Tap here to get 5 Secrets to Stress Free Dinners

Wedge Salad

|

posted: 02/10/24

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy
|
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

Wedge Salad makes the perfect side dish for any main meal. With my delicious Blue Cheese Dressing, this incredibly simple salad recipe will be a hit!

Wedge Salad served on a plate with tomatoes, bacon, and dressing. Another Wedge Salad and glasses of wine beside.

There is something about Wedge Salad that makes me think of the 1950s and Wisconsin Super Clubs. It is such a simple but classic side dish. Though, like with most things, it is a classic for a reason. It comes together with just a handful of easy ingredients, but they combine in the most perfect way to create a side salad that you can fall in love with each time you make it.

What is a Wedge Salad

Served on a “wedge” of iceberg lettuce, crispy bacon, juicy cherry tomatoes, chives, and creamy blue cheese dressing top this side salad that is simple to make and so delicious. It is a common steakhouse menu item but is easy to make at home!

The origins of the Wedge Salad date back to the late 1800s when companies worked diligently breeding different types of lettuce to create iceberg lettuce. It was shortly after that in 1916 that Wedge Salad first appeared in cookbooks.

Cutting Lettuce for Wedge Salad

To cut lettuce for a wedge salad, start with a clean head of iceberg lettuce. Remove the outer leaves and rinse the head to remove any dirt and debris. Pat dry with a paper towel. Use a sharp knife to cut the head of lettuce in half from the top to the stem. Then cut each half in half again to total four pieces or four quarters of lettuce. One head of lettuce makes four wedge salads.

Overhead photo of a head of lettuce cut into three pieces on a cutting board with a knife for Wedge Salad recipe.

How to Make a Wedge Salad

Here is a brief overview of how this simple blue cheese wedge salad comes together. For the full recipe including all measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

  1. Make the blue cheese dressing. This can be made up to three days in advance. See the steps below for making homemade blue cheese dressing.
  2. Cut the head of lettuce. Cut the clean lettuce into fourths and put each wedge on its own plate.
  3. Add the dressing. Spoon some blue cheese dressing on top of each wedge.
  4. Add the toppings. Top with diced bacon, tomato halves, and chives. Enjoy!

Best Blue Cheese Dressing Recipe

This rich and bold salad dressing highlights the deep flavors of blue cheese in a delightful way, balancing the creaminess and acidity perfectly.
spoon pulling out a scoop of blue cheese with blue cheese crumbles on the spoon

Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing

Making salad dressings at home is super easy and delicious. With simple ingredients that are easy to keep on hand, this homemade blue cheese dressing is so much better than the store-bought stuff. It is the perfect creamy dressing for Chicken Wings and this iceberg wedge salad recipe! Here is how it comes together. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full list of ingredients and measurements.

  1. Make the base. Mix together the milk, lemon juice, and garlic in a small measuring cup.
  2. Mash the blue cheese. Pour the milk mixture into a bowl with the blue cheese. Use a fork to gently mash the milk mixture into the blue cheese. You want the consistency to be like cottage cheese. If it seems too thick, add a little more milk.
  3. Add the remaining ingredients. Mix in the sour cream, mayonnaise, white vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper.
  4. Taste and adjust. Taste the dressing and add more salt or pepper as needed.

Blue cheese dressing can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days. I recommend storing it by itself in a jar or airtight container.

Side view of spoon of dressing over chunk of lettuce for Wedge Salad recipe. Wedge Salad and glasses of white wine beside.

Cooking Bacon

If you want to cook your bacon in a skillet, I find it easiest to dice it before cooking. Cook just until crisp, then remove it from the pan with a slotted spoon and transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate.

Skip the grease splatter and bacon cooking in fat by making it in the air fryer. This is my favorite way to make it! It cooks evenly and comes out perfectly every time. If you make it this way, I recommend cooking it whole and then dicing it before adding it to the salads.

Air Fryer Bacon

Air Fryer Bacon is so easy to make! You get all the crispiness of bacon you would get in a cast iron skillet on the stove top, but with none of the mess. Even better, you don’t have to watch it and it turns out crisp every time.
Overhead photo of cooked strips of bacon in air fryer basket for air fryer bacon.
Overhead photo of Wedge Salad on a plate with another Wedge Salad and glass of white wine beside.

