Hot bacon dressing is one of our favorite dressings ever. Crumbly bacon is mixed with other simple ingredients like shallots and red wine vinegar to create a warm vinaigrette bacon dressing that’s great on everything!
Hot bacon dressing is perfect served over spinach cranberry salad – or just about any salad, really. It will slightly wilt the lettuce when added, creating comforting side dish like no other.
We love adding red wine vinegar to warm bacon dressing, but apple cider works just as well. The bacon grease acts as the oil in the dressing, which creates a comforting, indulgent salad that everyone raves about.
While making this recipe, you will need to adjust the amount of acidity (vinegar) and sugar to your personal preferences. I personally like it to be a little lighter on the acidity, but it’s great either way.
If you opt to add more vinegar, adding a little extra brown sugar will help mellow the dressing out beautifully!
How To Make Hot Bacon Dressing
To make hot bacon dressing:
- Chop the bacon and cook it until crispy. The bacon should be well done, so it crumbles well in the dressing and all of the fat renders from it. Remove bacon to a paper towel lined plate.
- Carefully pour the rendered bacon fat into a measuring cup to equal 1/4 cup. If you don’t have enough, add olive oil. Discard remaining fat.
- Add shallot and garlic to the pan, sauteeing for 2-3 minutes or until translucent and fragrant.
- Whisk in red wine vinegar, mustard powder, brown sugar, and pepper to taste. Adjust the amount of sugar to control the acidity to your preference.
- Once sugar has dissolved, stir in crumbled bacon and serve immediately over a salad!
What To Do With Leftover Hot Bacon Dressing
Hot bacon dressing stores well, so not to worry! You can store it for up to 3 days in the fridge covered.
While cooled, the fat will separate from the vinegar, and you will need to heat the dressing on the stove or in the microwave until the ingredients incorporate again.
Warm bacon dressing is great on salads like chef’s salad, spinach salad, even in coleslaw!
More Side Salad Ideas
- Cucumber Vinegar Salad – fresh and easy
- Easy Greek Salad – great for summer
- Candied Bacon – the perfect salad topping
- Ramen Noodle Salad – a potluck favorite
- Watermelon Feta Salad with Mint – kid friendly
- Greek Orzo Pasta Salad – make ahead
Hot Bacon Dressing
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon chopped
- 1 shallot minced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar to taste
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
Instructions
- Cook bacon in a saucepan over medium heat until crisp and fat is rendered. Move bacon to a paper towel lined plate.
- Measure 1/4 cup of fat, and discard remaining. If you don't have enough, add olive oil to equal 1/4 cup.
- Add shallot and garlic, and saute until fragrant, about 3 minutes.
- Whisk in red wine vinegar, brown sugar, pepper, and mustard powder. If you prefer more acidity, add an extra tablespoon of brown sugar and red wine vinegar.
- Stir in reserved bacon, and serve over salad immediately.
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