This Southern Salad is full of everything you want in a salad! We’ve got crisp lettuce topped with cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, smoky bacon, shredded cheddar, croutons, and hard-boiled eggs, all drizzled with a creamy buttermilk dressing. This one’s a crowd-pleaser!
This Southern Salad recipe is one of my favorite salads ever! The combination of crisp lettuce with classic hearty salad toppings like cheddar cheese, bacon, and crunchy croutons with creamy buttermilk Southern salad dressing is SO good.
My favorite thing about this easy Southern salad recipe is that it can be a side dish OR a main dish. Sometimes I’ll even add some leftover chicken to really amp up the protein and give this salad true main dish status. But this Southern salad also makes an excellent side with so many types of meals, too.
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Family friendly – This classic Southern salad is a family fave! The combination of crisp lettuce, cheese, smoky bacon, crunchy cucumbers, and creamy dressing is a massive crowd-pleaser.
- Easy to make – Just some quick chopping and mixing and your salad is made in around 20 minutes!
- Nutritious – With a several veggies plus a few protein sources, this is a good Southern salad for providing a wide variety of nutrients.
- Meal-worthy salad – The cheese, eggs, and bacon make this salad substantial enough to eat alone as a meal. I especially love this salad for a healthy yet hearty meal.
Recipe Notes
This Southern Salad recipe is as simple as promised! Just 20 minutes for a family friendly meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make Southern Salad to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
For the salad:
- Romaine lettuce – I like to use Romaine hearts in this traditional Southern salad recipe. Romaine lettuce is sturdy and crisp, which stands up to the hearty ingredients and creamy dressing.
- Grape tomatoes – To make them easier to bite, I like to cut my grape tomatoes in half or even in quarters if they’re large. Cherry tomatoes will work, too.
- Cucumber – I like to use English cucumber in this Southern salad recipe. The skin is tender and mild-tasting, so there’s no need to peel it.
- Hard-boiled eggs – You’ll need three hard-boiled eggs, thinly sliced.
- Cheddar cheese – You can use mild, medium, or sharp cheddar – whichever you prefer.
- Croutons – For a nice crunch.
- Bacon bits – Adds smoky flavor. Grab them from the store or make your own bacon bits.
For the dressing:
- Buttermilk – Buttermilk brings its signature tangy flavor to this Southern salad dressing.
- Sour cream – For rich creaminess.
- Mayonnaise – For additional flavor and creaminess. Use your favorite brand.
- Lemon juice – Brightens up and highlights all of the flavors in the dressing.
- Chives – For a bit of green and subtle onion-y flavor. For the best flavor, I suggest using fresh chives.
- Garlic – Just one clove, ran through a garlic press or finely minced.
- Dill – Dried dill works perfectly in this dressing.
- Salt & pepper – Add more or less to taste.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Southern Salad– Add chopped chicken breast and swap the buttermilk dressing for ranch.
- Vegetarian Southern Salad– Swap the bacon for 1/2 cup of canned chickpeas, drained.
- Southwestern Salad– Give it a Southwest spin by swapping the cucumbers for black beans, omitting the bacon, swapping the croutons for tortilla strips, and drizzling with jalapeño ranch dressing.
- Southern Pasta Salad– Swap half the lettuce for two cups of cooked pasta.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Southern Salad.
Add the buttermilk dressing ingredients to a small mixing bowl.
Whisk together until combined.
Assemble the salad by first adding the romaine to a large salad bowl.
Pile on the cucumber and tomatoes.
Arrange the hard-boiled eggs and cheddar on top.
Finish with bacon and croutons. Drizzle with buttermilk dressing or serve it on the side.
Recipe Tips
- Dry your lettuce well – Use a salad spinner or paper towels to thoroughly dry the lettuce. Soggy lettuce weighs the whole salad down and can make the dressing watery.
- Chop the lettuce small enough – It’s much easier to eat a fully loaded salad like this Southern salad when the lettuce is bite size vs. too big for a single bite.
- Make the dressing ahead of time – This isn’t a must, but if you can, make the dressing 12-24 hours ahead of time. This will really give the flavors a chance to meld together for the most flavorful Southern salad dressing.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Prep ahead – Prep all of the ingredients ahead of time and store them separately in airtight containers or storage bags in the fridge. Then it’s super easy to assemble your Southern salad recipe when you’re ready to enjoy it!
- Buy already-prepared greens – You can likely find pre-washed and chopped romaine lettuce in the prepared salad display in the produce section of your grocery store. This saves on extra washing, drying, and chopping.
- Grab prepped ingredients – Buy the eggs already hard-boiled, the bacon bits already cooked, and/or the cheese pre-shredded to save yourself some prepping time.
What to Serve with Southern Salad
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of fresh veggies and creamy Buttermilk dressing, it will pair well with many of your favorite classic protein- or carb-based side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
Southern Salad Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 2-3 days
Leftover Recipes
Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!
- Chopped Southern Salad– Place the leftover salad on a large cutting board and use a large chef’s knife to chop it up into bite-size pieces. Mix in the Southern salad dressing for a chopped-style southern salad.
- Southern Salad Wrap– Layer leftover salad in a large flour tortilla or sandwich wrap. Drizzle with dressing and wrap up burrito-style. Cut in half and serve.
Recipe FAQ’s
What are the 5 main components in a good salad?
Many chefs and home cooks are sure to include the following textures and flavors for a well-balanced green salad: Lettuce or other greens, something sweet, something crunchy, something creamy, and dressing.
What are the best greens for salads?
It depends on what texture you’d like. Romaine (especially hearts of romaine) will give you a crisp base of greens, as will iceberg lettuce. Butter lettuce is a great choice for salads – it’s both crisp and tender. Other greens that make a great salad are baby arugula, baby kale, or baby spinach. Sometimes it’s nice to add a bitter green, like escarole or radicchio, for variety of flavors.
More EASY Salad Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy salad recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
Classic Southern Salad
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 2 romaine hearts, chopped
- 8 ounces grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 English cucumber, diced
- 3 boiled eggs, sliced
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup croutons
- 1/2 cup bacon bits
Buttermilk Dressing
- ¾ cup buttermilk, divided
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup finely chopped fresh chives
- 1 garlic clove, pressed
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- To make the buttermilk dressing, in a medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk, sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, chives, garlic, dill, salt and pepper. Set aside.
- To assemble the salad, add the chopped romaine to a large bowl. Top with tomatoes, cucumber, boiled eggs, shredded cheddar, croutons, and bacon bits.
- Toss before serving with the buttermilk dressing drizzled over the top of the salad, or on the side to top to taste.
Recipe Notes
- Romaine hearts: You can swap in another sturdy, mild lettuce if you prefer.
- Cheddar cheese: Feel free to use your favorite cheese. Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or mozzarella would all be delicious.
Leave a Reply