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Bacon Ranch Chopped Salad Recipe

5 from 446 reviews

This Bacon Ranch Chopped Salad is a vibrant, crunchy mix of fresh vegetables, crispy bacon, and creamy Colby Jack cheese, all tossed in a tangy ranch dressing. Perfect as a hearty side dish or a light main course, this salad offers a delightful combination of textures and flavors that come together in minutes without any cooking beyond crisping bacon.

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables

  • 34 cups of broccoli florets, finely chopped
  • 34 cups of cauliflower, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup of red onion, diced
  • 1/2 cup of green bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 cup of red sweet pepper, diced
  • 1/2 cup of carrots, finely sliced and diced
  • 1/2 cup of sweet corn (canned or fresh)

Protein and Dairy

  • 10 slices of bacon, cooked, drained, and chopped
  • 1 cup of Colby Jack cheese, shredded

Dressing

  • Your favorite ranch dressing, as needed for drizzling

Instructions

  1. Prepare the vegetables: In a large bowl, combine the finely chopped broccoli florets, cauliflower, diced red onion, green bell pepper, red sweet pepper, finely sliced and diced carrots, and sweet corn. Ensure all vegetables are evenly chopped for a consistent texture in the salad.
  2. Add bacon and cheese: To the bowl with the vegetables, add the cooked, drained, and chopped bacon along with the shredded Colby Jack cheese. These ingredients add savory flavors and creamy richness.
  3. Toss the salad ingredients: Gently mix all the salad components together until they are well combined and evenly distributed to get a balanced bite every time.
  4. Add the ranch dressing: Drizzle your favorite ranch dressing over the salad gradually, tossing again to coat the ingredients evenly without making the salad soggy.
  5. Serve or chill: Serve the salad immediately to enjoy its freshness and crunch, or refrigerate it for a short time to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill before serving.

Notes

  • For best texture and freshness, chop the vegetables finely and uniformly.
  • Use crisp cooked bacon for a flavorful crunch; baking the bacon in the oven helps achieve even crispiness.
  • Feel free to substitute Colby Jack cheese with cheddar or mozzarella depending on your preference.
  • The salad can be prepared a few hours ahead but add the ranch dressing just before serving to prevent sogginess.
  • Use fresh corn if possible for the best flavor; canned corn should be drained well.

Keywords: Bacon Ranch Chopped Salad, chopped salad, bacon salad, ranch dressing salad, broccoli cauliflower salad, easy salad recipe, no-cook salad, American salad