FAQ

Can I use a different dressing?

Yes! You can really use any dressing on a wedge salad. It would be delicious with my Homemade Ranch or Creamy Garlic Dressing.

How do you eat a wedge salad?

The easiest way to eat this yummy salad is with a knife and fork, cutting it into bite-sized pieces.

Can this be made ahead of time?

While you could make the bacon and the salad dressing ahead of time, I would not recommend making the whole salad before you are ready to serve and eat it.

What to Serve With A Wedge Salad

This simple salad is the perfect side for any main dish. Here are a few ideas of what to serve with a wedge salad.

If you make this iceberg wedge salad recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave a comment and let me know what you think. I love hearing from you!

Wedge Salad served on a plate with tomatoes, bacon, and dressing. Another Wedge Salad and glasses of wine beside.
No ratings yet

Wedge Salad

Serves: 4 servings
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 15 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Wedge Salad makes the perfect side dish for any main meal. With my delicious Blue Cheese Dressing, this incredibly simple salad recipe will be a hit!

Ingredients

  • 1 head iceberg lettuce cut into fourths
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes 142 grams (cut in half)
  • 1/2 pound bacon 226.8 grams (diced and cooked to crisp)
  • 2 tablespoons chives 4 grams (diced)

Blue Cheese Dressing

  • 1/4 cup milk plus more as needed to thin
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 small garlic clove minced
  • 3 ounces blue cheese 3/4 cup (177.44 ml)
  • 1/4 cup sour cream (56.75 grams)
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Place a wedge of lettuce on each of your 4 plates. Top with 1/4 cup dressing.
    1 head iceberg lettuce
  • Top each wedge with a 1/4 cup of halved tomatoes, about 2 1/2 tablespoons of bacon, and 1/2 tablespoon of chives.
    1 cup cherry tomatoes, 1/2 pound bacon, 2 tablespoons chives
  • Serve the salads and enjoy!

Blue Cheese Dressing

  • In a small measuring cup, combine the milk, lemon juice, and garlic. Pour over the blue cheese in a small bowl.
    1/4 cup milk, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 small garlic clove
  • With the back of a fork mash up the blue cheese, milk, lemon juice, and garlic. The consistency will be a bit lumpy, but the goal is the minimize large chunks of cheese in the salad dressing. You are looking for a consistency similar to cottage cheese.
    3 ounces blue cheese
  • Stir in the remaining ingredients. Add more salt and pepper to taste.
    1/4 cup sour cream, 2 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon sugar, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Calories: 406kcal (20%) Carbohydrates: 6g (2%) Protein: 25g (50%) Fat: 31g (48%) Saturated Fat: 13g (81%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g Monounsaturated Fat: 12g Trans Fat: 0.1g Cholesterol: 82mg (27%) Sodium: 1430mg (62%) Potassium: 480mg (14%) Fiber: 0.4g (2%) Sugar: 3g (3%) Vitamin A: 568IU (11%) Vitamin C: 11mg (13%) Calcium: 162mg (16%) Iron: 1mg (6%)
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Wedge Salad served on a plate with tomatoes, bacon, and dressing. Another Wedge Salad and glasses of wine beside.

did you make this

Wedge Salad

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

Reader Interactions

LEAVE A COMMENT

Have a question? Use the form below to submit your question or comment. I love hearing from you & seeing what you made!

Rate This Recipe:




SUPER-SIMPLEFAMILY FAVORITES
Broccoli Pasta"Omg! I didn’t think anything so simple could be so good!"
overhead of skillet of Cajun Shrimp Pasta ingredients on a cooling rack with toasted bread sitting beside
Cajun Shrimp Pasta"My family absolutely loved this recipe. Even my finicky eaters."
overhead photo of a gray skillet filled with beef and broccoli recipe, garnished with sliced green onions
Beef and Broccoli Recipe"I have made this a couple or more times. It’s easy & quick to prepare. I like this for a quick meal. It will be my go to recipe."

SUBSCRIBE & RECEIVE

5 Secrets to Stress Free Dinners

SUBSCRIBE & RECEIVE

MY TOP 10 EASY DINNER EBOOK!

5 Secrets to Stress Free Dinners

SUBSCRIBE & RECEIVE

MY TOP 10 EASY DINNER EBOOK!