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Classic Cucumber Ranch Crack Salad Recipe

4.9 from 143 reviews

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.

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables

  • 2 cups cucumbers (sliced, English or Persian cucumbers preferred)
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped red onion
  • 12 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 45 slices)

Seasonings

  • 1 tbsp dry ranch seasoning mix (such as Hidden Valley)
  • Salt & black pepper (to taste)

Instructions

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the sliced cucumbers, shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, chopped red onion, and dill.
  5. Dress the Salad: Pour the ranch dressing over the combined ingredients and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
  6. 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