This Loaded Iceberg Wedge Salad Recipe is loaded with bacon, tomatoes, egg, crispy bread crumbs, and drizzled with a homemade ranch dressing. There is something so classic about a refreshing wedge salad recipe! This is an easy salad to pull out when entertaining because you can serve it on a huge platter and it looks so impressive!

We’ve taken a classic wedge salad recipe and taken it to the next level. Our Loaded Wedge Salad features crispy bacon bits, finely chopped egg, chives, lemon-y crispy bread crumbs, and a homemade buttermilk herb ranch dressing.

While I know that blue cheese is traditional, this ranch is absolutely incredible and feels so fresh!

Loaded Wedge Salad Recipe

I have always loved a good wedge salad. I’m a huge texture and topping gal and a loaded wedge salad recipe just really checks all the boxes for me.

Long gone are the days of basic wedge salads with only dressing, bacon, and tomatoes. Boring! That’s why I created this ultimate loaded wedge salad recipe to put any other wedge salad recipe to shame.

We are going all-in on toppings and textures so that this salad is absolutely bursting with flavor. A wedge salad is perfect served alongside a nice pasta recipe, lemony roasted chicken, or even before a classic pot roast. The sky is the limit here!

I especially love this recipe for BBQs or entertaining because I can lay all the wedges out on a platter, top them, and let the guests grab and go. Once you give this Loaded Wedge Salad recipe a try, it will be your go-to salad recipe!

What is a Wedge Salad?

A wedge salad is just that, a wedge of lettuce (typically iceberg), topped with dressing and various toppings. Wedge salad recipes gained massive popularity in the 1950s and 60s.

Finally, in 1970s, wedge salads found their way onto menus in steakhouses across the country and the legacy was cemented! They’ve gotten fancier on menus today, but a wedge salad is still a classic.

How to Make a Wedge Salad

This recipe couldn’t be easier to make! All you have to do is cut your lettuce up, whisk together a dressing, and top as desired!

Tools Needed

• Sharp Knife
• Cutting Board
• Mixing Bowl
• Whisk

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Lettuce. Iceberg is a classic here! But you could also jazz things up with little gem or mini romaine heads.
• Ranch dressing. My homemade buttermilk ranch is the absolute best here! You could swap in your favorite blue cheese dressing as well.
• Bacon. Crispy bacon is a must in any wedge salad recipe!
• Egg. Grating some hard boiled eggs over the top of your salad is an absolute game changer.
• Red onion. I soak my diced red onion in a mix of cold water and a little vinegar to keep them from being too strong tasting.
• Tomato. You could dice a tomato, or cut small cherry tomatoes into pieces. Whatever you have on hand!
• Crispy Breadcrumbs. I use panko or fresh bread crumbs here. Crisping up bread crumbs in butter with a bit of lemon zest is way better than croutons! They coat the salad better and don’t fall off.
• Fresh chives. I always cut chives into little batons and top the salad with them for some extra onion flavor.

The Process

1. Make the dressing. Whisk together all the ranch dressing ingredients and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. This is a dressing that needs time for all the flavors to meld.
2. Cut the lettuce. Remove any outer layers on the head of lettuce that are browned and wilted. Cut the head of lettuce into wedges and remove the stem. You can cut the lettuce into 4 wedges for larger portions, or 6 wedges for smaller portions.
3. Clean the lettuce. Rinse the lettuce wedges under cold water to remove any dirt and debris. Pat dry with paper towels and store in the fridge until ready to use.
4. Prepare the toppings. Cook up your bacon, boil eggs, soak red onion, and cut the chives.
5. Make the breadcrumbs. Melt the butter in a skillet and add the bread crumbs. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Season with salt and pepper and remove from the heat. Stir in the lemon zest and cool to room temperature.
6. Assemble. Arrange the lettuce wedges on a plate or platter and drizzle with dressing. Top as desired and sprinkle with crispy breadcrumbs. Top with the fresh chives and serve.

How to Cut Iceberg for a Wedge Salad

Cutting lettuce for this wedge salad recipe is key! Here are all my tips for cutting iceberg lettuce into perfect wedges for wedge salad.

1. Start by removing any outer lettuce layers that are browned or wilted and discard them. You want to make sure that all the leaves are crisp and vibrant green.
2. Cut the head of lettuce in half and remove the stem. From there, cut the lettuce into wedges (4-6).
3. Rinse the lettuce wedges under cold water to remove any debris and dirt. Pat dry with paper towels and store in the fridge on a paper towel until ready to serve.

Follow these instructions and you’ll have fresh, perfectly crisp wedges every time!

Wedge Salad Recipe Variations

This Loaded Wedge Salad recipe is my favorite version, but there are so many ways to customize a wedge salad! Here are all the ways to customize this salad to your tastes:

Add a protein. While there is bacon on this loaded wedge salad, you can easily turn this salad into a whole meal by adding a protein. Grilled shrimp, grilled chicken, and even grilled steak are all amazing additions to make this salad even heartier.

Switch up the dressing. As I’ve mentioned, I adore this herby buttermilk ranch dressing and it’s my go-to for a wedge salad. You could also swap in blue cheese dressing or even your favorite caesar dressing.

Go all-in with toppings. I have a lot of toppings on this salad, but you could take things even further! Try adding crispy onions, diced avocado, diced cucumber, thinly sliced radish, peeled carrot ribbons, etc. The sky is the limit when it comes to toppings for this wedge salad recipe!

What to Serve with a Loaded Wedge Salad

This Loaded Wedge Salad recipe is such a versatile side dish! This is a dish you can enjoy all year long. Some of my favorite recipes to enjoy with it:

• REVERSE-SEARED PRIME RIB
• HERB ROASTED CHICKEN
• APPLE-CIDER BRAISED PORK SHOULDER
• ROAST CHICKEN PICCATA
• RED WINE BRAISED BEEF
• PORK CHOPS FLORENTINE

Storing Loaded Wedge Salad

To store Loaded Wedge Salad: Once assembled and dressed, wedge salad is best eaten within a few hours of serving. However, the deconstructed elements of this salad may be stored separately in airtight containers for 4-6 days in the fridge.

Meal prep tips: If you’re making this recipe for meal prep, I recommend that you store the ingredients in divided meal prep containers and assemble/toss with dressing right before eating.

Next time you’re throwing a dinner and need an epic salad recipe, try this Loaded Wedge Salad recipe! It’s one of my party go-to’s and never fails to impress. If you do give it a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @JENNYGOYCOCHEA on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your SMF creations!

More Salad Recipes to Try Now

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KALE CAESAR SALAD
STEAK AND CARAMELIZED ONION SALAD
VIETNAMESE CHICKEN SALAD
Asian Chopped Chicken Salad

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