Hot Bacon Dressing Recipe (2024)

Published: Mar 23, 2021 · Modified: Feb 3, 2024 by Sarah Mock As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links.

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Hot Bacon Dressing is also known as Pennsylvania Dutch hot bacon dressing, is the unexpected sweet, tangy and bacon-filled dressing that will dress up a simple spinach salad.

I love this bacon dressing served over spinach salad with thinly sliced red onion and mushrooms. I will also crumble blu cheese, chop pecan pralines or dice up hard-boiled eggs for added flavor.

This was always my favorite dressing, (growing up) we ate ours over endive with hard-boiled eggs and of course bacon. ★★★★★ Conni.

Also if I don't have spinach in the fridge I will quarter a head of iceberg lettuce and make a wedge salad with warm dressing poured over it. I have a cousin who will make a salad of dandelion greens and wilted lettuce every spring just to make this recipe.

You may also hear it called old fashioned hot bacon dressing or hot bacon salad dressing so one dressing goes by many different delicious names.

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Here is why this recipe is amazing:
🥓 Ingredients needed to make warm bacon dressing:
🥓 How to make hot bacon dressing
🥗 Warm Spinach Salad Ingredients:
🥗 How to make a spinach salad with warm bacon dressing:
Frequently asked questions, answers and tips:
📝 Frequently asked questions, answers and tips about this warm bacon dressing recipe
👩‍🍳 Chef Tip
📄 Related Recipes
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Here is why this recipe is amazing:

While the name of the dressing is HOT the heat comes from temperature, not spice.
The combination of the crunch and saltiness of the bacon and the tang of the vinegar is balanced out with the sweetness of the sugar.
A great dressing to use if you have someone who is not a fan of salads. Call this a 'starter' salad dressing. Who doesn't love bacon?
Not only use this recipe for hot bacon dressing for spinach salad but I use it to dress roasted Brussels sprouts and other roasted root vegetables.

🥓 Ingredients needed to make warm bacon dressing:

bacon,cooked crisp. This would be a great use for your sous vide bacon!
onion,finely diced
sugar
cornstarch - once the sauce comes to a boil, the corn starch will help thicken the dressing
salt
water
vinegar - apple cider vinegar but I have seen some recipes call for red wine vinegar
black pepper

🥓 How to make hot bacon dressing

Slice the bacon into one-inch pieces.
In a heavy bottom pan, cook diced bacon until crisp.
Remove the bacon from the pan with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
Drain all but ¼ cup of the rendered bacon fat from the pan.
Add the onion to the pan and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, salt and pepper. Whisk in the water and apple cider vinegar.
Carefully pour the sugar/vinegar mixture into the pan. Scraping the bits off the bottom of the pan.
Bring the dressing to a simmer, whisking continually. Cook until thickened about 1 minute.
Crumble the bacon and add it back into the dressing and stir to combine.
Serve warm over salad greens like spinach leaves.

🥗 Warm Spinach Salad Ingredients:

Spinach - baby spinach, washed and dried
Onion - red onion, sliced paper-thin
Mushroom - white mushrooms, sliced thinly
Bacon - crisped and crumbled
Warm Bacon Dressing - see above or the recipe card below

🥗 How to make a spinach salad with warm bacon dressing:

Slice the onion and the mushrooms thin.
Place 2 cups of washed and dried baby spinach in bowls.
Sprinkle each salad with onions, mushrooms and crisp, crumbled bacon.
Warm the dressing and spoon over the salad.

Frequently asked questions, answers and tips:

📝 Frequently asked questions, answers and tips about this warm bacon dressing recipe

What kind of bacon is best for bacon dressing?

Use your favorite bacon but I suggest using thick-cut bacon for this delicious dressing recipe. The bacon is the star of the recipe and your best bacon should be used. The rendered fat is going to be part of the hot bacon vinaigrette so do not substitute turkey bacon for the slices of bacon.

What type of onion should be used?

Vidalia onion, Wala -Wala onion, or other sweet onion work well in this dressing. If you want a more subtle onion flavor, use a shallot.

How do you reheat this dressing?

I reheat this dressing by microwaving it in a microwave safe container in 15 second interval, stirring to avoid hot pockets in the dressing.

👩‍🍳 Chef Tip

This homemade salad dressing is super popular at potlucks, church gatherings and bridal showers. To keep this dressing warm, keep it in a slow cooker set on low.

Side Dishes

English Pea Salad Recipe 🫛 Old Fashioned Cold Pea Salad

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📖 Recipe

Hot Bacon Dressing Recipe

Sarah Mock

Hot Bacon Dressing is also known as Pennsylvania Dutch hot bacon dressing, is the unexpected sweet, tangy and bacon-filled dressing that will dress up a simple spinach salad.

4.79 from 33 votes

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Note From Sarah

There is more to a recipe than just the recipe card. Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

Ingredients

▢ 8 slices bacon (diced)
▢ ¼ cup onion (finely diced)
▢ ¾ cup sugar
▢ 1 tablespoon cornstarch
▢ ½ teaspoon salt
▢ ¼ cup water
▢ ½ cup apple cider vinegar
▢ ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Slice the bacon into one-inch pieces.
In a heavy bottom pan, cook diced bacon until crisp.
8 slices bacon
Remove the crips bacon from the pan with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
Drain all but ¼ cup of bacon grease from the pan.
Add the onion to the pan and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
¼ cup onion
In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, salt and pepper. Whisk in the water and apple cider vinegar.
¾ cup sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ cup water, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ½ cup apple cider vinegar
Carefully pour the sugar/vinegar mixture into the pan.Scraping the bits off the bottom of the pan.
Bring the dressing to a simmer, whisking continually. Cook until thickened about 1 minute.
Add the bacon back into the dressing and stir to combine.
Serve warm over salad greens.

Notes

How do you reheat this dressing?

I reheat this dressing by microwaving it in a microwave-safe container in 15-second intervals, stirring to avoid hot pockets in the dressing.

Serving a crowd tip:

This dressing is super popular at potlucks, church gatherings and bridal showers. To keep this dressing warm, keep it in a slow cooker set on low.

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Nutrition

Nutrition Disclosure

Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

👩🏻‍🍳 Sarah Mock

CEO/Owner/Founder/Culinary Blogger

Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 14 years Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.

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