Spinach Salad with Bacon (Printable)

Fresh spinach with crispy bacon, boiled eggs, and tangy homemade dressing ready in 25 minutes.

# What You 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

→ Homemade 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

# Directions:

01 - Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 8 minutes. Transfer eggs to a bowl of ice water to cool completely. Peel carefully and slice into rounds or wedges.
02 - Arrange bacon slices in a cold skillet and place over medium heat. Cook until crispy and golden, turning occasionally, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain excess grease, then crumble into bite-sized pieces.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey until emulsified and smooth. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
04 - In a large serving bowl, combine fresh spinach leaves, halved cherry tomatoes (if using), and thinly sliced red onion. Arrange sliced hard-boiled eggs and crumbled bacon on top.
05 - Drizzle the dressing evenly over the salad just before serving. Gently toss to coat all ingredients lightly. Serve immediately while bacon remains crispy and eggs are fresh.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It hits that perfect spot between something you throw together and something that feels like a proper meal
  • The homemade dressing takes two minutes and makes everything taste like restaurant quality
02 -
  • Cold eggs straight from the refrigerator are less likely to crack during boiling
  • Bacon continues crisping after you remove it from the pan, so take it off slightly before it looks done
  • The dressing can be made ahead but add it right before serving or the spinach will wilt
03 -
  • Dry your spinach thoroughly after washing—water clings to the leaves and prevents the dressing from coating properly
  • Warm the bowl slightly before assembling to take the chill off the spinach if you prefer room temperature salad
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