Cucumber Ranch Crack Salad
Cucumber Ranch Crack Salad is a refreshing and addictive salad blending crisp cucumbers with creamy, tangy ranch dressing, shredded cheese, smoky bacon bits, and crunchy crackers or pretzels. Perfect for quick lunches, potlucks, or as a versatile side dish, it offers a perfect balance of textures and flavors that you can customize easily.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes (includes chilling time)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No cooking required
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free (use gluten-free crackers or omit crackers and substitute with gluten-free alternatives)
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2–3 medium fresh cucumbers, washed and sliced into bite-sized pieces or thin rounds
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- 1 cup shredded cheese (Cheddar or Colby Jack)
- 1/2 cup crumbled cooked bacon bits
- 1 teaspoon onion powder or 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh onion
- 1 cup broken crackers or pretzels (Ritz crackers or pretzels recommended)
Instructions
- Prepare the Cucumbers: Wash and slice the cucumbers into bite-sized pieces or thin rounds, depending on your texture preference. The cucumbers provide a crisp, fresh base critical for the salad’s crunch and freshness.
- Mix in the Dressing: In a large bowl, combine the cucumber slices with ranch dressing, tossing gently to coat everything evenly. The creamy ranch dressing ties together all the flavors beautifully.
- Add Cheese and Bacon: Sprinkle shredded cheese and crumbled bacon bits over the coated cucumbers. These add richness, saltiness, and savory depth to the salad.
- Fold in the Crackers: Just before serving, gently toss in the broken crackers or pretzels to preserve their crunchy texture. Adding them last keeps the signature addictive crunch.
- Final Seasoning and Chill: Season with onion powder (or fresh onion), a pinch of salt, and black pepper to taste. Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld perfectly.
Notes
- Use fresh cucumbers and crisp crackers for best flavor and texture.
- Add crackers only just before serving to maintain their crunch.
- Chill the salad to intensify flavors and blend all ingredients well.
- If the ranch dressing is too thick, thin it with a little milk to get a smooth coating.
- Customize cheese type for preferred flavor—sharp cheddar for bite, mozzarella for milder creaminess.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
Keywords: Cucumber salad, ranch salad, quick salad, crunchy salad, potluck salad, creamy cucumber salad
Find it online: https://tastebudtrek.com/cucumber-ranch-crack-salad/