Everyday Romaine Salad Recipe (Amazing Dressing!)

Everyday salad tossed in a white serving bowl.

5 from 1 vote

Everyday Romaine Salad Recipe (Amazing Dressing!)

This Everyday Romaine Salad Recipe has been a go-to around here for years. It has all the basics - juicy tomatoes, crunchy croutons, and creamy cheese - but what makes it great for any day are the little upgrades: crispy bacon and toasted almonds. It is versatile enough to go with most main dishes, from steak to Italian food, and with a couple shortcut options you can have it ready in just minutes. Plus the simple 5 ingredient dressing will have you scraping the bowl clean.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Servings: people

Calories: 453kcal

Author: Danielle

Equipment

Ingredients

Dressing

¾ cup light olive oil
⅓ cup fresh lemon juice
2 garlic cloves minced
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
¾ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
½ teaspoon ground black pepper to taste

Salad

½ cup slivered almonds
4 ounces thick-sliced bacon about 4 slices
1-2 romaine hearts, chopped about 8 cups
1 cup cherry tomatoes
¼ cup swiss cheese shredded
1 cup croutons
⅓ cup parmesan shredded

Instructions

Combine dressing ingredients in a jar and shake vigorously. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
¾ cup light olive oil, ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice, 2 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon honey, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Turn oven to 350 degrees. Place almonds on a sheet pan and toast almonds for 5-8 minutes or until just turning light golden brown and beginning to smell.
½ cup slivered almonds
Increase temperature to 400 degrees and bake bacon until crispy. Time will vary depending on the thickness of the bacon. For step-by-step instructions on how to bake bacon. Once crispy, drain on a paper towel, and then chop.
4 ounces thick-sliced bacon
Start by layering the lettuce in the bottom of a large serving bowl. Add all the other ingredients on top - leave the Parmesan out for now. Pour just enough dressing to lightly coat everything, without making it soggy.
1-2 romaine hearts, chopped, 1 cup cherry tomatoes , ¼ cup swiss cheese, 1 cup croutons
Once the salad is dressed, sprinkle the Parmesan on top and give it a gentle toss.
⅓ cup parmesan

Notes

Tips & Tricks

Chop the lettuce into uniform bite-sized pieces for the best texture.
To make the salad even easier, feel free to use already toasted almonds and store-bought bacon bits.
For the nest flavor, toss the salad with the dressing in a big bowl before serving. It is a restaurant trick that makes all the difference.

How to Store

Once the salad is dressed, it doesn't hold well. But the components can be stored separately. If we are not eating in one setting, I keep the bacon, cheeses, lettuce, and sliced tomatoes in the fridge along with the jar of dressing. The almonds and croutons can be stored in the pantry.

Nutrition