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• Why You’ll Love This Spinach Bacon Salad Recipe
• Ingredients You’ll Need
• How To Make Spinach Salad With Hot Bacon Dressing
• Storage Instructions
• What To Serve With Spinach Bacon Salad
• More Easy Salad Recipes
• Spinach Bacon Salad Recipe card
• Recipe Reviews

I have a new favorite salad . Ever, ever. I’ve made this spinach bacon salad probably half a dozen times over the past couple of weeks and am still not sick of it. This spinach salad with hot bacon dressing has all sorts of flavors, a variety of colors and textures, and it looks pretty! We’ve got layers of crunchy and healthy spinach, a creamy bacon-laced dressing (YES!) and delicious toppings like cheddar crisps and hard boiled eggs. Yes, it has a lot going for it.

Most dressings for salads like this are loaded with sugar, so I came up with the perfect swap: Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend ! It tastes and measures like sugar, and dissolves just like sugar, without any sugar or sugar crash. It adds the perfect touch of sweetness to the bacon-y dressing! (But, if this doesn’t matter to you, you can make this salad with regular sugar.)

Why You’ll Love This Spinach Bacon Salad Recipe

• Savory, salty flavors with sweet dressing
• Crunchy spinach, creamy dressing, and crispy bacon
• Made with simple ingredients
• Just 10 minutes prep time
• Naturally healthy, gluten-free, low carb, and packed with fiber
• Great side dish to any main meal

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here I explain the best ingredients for spinach salad with bacon, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below .

• Cheddar Parmesan Crisps – Move over croutons, these cheese crisps are way more flavorful and protein-packed. You’ll need 1/2 of the recipe for the salad — snack on the rest.
• Hard Boiled Eggs – I prefer to use organic eggs, but you can use whatever large eggs you prefer. I like to hard-boil them for this recipe, but soft boiled eggs would also be delicious.
• Baby Spinach – I recommend baby spinach over regular, as the spinach leaf is more tender in the baby version.
• Red Onion – The red onion gives great flavor and crunch to this bacon spinach salad, but if it’s too strong for you, soak them in cold water for 5 minutes after slicing to mellow them out.
• Grape Tomatoes – Use any small tomato. Cherry tomatoes will also work.

Other Ingredients You Can Add:

I think the above is already a great combo, but feel free to experiment with other additions:

• Other Veggies – Sliced mushrooms or bell peppers make nice additions.
• Nuts – Such as pecans or sliced almonds.
• Balsamic Glaze – This recipe for balsamic glaze adds an instant flavor boost to the salad!

For The Warm Bacon Dressing:

• Bacon – We’ll cook the bacon to make crispy bacon crumbles, then reserve the bacon fat to use in the warm bacon dressing.
• Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar gives a tangy flavor to the dressing. You could also use white or red wine vinegar.
• Mayonnaise – Make your own homemade mayo , or use store-bought, it’s up to you.
• Sweetener Of Your Choice – I used Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend , which is the closest alternative to powdered sugar (without the sugar and carbs of course). For those that don’t care about the added sugar, regular powdered sugar or maple syrup would also work.
• Dijon Mustard – Adds a nice flavor to the warm bacon dressing, and also helps emulsify the dressing so it doesn’t separate.
• Olive Oil – This is optional and only needed if you don’t have 1/2 cup of bacon drippings. See below.

How To Make Spinach Salad With Hot Bacon Dressing

This section shows how to make spinach salad with warm bacon dressing, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below .

1. Make cheddar crisps. You can find the instructions for making cheese crisps here . Once they cool, break them up into bite-sized pieces.
2. Boil eggs. Try my oven baked hard boiled eggs or perfect hard boiled eggs for easy peeling. Cool, peel and slice thinly or cut into quarters.
3. Cook bacon. Cook bacon in a fry pan until crispy and let cool on a paper towel. (I love air fryer bacon , but we need to save the grease for the hot bacon dressing!)

1. Mix bacon dressing. While bacon is cooking, whisk together mayonnaise, mustard, sweetener and vinegar in a medium bowl. Once bacon is done, pour 1/2 cup of the bacon drippings into mayonnaise mixture and whisk until smooth. Typically, the salt from the bacon and mayo is enough for the dressing, but you can add sea salt (or kosher salt) and black pepper to taste if you like.

TIP: Don’t have 1/2 cup of bacon drippings?

Add olive oil or avocado oil to bacon grease to reach 1/2 cup.

