Classic Cucumber Ranch Crack Salad Recipe
Classic Cucumber Ranch Crack Salad is a refreshing and flavorful side dish featuring crisp cucumbers, sharp cheddar, smoky bacon, and a creamy ranch dressing. This easy-to-make salad blends cool cucumber slices with tangy sour cream and herbs, making it perfect for potlucks, weekend lunches, or a light dinner addition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 2 cups cucumbers (sliced, English or Persian cucumbers preferred)
- 2 tbsp finely chopped red onion
- 1–2 tbsp chopped fresh dill (or 1 tsp dried dill)
Dairy
- ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
Meat
- ⅓ cup cooked bacon (crumbled, about 4–5 slices)
Seasonings
- 1 tbsp dry ranch seasoning mix (such as Hidden Valley)
- Salt & black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the Bacon: Crisp up the bacon either in a pan over medium heat or microwave until crispy. Once cooked, crumble the bacon into small pieces and set aside to cool completely.
- Slice the Cucumbers: Cut cucumbers into ¼-inch rounds. There’s no need to peel if using English or Persian cucumbers, as their skins are thin and tender.
- Make the Ranch Dressing: In a small bowl, stir together the sour cream and dry ranch seasoning mix until smooth and creamy, ensuring there are no lumps.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the sliced cucumbers, shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, chopped red onion, and dill.
- Dress the Salad: Pour the ranch dressing over the combined ingredients and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Season and Serve: Taste the salad and season with salt and black pepper as desired. Serve immediately for a refreshing crunch, or chill in the refrigerator for 10–15 minutes to let the flavors meld together for an even tastier experience.
Notes
- Use English or Persian cucumbers for their thin skin and minimal seeds to keep the salad crisp and fresh.
- Crisping bacon in a pan adds extra flavor, but microwaving is a quick alternative.
- Chilling the salad before serving enhances the flavor fusion and keeps it refreshing.
- Fresh dill adds vibrant herbaceous notes, but dried dill can be substituted if fresh isn’t available.
- This salad is best eaten the same day to maintain cucumber crunchiness.
Keywords: Cucumber salad, ranch dressing, bacon salad, cheddar cheese salad, easy summer salad, crisp cucumber recipe
