Salads are a fairly magnificent way to eat, if you like delicious food, brimming with life force. I love transforming a salad into a masterpiece, like this soul-satisfying Wedge Salad. A salad can be every bit as pleasurable as the rest of the meal, and I’m excited to share my secrets for this one! It’s a fabulously colorful version that all your favorite eaters will love. It will be a game-changer in your weekly meal plan rotation too! If you haven’t already made this one, what are you waiting for? Let’s go!

A classic wedge salad with wedges of iceberg lettuce, hard boiled eggs, bacon, cherry tomato, blue cheese, and chives.

Wedge salads are a classic old-school dish often served in lovely restaurants. I know people—including myself—who enjoy a salad as a main dish at least once a week. I love updating a classic recipe for modern eaters, and this one is a fabulous example

Unleash the Flavor: The Secrets to a Mind-Blowing Wedge Salad

Making a fabulous salad like this one is a breeze and you’re going to love every bite. Here’s what you need to do, step-by-step to build a fabulous wedge salad!

Step-by-step this is how to make the best wedge salad:

  • Slice and chill the lettuce: Cut each head of iceberg lettuce into quarters, leaving the stem attached and the leaves as intact as possible. Gently rinse and allow to drain for 5 minutes, then place the quarters on a tea towel-lined dish or baking sheet, cut side up. Place in the fridge so that the lettuce wedges crisp up for 60 minutes.
  • Prepare the bacon: Slice the bacon slab on the short side into ½ inch slices and then cut those slices into 1-inch pieces. Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat and add the bacon pieces. Saute the bacon until desired crispiness, about 20 minutes. When finished, remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
  • Prepare the hard-boiled eggs: Fill a pot with enough water to cover the eggs and bring them to a boil. While the water is heating, fill a medium bowl with ice and water. Gently add the eggs and boil for 8 minutes and 40 seconds. Remove the eggs and put them into the ice water for 3 minutes. When the eggs are cool to handle, peel and slice them into 1/4-inch slices—do this lengthwise as you want to be able to see the yolk in each slice. (I learned this method from Chris Kimball.)
  • Build your wedge salad: On a large platter, assemble the lettuce wedges cut side up and season them with salt. Evenly distribute the blue cheese then liberally sprinkle chives and parsley. Next, drizzle the dressing over the top. Finish with the egg slices, tomato, bacon, croutons, black pepper, and marinated red onions, if desired.

Fresh and Flavorful: The Importance of Quality Ingredients in a Wedge Salad

The key to a perfect wedge salad is using high-quality ingredients. A crisp lettuce, like iceberg or Romaine, is a must. The toppings are just as important, adding flavor, texture, and nutrition. My personal favorite combo is gluten-free croutons, cherry tomatoes, bacon, blue cheese crumbles, and of course my Marinated Onions.

What makes a brand of bacon Whole30 compatible?

Adding bacon to your wedge salad is a great way to add flavor and richness to the dish. The smoky, salty flavor of bacon pairs perfectly with the crunch of the lettuce and the tangy dressing. But, how can you tell if your bacon is Whole30 compatible? The key is in the ingredients used in curing. Whole30-compatible bacon must have no sugar or additives.

The Dressing Makes the Salad: How to Create a Creamy and Tangy Olive Dressing

A good dressing can make or break a wedge salad. My secret to a mind-blowing dressing is to use Whole30-compatible ingredients like olive oil, lemon juice, and my Whole30 Mayo to create a creamy and tangy dressing that complements the flavors of the salad.

For this particular salad, I created a fabulous green olive-inspired version of my Whole30 California Black Olive Dressing, and let me just say, it was a fabulous choice! That color, the flavor – it’s almost too good!

While I love this particular dressing you could also use another one of my favorite Magic Elixirs like my 999 Island Dressing or my Green Goddess Dressing.

A wedge salad being dressed with creamy olive dressing.

Eating with Your Eyes: The Art of Presenting and Garnishing a Wedge Salad

I have long loved serving food that looks as wonderful as it tastes, and as it turns out most people “eat with their eyes” first! My gorgeous Wedge Salad with its chives, blue cheese crumbles, and Marinated Red Onions is a favorite because it’s so colorful and festive. Eating beautiful food makes everything better, and using cloth napkins makes any meal more delicious.

Savor the Flavor: Wrap Up and Give it a Try

This salad is packed with so much flavor, from its rich history to its fresh ingredients and perfect dressing, it will make your taste buds dance with joy! Trust me, it’s a hit at any meal. Making this salad is easy, just follow the steps and you’ll have a perfectly balanced and nutritious dish that’s not only satisfying but also super tasty. Whether you’re looking for a light lunch or a side dish, a wedge salad is a great way to add some fresh produce and healthy ingredients to your diet.

