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Healthy Wedge Salad Recipe with Bacon & Blue Cheese

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Posted by:

Erin Lynch

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Updated:

December 22, 2023

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5 from 12 votes

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This Healthy Wedge Salad Recipe is topped with a lower-calorie tangy buttermilk-blue cheese dressing and combines iceberg lettuce with radicchio and romaine. It’s topped with crispy onions and bacon for added crunch. 

This Healthy Wedge Salad is topped with a lower-calorie tangy buttermilk-blue cheese dressing and combines iceberg lettuce with radicchio and romaine. It’s topped with crispy onions and bacon for added crunch.

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The wedge salad is definitely one of my favorite salads.

Typically they consist of a wedge of iceberg lettuce with loads of blue cheese dressing and crumbles of bacon on top. The iceberg wedge is the perfect vessel for that dressing because when it’s cut open there’s an instant formation of nooks and crannies for that dressing to seep down into.

It’s crispy and refreshing, but also after a while, the wedge salad can become a bit boring. It’s also definitely not the most nutritious salad.

This version changes things a bit.

Ingredients for healthy wedge salad.

How to Make a Healthy Wedge Salad

This Healthy Wedge Salad is bit more nutritious with the addition of two new lettuces to the mix – radicchio and romaine.

If you’re not familiar with radicchio, it looks like a small head of red cabbage but it’s actually a chicory, and has just a slightly bitter, crisp taste. I love how it livens the traditional wedge salad.

I’m also lightening up the wedge salad by making a tangy buttermilk-blue cheese dressing.

Buttermilk may sound fattening but it’s actually low in fat, high in protein and calcium, and contains probiotics – those beneficial bacteria that help keep your digestive system happy and healthy.

I’m combing it with Greek yogurt and a bit of blue cheese to make it decadent and creamy. A splash of vinegar gives it that great tang.

Buttermilk blue cheese dressing in mason jar.

One thing I’m not skimping on is the bacon. 

It’s my feeling that you can’t mess around too much with the classic version. If you’d like to lighten things up even further, you can leave out the bacon, halve the amount of bacon, or swap it out with turkey bacon.

Or, make it extra delicious by adding some air fryer pork belly or crispy prosciutto.

To take this Healthy Wedge Salad over the top, I’m also adding some delicious, crispy red onions. Take note and be sure to spread the onions out well on piece or parchment or a plate while they are cooling, otherwise, they will all stick together and turn into one big mass.

Close up of platter of healthy wedge salad.

 Wedge Salad wine pairing

  • The bleu cheese and bitter radicchio in this salad call for a sweeter white wine like Riesling. 

More salad recipes 

  • Thai Chicken Salad
  • Southwest Chicken Salad
  • Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad
  • Thai Beef Salad
  • Israeli Couscous Tabbouleh Salad
This Healthy Wedge Salad is topped with a lower-calorie tangy buttermilk-blue cheese dressing and combines iceberg lettuce with radicchio and romaine. It’s topped with crispy onions and bacon for added crunch.

Did you try this healthy wedge salad recipe?

If you loved this low calorie wedge salad I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on  Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Facebook.

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Close up of platter of healthy wedge salad.

Full Recipe

Healthy Wedge Salad Recipe

This Healthy Wedge Salad is topped with a lower-calorie tangy buttermilk-blue cheese dressing and combines iceberg lettuce with radicchio and romaine. It’s topped with crispy onions and bacon for added crunch. 
5 from 12 votes
Print Pin
Serves 4 large salads
Created by Platings and Pairings
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 30 minutes mins
Total Time: 40 minutes mins

Ingredients

Buttermilk-Blue Cheese Dressing

  • 1/3 cup Greek yogurt
  • 1/3 cup buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped chives
  • 3 teaspoons white wine vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)

Crispy Onions

  • 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 red onion (thinly sliced)
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 Tablespoon honey (or maple syrup)
  • 1/2 teaspoon white wine vinegar

Salad

  • 1 head radicchio
  • 1 head iceberg lettuce
  • 1 heart romaine
  • 6 strips bacon (cooked and crumbled)

Instructions

Buttermilk-Blue Cheese Dressing

  • Add all ingredients to a small mason jar. Shake well to combine and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Crispy Onions

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and a pinch of salt. Stir and arrange in a single layer. 
  • Reduce heat to low and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. After 10 minutes, add in the honey and vinegar. Stir and cook for an additional 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
  • Increase heat to high and cook for 1 – 3 minutes, until onions become crispy. Immediately remove the onions piece of parchment or dinner plate and spread apart so the onions do not form together in one big mass.

Wedge Salad

  • Quarter each of the lettuces. Place one quarter of each lettuce on a plate, drizzle with dressing and sprinkle with bacon and crispy onions. 

Nutrition

Calories: 279kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 393mg | Potassium: 558mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 880IU | Vitamin C: 11.3mg | Calcium: 127mg | Iron: 1.1mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

This recipe was originally published in 2015. It was updated in 2019 to add new photographs, and again in 2023 to add new content. The wedge salad recipe remains the same. Enjoy! 

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5 from 12 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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11 responses

  1. Kim – Liv Life
    July 30, 2015

    Gorgeous photography!! And this recipe? Love!!! My picky college boy would devour this one. Saving for when he comes home!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      July 30, 2015

      Anything with bacon is devourable – Right?!

      Reply
  2. Kristen
    January 4, 2016

    Erin, I LOVE this twist on a wedge salad–absolutely fabulous!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      January 4, 2016

      Thanks so much Kristen! I’m a huge fan of the caramelized shallots!

      Reply
  3. heather @french press
    January 4, 2016

    I absolutely LOVE wedge salads, and I love your creative twist! Anything a bit healthier after the holidays is a plus for sure

    Reply
    1. Erin
      January 4, 2016

      I totally agree Heather! I’m so ready to dive into some veggies!!!

      Reply
  4. Amanda
    April 18, 2019

    5 stars
    YUM I love a good wedge salad! This looks amazing. I need to try this dressing. I have a feeling I’ll want to put it on everything.

    Reply
  5. Marlynn | Urban Bliss Life
    April 18, 2019

    5 stars
    I love that you add radicchio to this wedge salad! And I love that you don’t skimp on bacon. This salad looks so flavorful!

    Reply
  6. jennie lamancuso
    April 22, 2019

    5 stars
    This is my favorite! You make it look beautiful and taste wonderful. Thank you.

    Reply
    1. Erin
      April 25, 2019

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  7. 31 Unique Salad Recipes
    June 25, 2019

    […] looking Wedge. I LOVE wedge salads, like really love them, and this Eccentric Wedge Salad from Platings and Pairings will definitely be finding a place on my […]

    Reply

Hi, I’m Erin!

Can I pour you a glass of wine? Let’s have some fun in the kitchen! Maybe some pasta? A juicy steak? I’ve got loads of yummy, easy recipes for you! Because cooking should feel as comfy as your favorite yoga pants. ♥

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