This wilted lettuce salad is a delightful combination of crisp lettuce, savory bacon, and a tangy-sweet dressing. It's a perfect side dish that brings a burst of flavor and texture to any meal. The warm dressing slightly wilts the lettuce, creating a unique and satisfying salad experience.
While most of the ingredients for this wilted lettuce salad are common pantry staples, you might need to ensure you have fresh lettuce and bacon. The vinegar used in the dressing can be either white or apple cider vinegar, depending on your preference. Make sure to pick up some onion as well, if you don't already have it at home.

Ingredients For Wilted Lettuce Salad Recipe
Lettuce: Fresh and crisp, torn into bite-sized pieces.
Bacon: Adds a savory and smoky flavor, chopped after cooking.
Onion: Provides a mild sweetness and depth to the dressing, finely chopped.
Vinegar: Adds tanginess to the dressing, can be white or apple cider.
Sugar: Balances the acidity of the vinegar with a touch of sweetness.
Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the dressing.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When cooking the bacon, make sure to do so over medium heat to render out the fat slowly and achieve a crisp texture. This will also ensure that the bacon fat left in the skillet is clear and flavorful, perfect for sautéing the onion and creating a rich dressing.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
lettuce - Substitute with spinach: Spinach provides a similar texture and nutritional profile, making it a great alternative for a wilted salad.
bacon - Substitute with turkey bacon: Turkey bacon is a leaner option that still offers a smoky flavor and crispy texture.
onion - Substitute with shallots: Shallots have a milder and slightly sweeter taste, which can complement the salad well.
vinegar - Substitute with lemon juice: Lemon juice adds a similar acidity and brightness to the salad dressing.
sugar - Substitute with honey: Honey provides a natural sweetness and a bit of complexity to the dressing.
salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce adds a salty flavor along with a touch of umami, enhancing the overall taste of the salad.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Salad
How To Store / Freeze This Salad
Allow the bacon to cool completely before storing. Place it in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
For the lettuce, ensure it is thoroughly dried before storing. Excess moisture can cause it to wilt further. Place the torn lettuce in a salad spinner to remove any water, then transfer it to a large resealable plastic bag lined with paper towels. The paper towels will absorb any remaining moisture. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
The dressing can be stored separately. Allow it to cool to room temperature, then transfer it to a small airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave before using.
If you need to freeze the bacon, place the cooled pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze until solid, then transfer to a resealable plastic bag or airtight container. Store in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator before using.
Freezing lettuce is not recommended as it will lose its crisp texture and become mushy upon thawing. Instead, prepare fresh lettuce when ready to serve.
To reassemble the salad, reheat the dressing until hot, then pour over the fresh lettuce. Toss to coat, top with the stored bacon, and serve immediately.
How To Reheat Leftovers
Gently reheat the bacon in a skillet over low heat until it becomes crispy again. This will help maintain its delightful crunch.
For the lettuce, avoid direct heat as it can turn soggy. Instead, use a double boiler method: place the salad in a heatproof bowl and set it over a pot of simmering water. Stir occasionally until it reaches a warm, but not hot, temperature.
Alternatively, you can use a microwave: place the salad in a microwave-safe dish, cover it with a damp paper towel, and heat on low power in 15-second intervals. Stir gently between intervals to ensure even warming.
If you prefer a slightly different texture, consider adding fresh lettuce to the reheated salad to bring back some crispness. Mix it in just before serving.
To revive the dressing, you can reheat it separately in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir continuously until it’s warm and then pour it over the salad just before serving.
If the salad seems too dry after reheating, drizzle a bit of extra vinegar or a splash of olive oil to refresh the flavors.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Skillet: Used to cook the bacon until crisp and to sauté the onions.
Tongs: Handy for flipping the bacon and removing it from the skillet.
Mixing bowl: Where the lettuce will be placed and the hot dressing will be poured over.
Measuring cups: Essential for measuring out the vinegar and sugar accurately.
Measuring spoons: Used to measure the salt and sugar precisely.
Knife: Needed to chop the bacon and onion.
Cutting board: Provides a safe surface for chopping the bacon and onion.
Wooden spoon: Useful for stirring the onions and the dressing in the skillet.
Paper towels: To drain the cooked bacon and remove excess grease.
Serving bowl: For presenting the wilted lettuce salad once it’s ready.
How to Save Time on Making This Salad
Pre-cook the bacon: Cook the bacon ahead of time and store it in the fridge. This way, you can quickly add it to your wilted lettuce salad without waiting.
Use pre-chopped onions: Buy pre-chopped onions from the store to save time on prep work.
Mix the dressing in advance: Prepare the vinegar, sugar, and salt mixture ahead of time. Store it in a jar and simply heat it when ready to use.
Tear lettuce in advance: Tear the lettuce into bite-sized pieces and store it in an airtight container in the fridge.

Wilted Lettuce Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 8 cups Lettuce torn into bite-sized pieces
- 4 slices Bacon chopped
- ¼ cup Onion chopped
- 2 tablespoon Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- 1. Cook bacon in a skillet until crisp. Remove and set aside.
- 2. In the same skillet, add onion and cook until tender.
- 3. Stir in vinegar, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil.
- 4. Pour hot dressing over lettuce in a mixing bowl. Toss to coat.
- 5. Top with bacon and serve immediately.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
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