Cucumber Ranch Crack Salad (Printable Version)
Crisp cucumbers meet creamy ranch, bacon, and cheddar in this addictive summer side.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 3 cups cucumber, diced (about 2 large cucumbers)
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
→ Proteins and Dairy
04 - 1 cup cooked bacon, crumbled (about 8 slices)
05 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
06 - ½ cup sour cream
07 - ½ cup mayonnaise
08 - ¼ cup ranch dressing
→ Crunchy Toppings
09 - 1 cup crushed kettle-cooked potato chips or gluten-free crackers (optional)
→ Seasonings
10 - ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
11 - ¼ teaspoon onion powder
12 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
13 - ¼ teaspoon salt
# How to Make It:
01 - In a large bowl, combine the diced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and green onions.
02 - Add in the crumbled bacon and shredded cheddar cheese to the vegetable mixture.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, ranch dressing, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, and salt until smooth and well combined.
04 - Pour the dressing over the cucumber mixture. Gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly with the creamy dressing.
05 - Just before serving, top with the crushed potato chips or crackers for extra crunch, if desired.
06 - Serve immediately, or chill for 30 minutes for best flavor development.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The texture contrast is ridiculous—cool crisp cucumbers against creamy dressing and those final salty crunches on top
- It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like something that marinated all day
02 -
- I learned this the hard way: if you add the chips too early, you end up with mushy disappointment
- Letting it chill for 30 minutes makes a huge difference in flavor development
03 -
- Seed your cucumbers if theyre especially large and watery
- Extra crispy bacon is non-negotiable here