Description

Cucumber Ranch Crack Salad is a refreshing and flavorful dish combining crunchy cucumbers, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp bacon, shredded cheese, and creamy ranch dressing, all enhanced with fresh dill for a delightful medley of textures and tastes. Perfect as a side for BBQs, dinners, or as a light, satisfying salad.

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables

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

Protein and Cheese

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)

Seasoning

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Prepare the Vegetables: Begin by washing the cucumbers and cherry tomatoes thoroughly. Dice the cucumbers into bite-sized pieces and halve the cherry tomatoes evenly to ensure balanced flavors.
Chop the Onion: Finely chop the red onion to add a fresh, zesty crunch that complements the salad’s other ingredients.
Cook the Bacon: If using raw bacon, cook it in a skillet over medium heat until crispy, then crumble into small pieces. For pre-cooked bacon, simply crumble it to the desired size.
Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the diced cucumbers, halved cherry tomatoes, and finely chopped red onion to create the vegetable base of the salad.
Add Bacon and Cheese: Mix in the crumbled bacon and shredded cheese thoroughly to distribute savory and creamy elements throughout the salad.
Dress the Salad: Pour the ranch dressing over the combined ingredients, then sprinkle in the chopped fresh dill. Stir gently until all components are evenly coated with dressing and herbs.
Season: Add salt and pepper according to your taste preference to enhance the overall flavor profile of the salad.
Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This resting time helps the flavors meld beautifully and improves the salad’s taste.
Toss Before Serving: Just before serving, give the salad a good toss to redistribute the dressing and ingredients for an even, fresh presentation.

Notes

Use fresh, in-season cucumbers and tomatoes for the best flavor and texture.
For a lighter salad, substitute traditional ranch with a Greek yogurt-based ranch dressing.
Add extra crunch by incorporating chopped bell peppers or shredded carrots.
Prepare the salad ahead of time but add bacon just before serving to maintain crispiness.
This salad is naturally gluten-free; verify dressing labels if strict gluten-free adherence is needed.
Not recommended to freeze due to fresh ingredients; store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

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

Keywords: cucumber salad, ranch dressing salad, bacon salad, easy summer salad, no-cook salad, chilled salad, fresh vegetable salad