stays crispy. It’s best to cook the bacon over medium heat so that it becomes crisp without burning. Ultimately, you want the bacon to be easy to chew. With this recipe, you also have the option of adding Dijon mustard while making the vinegar mixture. This will give the dressing a little more kick. For a bit more heat, add in a dash of red chili flakes. You can also add garlic powder to the mixture for a little added flavor.
How Do I Store Leftovers?
If there is leftover dressing, allow it to cool and keep it in an airtight container or a mason jar in the fridge. It will keep for 3 or 4 days. I don’t recommend freezing it because the texture will change.
Serving Suggestions
Obviously, hot bacon dressing can be used over any type of salad you like. I especially recommend a Kale Salad, Spinach Salad, or Berry Salad. But hot bacon dressing can be a good dressing for other foods as well. In the past, I’ve used it on top of roasted Garlic Brussels Sprouts and Instant-Pot Green Beans. I also suggest using this dressing on Instant-Pot Boiled Potatoes to help spice things up.
If you’re looking for other unique ways to cook bacon, try this Baked Brown Sugar Bacon, which is the best combination of salty and sweet.
Ingredients
- 8 slices bacon diced
- 1/4 cup finely diced onion or shallot
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon and set aside, leaving about 1/4 cup of bacon grease in the skillet.
- Add the onion to the skillet and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- In a bowl, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Gradually whisk in water and vinegar until smooth.
- Pour the vinegar mixture into the skillet with the onions, stirring constantly. Cook over medium heat until the dressing thickens, about 1 minute.
- Return the cooked bacon to the skillet, stir to combine. Serve the dressing warm over your favorite salad.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
This recipe is wonderful. The BEST!!!! LOVE!!!!
Glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe! Thanks for reading.