Do you love wedge salads too? Here are a few more recipes to try next!

I am somewhat of a super fan when it comes to wedge salads! Over the years I have created so many versions of this fabulous type of salad that I’ve lost count, but I have gathered a few of my favorite variations and I think you should give them a try next. Let’s go!

final product wedge salad with made in knife

Summer Celebration Wedge Salad

This wedge salad is perfect for any special summer celebration! It quite literally is the most fabulous summer salad you will ever eat. Brimming with bacon, shrimp, chicken, summer corn, and my famous Marinated Onions, what’s not to love?

Click here for this recipe for a Wedge Salad.

Baked Potatoes with Wedge Salad and Creamy Ranch Dressing

My recipe for ranch dressing is so creamy and delicious! It is the perfect recipe to whip up when you need a delicious salad dressing or even a dip for crudites.

Click here for this recipe for Wedge Salad.
Baked Potatoes with Wedge Salad and Icelandic Provisions Skyr Ranch Dressing
wedge salad

Whole30 Wedge Salad

Whole30 compliant and full of flavor – this classic take on the Wedge Salad is one of my all-time favorite preparations.

Click here for this recipe for Wedge Salad.

If you try this recipe for what I think is the best Wedge Salad, please rate it and leave a comment below to let me know how it turned out!

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A classic wedge salad with wedges of iceberg lettuce, hard boiled eggs, bacon, cherry tomato, blue cheese, and chives.

The Best Wedge Salad

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: No Crumbs Left
  • Prep Time: 30
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 12 servings
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Assembled
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

Everything you will ever need to know about how to make a fabulous wedge salad! Don’t skip out on this modern spin on the classic wedge salad.


Ingredients

Ingredients needed to make the best wedge salad:

  •   3 heads of iceberg lettuce 
  •   Creamy Ripe Green Olive dressing, recipe follows
  •   6 eggs 
  •   1 pound slab of bacon, about 3 inches wide 
  •   2 teaspoons olive oil 
  •   12 ounces cherry tomatoes, cut into quarters 
  •   2 cups gluten-free croutons 
  •   12 ounces of blue cheese crumbles 
  •   1 cup chives, finely chopped 
  •   ½ cup parsley, finely chopped 
  •   Salt for seasoning 

Ingredients needed to make Creamy Ripe Green Olive dressing:

  •   1½ cup Whole30 Mayo  
  •   2 garlic cloves, pressed 
  •   ¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley  
  •   1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives 
  •   3 tablespoons lemon juice  
  •   Kosher salt to taste, around 2 pinches  
  •   2 tablespoons red wine vinegar  
  •   5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil  
  •   One 6-ounce can of California ripe green olives, drained and divided  

Instructions

How to make Creamy Ripe Green Olive dressing:

  •   Using a hand mixer or blender, blend the Whole30 Mayonnaise, pressed garlic, parsley, chives, lemon juice, salt, red wine vinegar, olive oil, and 2/3 can of olives until smooth. Add the remaining olives and pulse until coarsely chopped. 

 

How to make the best wedge salad:

  •   Cut each head of iceberg lettuce into quarters, leaving the stem attached and the leaves as intact as possible. Gently rinse and allow to drain for 5 minutes, then place the quarters on a tea towel-lined dish or baking sheet, cut side up. Place in the fridge so that the lettuce wedges crisp up for 60 minutes.
  •   Slice the bacon slab on the short side into ½ inch slices and then cut those slices into 1-inch pieces.
  •   Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat and add the bacon pieces. Saute the bacon until desired crispiness, about 20 minutes. When finished, remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
  •   Fill a pot with enough water to cover the eggs and bring to a boil. While the water is heating, fill a medium bowl with ice and water. Gently add the eggs and boil for 8 minutes and 40 seconds. Remove the eggs and put them into the ice water for 3 minutes. When the eggs are cool enough to handle, peel and slice them into 1/4-inch slices—do this lengthwise as you want to be able to see the yolk in each slice. (I learned this method from Chris Kimball.) Set aside.
  •   Assemble the salad on a large platter with the lettuce wedges cut side up and season them with salt.
  •   Evenly distribute the blue cheese then liberally sprinkle chives and parsley. Next, drizzle the dressing over the top.
  •   Finish with the egg slices, tomato, bacon, croutons, black pepper, and marinated red onions, if desired.

Notes

Optional Crispy Marinated Onion Salad Topper:

 Drain some marinated onions from their oil then saute them in a pan over medium until crunchy, for about 5 minutes. Add them as a crunchy topping.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 350
  • Sugar: 4.9 g
  • Sodium: 940.5 mg
  • Fat: 27.9 g
  • Carbohydrates: 14.2 g
  • Protein: 12.4 g
  • Cholesterol: 135.8 mg