Pair fresh, crisp spinach with a flavorful bacon dressing and then top with mushrooms and boiled eggs. The result is a quick, good-for-you salad that makes a main course dinner or savory side dish any night of the week!
I’m so excited to share this Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing with you. It’s easy to make, absolutely delish, and mouthwatering.
It’s a “turn on the tastebuds” kind of salad. I’m not kidding.
I really enjoy it because it combines vibrant flavors with different textures which leaves your mouth and tastebuds guessing, but in a very good bacon-y way. There are pieces of irresistible crumbled bacon, crisp spinach, thinly sliced red onions, and a warm bacon dressing made with red wine vinegar, some sugar, and reserved bacon drippings.
Think about it – baby spinach leaves drizzled with a warm dressing that is smoky and just a little sweet.
You just can’t beat a homemade dressing for taste and I really like knowing what’s going into my food, too. When I make it myself, I feel good about eating it.
Combine the spinach and the dressing with crumbled bacon that gives extra tastiness to every bite. And eggs freshly boiled and a touch warm, or pre-cooked and cold out of the fridge.
It’s pure salad heaven.
So yes, I love Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing. Dustin does, too.
Traditionally, this salad includes sliced hard-boiled eggs, but Dustin and I have also enjoyed it with a poached egg.
Once you try this Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing, I can pretty well guarantee it will be one of the top salads on your list.
It’s also company-worthy because it’s classy and impressive. So, let’s go ahead and make it!
EXTRAS TO ADD TO SPINACH SALAD WITH WARM BACON DRESSING
If you’ve had a super busy day and are in the mood for a salad for dinner, Spinach Salad With Warm Bacon Dressing is a great choice. You can add a few extra ingredients if you have a huge appetite:
- Walnut
- Avocado
- Cherry tomatoes
- Cut up cooked chicken
- Cheese
- Grated carrot
BEST TYPE OF BACON FOR SPINACH SALAD WITH WARM BACON DRESSING
We all know that bacon is a food that should be eaten in moderation. It’s super tasty, and when cooked crispy and evenly throughout, it’s amazing in a dressing like this one. How to enjoy bacon:
- Buy nitrite and nitrate free bacon
- Choose low sodium brands
- Choose a brand with no added sugars
- Thick-cut bacon works best
- Always eat a veggie alongside bacon, such as the spinach here
My personal fave bacon is the Pederson's brand, if you're able to find it.
HOW TO STORE AND REHEAT SPINACH SALAD WITH WARM BACON DRESSING
If you think you will want to have this salad a second night throughout the week – and it’s so delicious, I have no doubt you will – boil extra eggs and keep them in the fridge for up to one week. When you are ready to make your salad, simply peel them and they are ready.
For the warm bacon dressing, store in an airtight mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. When you want to reheat it, take the lid of the jar, put in the microwave and heat at 20-second increments until warm.
VEGAN SUBSTITUTES FOR SPINACH SALAD WITH WARM BACON DRESSING
You may follow a vegan lifestyle but still want to enjoy this nutrient-rich salad. It’s easily done and then this warm-dressing salad can grace your table, too!
- Use substitutes that take on the flavor of the spices you choose: Try tempeh, which is a fermented soy product. You can fry in thin or thick slices, just like bacon. Seitan is a vegan product with a texture that is chewy liked bacon when cooked. Shiitake mushrooms are a popular switch, and so is coconut, which can be fried, too. You can also sauté rough breadcrumbs and add smoked paprika.
- Substitute the eggs: Marinated tofu is the top replacement for eggs. A popular marinade is sriracha, soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil blended together.
MORE HEALTHY SALADS
Once you get into the habit of eating healthy salads several times a week, you’ll be glad you did. You will feel great and the varieties of salads are almost endless! Take a look at a few of my favorites:
- Mason Jar Salad
- Healthy Broccoli Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing
- Strawberry Salad with Chia Seed Vinaigrette
- Healthy Taco Salad Recipe
- Chicken Cobb Mason Jar Salad
- Steak Cobb Salad with Creamy Avocado Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Summer Corn Edamame Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette
- Beet and Goat Cheese Salad with White Wine Vinegar
Spinach Salad With Warm Bacon Dressing
Equipment
- Stock Pot or Large Deep Skillet
*This post may contain affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces fresh baby spinach
- 4 eggs
- 8 slices thick bacon (nitrate-free)
- 3 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon coconut sugar
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard (can substitute spicy mustard)
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4-6 large white mushrooms sliced
- ½ red onion very thinly sliced
Instructions
- Add the eggs to a deep pot and completely cover with cold water. Heat the pan over medium-high heat until the water starts to boil. Once the water boils, turn off the heat, cover the pan with a lid and allow to sit for 12 minutes. After 12 minutes, carefully drain the hot water and rinse the hard-boiled eggs in cold water to stop them from cooking further. Set the eggs aside to cool. When ready to serve, peel them and slice in half.
