Spinach Salad with Bacon (Printer-Friendly)

Fresh spinach with crispy bacon, boiled eggs, and tangy homemade dressing for a satisfying meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad Components

01 - 5 oz fresh baby spinach leaves, washed and dried
02 - 4 large eggs
03 - 6 slices bacon
04 - 3.5 oz cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced

→ Dressing

06 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
08 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
09 - 1 tsp honey
10 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# How to Prepare:

01 - Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer for 8 minutes. Transfer eggs to a bowl of ice water to stop cooking, peel carefully, and slice into quarters.
02 - Arrange bacon slices in a cold skillet and place over medium heat. Cook until crispy and browned, about 5-7 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towels to drain, then crumble into bite-sized pieces.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and black pepper until fully emulsified and smooth.
04 - In a large serving bowl, combine spinach leaves, halved cherry tomatoes (if using), and sliced red onion. Arrange sliced egg quarters and crumbled bacon on top.
05 - Drizzle the dressing evenly over the salad just before serving. Gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly. Serve immediately while bacon remains crispy.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The warm bacon against cool spinach creates that perfect hot-and-cold contrast we all crave
  • It comes together faster than delivery arrives, and tastes infinitely better
  • Everything can be prepped ahead, making it ideal for busy weeknight dinners or last-minute guests
02 -
  • Dry spinach thoroughly with a salad spinner or towels, otherwise the dressing slides right off
  • Let the bacon cool slightly before crumbling so it does not steam and lose its crunch
  • The dressing can be made a day ahead and stored in a jar at room temperature
03 -
  • Cook extra bacon and store it in the fridge for quick additions all week
  • Apple cider vinegar works beautifully if red wine vinegar is not available
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