Description

Cucumber Ranch Crack Salad is a refreshing, crunchy, and flavorful salad that combines crisp cucumbers, juicy cherry tomatoes, sharp red onions, crispy bacon, and shredded cheese with a creamy ranch dressing and fresh dill. This easy no-cook salad is perfect as a side dish or a light meal, offering a delightful mix of textures and tangy flavors with minimal prep time.

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables

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

Meats 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 to ensure all pieces are easy to eat.
Chop the Onion: Finely chop the red onion to contribute a zesty crunch and balance the creaminess of the dressing.
Cook the Bacon: If using raw bacon, cook it in a pan over medium heat until it becomes crispy. Then crumble it into small pieces. If using pre-cooked bacon, simply crumble it without further cooking.
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: Next, incorporate the crumbled crispy bacon and shredded cheese into the vegetable mixture, stirring gently to distribute evenly.
Dress the Salad: Pour the ranch dressing over the combined ingredients, then add the chopped fresh dill. Stir everything thoroughly so that the dressing coats all components evenly.
Season: Add salt and pepper to taste, adjusting the seasoning according to your preference, balancing the flavors.
Chill: Cover the salad and place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This chilling step allows the flavors to meld beautifully and the salad to become refreshingly cool.
Toss Before Serving: Before serving, give the salad a good toss to redistribute the dressing and ingredients for consistent flavor and texture in every bite.

Notes

Use fresh, in-season cucumbers and tomatoes for the best flavor and texture.
For a lighter version, substitute traditional ranch dressing with a Greek yogurt-based ranch.
Add extra crunch by including chopped bell peppers or shredded carrots.
Prepare the salad ahead of time to allow flavors to meld, but add bacon just before serving to keep it crispy.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes (if cooking bacon fresh)
Category: Salad
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Cucumber Ranch Crack Salad, cucumber salad, ranch dressing salad, bacon salad, easy summer salad, no-cook salad