Cucumber Ranch Crack Salad (Printable)

Fresh cucumbers tossed with creamy ranch dressing, bacon, and cheese for a crunchy, satisfying dish perfect for warm weather.

# 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

→ Seasonings

10 - ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
11 - ¼ teaspoon onion powder
12 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
13 - ¼ teaspoon salt

# How to Prepare:

01 - In a large bowl, combine the diced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and green onions.
02 - Add in the crumbled bacon and shredded cheddar cheese.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, ranch dressing, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, and salt until smooth.
04 - Pour the dressing over the cucumber mixture. Gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly.
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.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The creamy ranch dressing clings to every crisp cucumber bite while bacon brings just the right amount of salty punch
  • You can throw it together in 20 minutes flat but it tastes like you spent way more time on it
  • That chip crunch on top makes everything feel like a party even on a random Tuesday
02 -
  • I learned the hard way that adding the chips too early turns them into sad, mushy squares, so always wait until literally right before you serve
  • English cucumbers are worth seeking out because regular cucumbers can sometimes be bitter and have those tough seeds that ruin the texture
03 -
  • Seed your cucumbers if they have large seeds, it completely changes the texture for the better
  • Let the salad sit for at least 15 minutes before serving so the dressing can really soak into all those nooks and crannies

Go Back