1. Assemble salad. In a large bowl, combine spinach leaves, red onion, and tomatoes.

1. Dress and serve. Drizzle with warm dressing, toss to coat, and top with eggs, bacon, and cheese crisps.

Storage Instructions

Keep salad components (not dressed) in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The parmesan crisps can be stored in an airtight container for 3-4 days. The bacon dressing can be stored separately; it will solidify in the fridge, so just reheat when ready to serve.

What To Serve With Spinach Bacon Salad

This spinach salad with warm bacon dressing makes a great side dish to virtually any main dish! Try one of these for a healthy meal:

• Chicken – Chicken recipes such as air fryer chicken breast , crispy chicken thighs , or pan seared chicken pair very well with spinach salad with hot bacon dressing. You can also slice up some baked chicken breast and serve on top of the salad for a full meal.
• Beef or Pork – I like to serve up a big juicy ribeye steak , but you can serve the salad with air fryer filet mignon for a fancier main, a tender baked pork chop , or a slow cooker pork loin .
• Seafood – Try spinach and bacon salad with seafood recipes like grilled shrimp skewers , baked salmon , or baked cod . You could also add some salmon lox to the salad for a filling lunch option.
• Soup – For a quick and easy lunch serve this salad with a warm and comforting tomato bisque or tomato soup .

More Easy Salad Recipes

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 1/2 recipe Cheddar Parmesan crisps ▢
• 3 large Hard boiled eggs ▢
• 5 oz Baby spinach ▢
• 1/4 large Red onion (sliced) ▢
• 2 cups Grape tomatoes (halved) ▢

Bacon Dijon Dressing:

• 8 slices Bacon ▢
• 3 tbsp Apple cider vinegar ▢
• 2 tbsp Mayonnaise ▢
• 2 tbsp Sweetener of choice (I used Besti Powdered ) ▢
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard ▢
• Olive oil (optional, only if needed – see step 6) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C).
2. Make the cheddar crisps according to instructions here. Once they have cooled, break them up into bite-sized pieces.
3. Boil eggs according to instructions here. When eggs are done, slice thinly (I like to use an egg slicer ) or cut into quarters.
4. Meanwhile, place the bacon slices onto a cold large skillet in a single layer. (Cook in batches if needed.) Fry for 10-12 minutes over medium heat, turning occasionally, until crispy. Remove the bacon with tongs , drain on paper towels, and then chop into small pieces.
5. While the bacon cooks, combine the mayo, mustard, sweetener, and vinegar in a medium bowl.
6. When the bacon is done, pour 1/2 cup of bacon drippings into the bowl and whisk together. (If you don’t have enough bacon drippings to get 1/2 cup, you can add avocado oil or olive oil to reach 1/2 cup before adding to the other ingredients.)
7. In a large bowl, combine the spinach, red onion, and tomatoes. Add dressing and toss to coat. Top with hard boiled eggs, cheese crisps, and crumbled bacon.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 1/2 cups salad + about 2 tablespoons dressing

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Ebook Bundle !

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Spinach Salad With Hot Bacon Dressing

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

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The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Spinach Bacon Salad

This delicious spinach bacon salad is brimming with crunchy cheese crisps, crisp spinach, juicy tomatoes, and a hot bacon dressing.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/spinach-bacon-salad/

Ingredients

• 1/2 recipe Cheddar Parmesan crisps
• 3 large Hard boiled eggs
• 5 oz Baby spinach
• 1/4 large Red onion (sliced)
• 2 cups Grape tomatoes (halved)

Bacon Dijon Dressing:

• 8 slices Bacon
• 3 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp Mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp Sweetener of choice (I used Besti Powdered )
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• Olive oil (optional, only if needed - see step 6)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C).
2. Make the cheddar crisps according to instructions here. Once they have cooled, break them up into bite-sized pieces.
3. Boil eggs according to instructions here. When eggs are done, slice thinly (I like to use an egg slicer ) or cut into quarters.
4. Meanwhile, place the bacon slices onto a cold large skillet in a single layer. (Cook in batches if needed.) Fry for 10-12 minutes over medium heat, turning occasionally, until crispy. Remove the bacon with tongs , drain on paper towels, and then chop into small pieces.
5. While the bacon cooks, combine the mayo, mustard, sweetener, and vinegar in a medium bowl.
6. When the bacon is done, pour 1/2 cup of bacon drippings into the bowl and whisk together. (If you don’t have enough bacon drippings to get 1/2 cup, you can add avocado oil or olive oil to reach 1/2 cup before adding to the other ingredients.)
7. In a large bowl, combine the spinach, red onion, and tomatoes. Add dressing and toss to coat. Top with hard boiled eggs, cheese crisps, and crumbled bacon.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 1/2 cups salad + about 2 tablespoons dressing

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Ebook Bundle !

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)