Crunchy Wedge Salad

Introduction

The Crunchy Wedge Salad is a showstopper thanks to its irresistible layers of texture and bold flavors. This classic, restaurant-style salad features crisp iceberg lettuce, crunchy toppings, and a creamy, tangy dressing—making it both satisfying and delicious. It’s a perfect side for steak night, a standout starter for dinner parties, or a refreshing, lighter main course option.

Why You’ll Love This Crunchy Wedge Salad

This salad’s magic lies in its contrast: the chilled, ultra-crisp lettuce forms a sturdy base for an avalanche of crunchy veggies, toasted breadcrumbs, and crispy bacon. Creamy blue cheese dressing ties it all together, ensuring each bite offers creamy, crunchy, salty, and fresh notes. Minimal prep and easy customization also make it a weeknight hero.

Building Layers of Crunch and Flavor

Start with a fresh, wedge-cut head of iceberg lettuce for unbeatable crunch. Layer on diced tomatoes, sliced radishes, and thinly sliced red onion for color and bite. The addition of crispy bacon and toasted breadcrumbs adds decadent crunch—while chopped chives or fresh dill offer a pop of herby freshness. A homemade or store-bought blue cheese or ranch dressing brings it all together.

Tips for the Ultimate Crunchy Wedge Salad

For maximal crunch, use the freshest head of iceberg lettuce and chill it just before serving. Toast breadcrumbs in a little olive oil or butter until golden and crispy. If making ahead for meal prep, keep components separate and assemble just before eating to preserve texture.

Serving Suggestions for Crowd-Pleasing Appeal

Serve your Crunchy Wedge Salad beside steaks, grilled chicken, or burgers for the ultimate steakhouse experience at home. For a lighter meal, enjoy it as a standalone salad with a slice of crusty bread. The customizable toppings ensure it fits any taste or occasion.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe serves 4 hearty wedges. Each serving (when using blue cheese dressing and bacon) typically contains about 300-350 calories. To lighten it up, swap the dressing for a yogurt-based option and skip the bacon—or keep it decadent for special occasions!

Crunchy Wedge Salad (Recap)

This salad is the perfect balance of crisp, creamy, and crunchy. Its bold toppings and tangy dressing make it a standout that’s sure to earn raves, whether served as a side or a centerpiece.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to instantly generate a streamlined shopping list with every ingredient organized by store section—a simple way to streamline meal planning and grocery shopping.

Instructions

1. Remove outer leaves from iceberg lettuce and cut the head into 4 even wedges. Rinse, pat dry, and chill if desired.
2. Arrange wedges cut-side up on plates or a serving platter.
3. Drizzle the blue cheese or ranch dressing evenly over each wedge.
4. Top each with halved tomatoes, thinly sliced onion, crumbled bacon (if using), and toasted breadcrumbs.
5. Sprinkle with extra blue cheese, chives or dill, and a generous grind of black pepper and salt to taste.
6. Serve immediately for best crunch, or keep components separate and assemble just before serving if preparing in advance.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Crunchy Wedge Salad is a fantastic choice for meal prep and planning—quick to assemble and a guaranteed hit at any table! Save and schedule this recipe with CookifyAI, and you’ll automatically create a shopping list merged with your other meal plans—making ingredient overlaps simple to spot and reducing time in the store.

Planning Benefits:

• All ingredients are automatically totaled and merged from your week’s meals
• Shopping lists are sorted by produce, dairy, and more—speeding up store trips
• Duplicate and missing ingredients are tracked with ease
• Meal prepping is made organized and stress-free

Pro tip: Schedule your recipes in advance to ensure you never miss an ingredient and to cut down on food waste. CookifyAI helps you see exactly what you need when planning salads, mains, and more.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes (if cooking bacon/breadcrumbs)
Total Time: 20 minutes