- While the eggs are boiling, fry the bacon in a large fry pan over medium heat until crispy, flipping occasionally. Once crispy, remove from the pan and place on a paper towel to cool and drain, reserving 3 tbsp. of the bacon drippings.
- When the bacon is cooled, crumble and set aside.
- Transfer the 3 tbsp. bacon drippings to a small mixing bowl and whisk in the red wine vinegar, coconut sugar, Dijon mustard, and black pepper. Season with any additional salt or pepper, to taste.
- Place the spinach, mushrooms and sliced red onion in a large mixing bowl and toss to combine. Add the dressing and bacon and toss to combine.
- Divide the salad between 2-4 plates or bowls and evenly divide the halved eggs among them.
- Serve while dressing is still warm.
Nutrition
This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.
Dustin
Great salad.
Lorri
I have made this over and over! It is a requirement at every family function. Each time I visit your page a read this post, I am reminded of how lucky I am as well. Thank you for that!
lacey - a sweet pea chef
Hi Lorri! Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing. I had actually forgotten I wrote those words in this post an reread it again after your comment. So, thank you for reminding me again 🙂
Diane
Okay...I just read your cookbook, love it! I can see I'll be busy trying all the recipes. So when is book 2 coming out???
Diane
Lacey Baier
lol, I'm so glad you enjoyed the cookbook, Diane!
Diane
Hi Lacey,
I just joined upon your site and am extremely impressed...bravo for you! I am having the spinach salad with warm bacon dressing tonight, and I know it is going to turn out great. I am in the process of downloading your cookbook and can hardly wait to see the recipes.
I am a food junkie who loves to try out new recipes on guests. Anyone who eats at my house is a never gets the same thing twice and they are all guinea pigs. 😉
Keep up the great work on your blog, it's wonderful!
Diane
Lacey Baier
Thank you very much for your kind words!
Carolyn
Sometime you should try Alton Brown's Garden Vegetable Soup. Takes a little bit of time, but it is soooo good.
lacey - a sweet pea chef
Ooh -- sounds yummy. I'll look into it.
Kelley
You know, now that I look through all your WONDERFUL recipes, I was wondering if you have ever made an "Asian Chop Chop" salad? compliments of Houlihans 🙂 It's amazing!
lacey - a sweet pea chef
You know what -- I actually have never made such a thing. I'll look into it! Thanks 🙂
Dustin Stevens-Baier
This is one of my favorite salads. I always enjoy the spinach and bacon dressing.
lacey - a sweet pea chef
Hi Dustin! I totally agree: the combination of the warm bacon dressing with the spinach is really delicious! Thanks for stopping by!
Chef Dennis
the poached egg is such a nice touch with this salad, the contrast of textures and flavors must be amazing!! great job with this salad!
lacey - a sweet pea chef
Thanks, Chef Dennis! I'm so happy you like the poached egg on this salad. I really recommend it 🙂
Juliana
Wow, I love this salad...and the poached egg on top just look amazing...love the pictures...yummie!
lacey - a sweet pea chef
Thanks so much, Juliana!
Peggy
Yeah, you had me at "Bacon Dressing"! I'm definitely going to try this and I love that you used a poached egg to top it off because I think poached eggs can go on practically anything!
lacey - a sweet pea chef
Peggy, right? I'm with you on the bacon dressing. Yum. I'm glad you like the poached egg with the salad. I really need to include them more often in my cooking -- they are so good!
Miss Becky
Hi Lacey
thanks for stopping by my blog and waving hello! that is so sweet.
I love your food photos and how crisp you make everything look ~ beautiful. Your photos make me want to cook everything you make and it's that time of year when I can get most of these ingredients straight from the farmer of my own backyard. the salad looks yummy and healthy, thanks for sharing!
lacey - a sweet pea chef
Becky, of course! It makes me SO happy when people say they like my photos, so thank you! I've always enjoyed photography and am thrilled I get to use that passion with this blog.
Joanne
Gotta love a good Alton recipe! He is my go to for many things. If he made it, I know there is scientific basis for why it should taste good haha.
I'm glad you found food and started this blog as well, although I'm sure you helped so many souls through your work with CPS.
lacey - a sweet pea chef
Joanne, I agree with you on that about Alton -- hard to argue with science! Thanks for your comment about CPS. There were definitely some huge success stories over the years while I worked as a social worker and I'm glad I was able to help many families and children.
sara
OMG, I am so in love with this salad! Gorgeous photos...it looks really delicious. 🙂
lacey - a sweet pea chef
Thanks, Sara! Trust me, It's definitely a good salad to be in love with. 🙂
Betty @ scrambled hen fruit
Beautiful salad! I love the colors and flavors in this. That egg on top is cooked perfectly- so gorgeous!
lacey - a sweet pea chef
Thanks, Betty! I love the colors too. 🙂