Hot Bacon Salad Dressing
Chopped onion sautés in bacon drippings and is flavored with vinegar to make an old fashioned salad dressing that is perfect served over spinach.
Since the dressing is served warm, it slightly wilts the top layer of greens, which is why it’s often called wilted lettuce dressing.
If you like the flavors in this recipe you may also enjoy our Easy Arkansas Green Beans with Bacon and Classic German Potato Salad.
Bacon Dressing For Spinach Salad
This hot bacon dressing is a delicious recipe that’s been topping spinach salads in our family for years! Popular at family meals and potlucks, my mom got the recipe from my grandma’s friend many years ago.
Bacon flavor permeates every bite of salad making it easier to eat more spinach! The unique flavors make us crave the homemade dressing. We know spinach is healthy and like to find ways to enjoy eating more, whether it’s adding to Bacon in a Quesadilla or with fruit in our Strawberry and Feta Spinach Salad.
I shared this at a church carry-in and a friend shared that her grandma always made it to serve over the first cutting of lettuce from the garden and they always looked forward to wilted lettuce dressing with bacon.
Ingredients Needed
- Baby Spinach – prefer to bigger pieces as it’s easier to eat and no chopping is necessary.
- Bacon – the more the better, plenty of drippings is the main flavor for this dressing.
- Vinegar – red wine vinegar and white vinegar are our preferred combination.
- Beef Broth – also deepens the flavor and increases the volume of sauce.
- Cornstarch – helps thicken the sauce up into a spoonable salad dressing consistency.
- Salt, Pepper and Sugar – use small amounts to season and sweeten.
How to Make Hot Bacon Dressing
- Wash and dry baby spinach. If using regular spinach trimming is likely necessary. We typically use a salad spinner to clean and spin dry salads. Be sure spinach dries before serving.
- Sauté bacon in a skillet until crisp. I love baking bacon or making it in the air fryer, but making it in the skillet is important for this recipe. Remove strips of bacon and set on a paper towel, crumble and set aside.
- Sauté onion in bacon drippings until soft.
- Stir in vinegars, salt, pepper and sugar.
- In a small dish stir together cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of the beef broth.
- Add to mixture in the skillet. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thickened.
- Pour over spinach, toss well. Sprinkle with remaining bacon!
More of our Favorite Recipes with Bacon
- Twice Baked Potato Casserole
- Crock Pot Loaded Red Potatoes
- Loaded Broccoli Noodle Soup
- Beef and Bacon Casserole
Hot Bacon Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh baby spinach
- 1/4 pound bacon
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- pinch pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 cup beef broth
Instructions
- Wash 1 pound 1 pound fresh baby spinach – allow to dry.
- Fry 1/4 pound bacon in skillet until crisp. Drain on paper towel, crumble and set aside.
- Sauté 1 medium onion in bacon drippings until soft. Stir in 1/4 cup white vinegar1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1 cup beef broth, 1/4 teaspoon salt, pinch pepper and 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar.
- Blend 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of the broth in a small cup. Add to mixture in the skillet. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thickened.
- Pour over spinach, toss well. Sprinkle with remaining bacon!
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Rate This Recipe Pin This RecipeRecipe originally shared on December 19, 2018 with pictures updated on Friday December 5, 2025.
Do you add the rest of the beef broth( the 1/2 can ) ?
If you like a thinner dressing add it to the pan to heat with all the liquids. If you like a thicker dressing just use the 2 T. So it’s up to personal preference.