Ingredients — 4–6 servings
Salad
- 2 large English cucumbers, chopped
- 6 slices bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled
- 1 cup (about 115 g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 tbsp chopped green onion
- 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- ½ tsp black pepper
Creamy dressing
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried dill
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- Salt, to taste
The cucumber can be lightly salted first and drained to prevent the finished salad from becoming watery.
Method
- Wash and chop the cucumbers into bite-sized pieces.
- Sprinkle lightly with salt and let them sit for 15–20 minutes. Drain and pat dry.
- Cook the bacon until crisp, then cool and crumble it.
- In a bowl, whisk together ranch dressing, sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic powder, dill and black pepper.
- Add the cucumbers, bacon, cheddar and green onion.
- Gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Sprinkle with fresh dill and a little extra cheddar or bacon.
- Refrigerate for 20–30 minutes before serving.
Time
- Prep: 15 minutes
- Bacon cooking: 8–10 minutes
- Chill: 20–30 minutes
- Total: about 45–55 minutes
Nut & Allergen Information
- Peanuts: None in the basic recipe.
- Tree nuts: None in the basic recipe.
- Dairy: Yes — cheddar and sour cream.
- Egg: May be present in mayonnaise/ranch dressing.
- Soy: Check the labels of ranch, mayonnaise and bacon.
- Gluten: Usually gluten-free, but check packaged ranch/bacon ingredients.
- Mustard: Some ranch dressings may contain mustard.
Approximate Nutrition
Per serving, assuming 6 servings:
- Calories: ~300–350 kcal
- Protein: ~10–12 g
- Carbohydrates: ~7–10 g
- Fat: ~25–29 g
Actual nutrition depends heavily on the bacon, cheese and dressing brands. A comparable published version is about 296 calories per serving.
Q&A
Q: Can I make it ahead?
Yes. Refrigerate in an airtight container and preferably eat within 1–2 days for the best cucumber texture.
Q: Why is my salad watery?
Cucumbers release water. Salting them briefly, draining and patting them dry before adding the dressing helps.
Q: Can I use turkey bacon?
Yes, turkey or beef bacon can be substituted.
Q: Can I use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream?
Yes—plain Greek yogurt works well and gives the dressing a tangy flavor.