Hot Bacon Dressing

I have a confession…I am utterly obsessed with bacon. Whether I’m folding it into a Bacon Ranch Potato Salad or baking it into my favorite Bacon Cheddar Quiche, it wins my heart every time. The first time I came across hot bacon dressing, it was love at first bite. I knew I had to recreate it so I could put it on everything, all the time. Because hot bacon dressing isn’t traditionally gluten-free or dairy-free, I had to get creative. And I’m pleased to say that, after loads of trial and error (and plenty of taste testing), I got it right! SO right.

Thick, creamy, and just warm enough to gently wilt a bed of spinach leaves (in the BEST way!), this Amish-inspired dressing is smoky and tangy with just a smidge of sweetness from maple syrup. Whether you’re tossing it with salad greens or drizzling it over roasted veggies, it might just ruin every other salad dressing for you. It’s that good.

Hot Bacon Dressing Brings Big Flavor to Every Bite

Hot dressing of any sort sounds a little strange, I get it. But you’ve got to trust me on this one. Here’s what makes hot bacon dressing such a standout salad addition:

• Savory sweet with the perfect tang. This dressing is a flavor powerhouse, combining salty bacon with the rich sweetness of pure maple syrup. A splash of apple cider vinegar cuts through the richness, creating a perfectly balanced, tangy finish that’s anything but boring.
• Rich, creamy texture. Forget thin, watery dressings. This one is silky smooth and wonderfully thick and creamy. I can’t get enough of the way it coats every leaf of lettuce in luxurious decadence. So satisfying.
• A unique sensory experience. You don’t come across warm salad dressings very often. It’s kind of a strange concept to many. Once you try it, though, you’ll understand why I’m obsessed. The dressing gently wilts spinach leaves for a satisfyingly unique texture and/or creates a fun contrast to the refreshing crunch of iceberg or romaine lettuce. So fun!

What Is Hot Bacon Dressing?

Hot bacon dressing is an Amish favorite most commonly served over spinach salad, but it can also be tossed with your favorite salad greens. I based this version on my mother-in-law’s more traditional recipe. Instead of sweetening it with sugar, though, I went with maple syrup. I love the way the sweet, earthy flavor accents the smoky bacon. I also used cornstarch (instead of flour) to help thicken things up. This makes my recipe gluten-free, which I’m all about! Oh, and I added a little extra apple cider vinegar to heighten the tang of the dressing.

Please note that hot bacon dressing is not the same as the warm bacon dressing you might see in a German potato salad, which is generally more of a vinaigrette.

Recipe Ingredients

• Water – Water is the base for this dressing. Don’t worry, though. It’s not watery!
• Maple syrup – Traditionally, hot bacon dressing is sweetened with sugar, and you can totally do that! I prefer the deeper, earthier flavor of the maple syrup, though.
• Cornstarch – To thicken the dressing. Tapioca starch would also do the trick.
• Large egg – It’s best to use a room-temperature egg. It’ll combine more easily with the other ingredients.
• Kosher salt – I am a Kosher salt girl, but you can use table salt instead. Start with a little bit, taste, and add more as needed.
• Apple cider vinegar – I used a little extra in comparison to more traditional recipes. I LOVE the tang! Red wine vinegar or balsamic would work in a pinch.
• Cooked and crumbled bacon – Be sure to drain the grease! You can use regular pork bacon or turkey bacon if you prefer. I have a whole post on How to Cook Bacon, so give that a look.

How to Make Hot Bacon Dressing

Unlike many salad dressings that you can just whisk up real quick, this one requires a little heat. Here’s a look at how it’s done (see the recipe card below for more detailed instructions):

• Combine. In a small saucepan, whisk together the water, syrup, cornstarch, egg, and salt.
• Simmer. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-low heat. Simmer until the mixture is hot and starts to thicken, whisking frequently.
• Thicken. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Continue cooking (whisking frequently) until the dressing has thickened to your liking.

• Finishing touches. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vinegar and bacon.
• Serve. Serve warm over spinach or your favorite salad greens.

Tips and Variation Ideas

Have a read through these simple tips and tricks before you get started. I tacked on a couple of fun variations, too, just in case you’re feeling creative:

• Keep an eye on the heat. When thickening the dressing, start it over medium-low heat until the ingredients are combined and the dressing begins to thicken. Then, you can bring it to a gentle boil. Heating the dressing gradually, like this, will help keep the eggs from scrambling/curdling.
• Keep things moving. It’s important to whisk the dressing pretty regularly as it thickens. Failing to do so will result in curdled eggs.
• Serve warm. This dressing is best served warm (not hot, as the name suggests). You want it warm enough to gently wilt spinach greens, but not too hot. Conversely, if the dressing is allowed to cool too much, it will thicken and won’t distribute well amongst the salad greens.
• Honey-dijon. Whisk a little Dijon mustard into the dressing and swap the maple syrup out for honey.
• Figgy fun. I will sometimes replace the apple cider vinegar with balsamic and use fig preserve instead of maple syrup for a fruity twist.
• Aromatic addition. If you cook the bacon on the stovetop, you can drain all but ~2 tablespoons of the fat from the pan and then saute some minced shallot and/or garlic in the fat. Mix the sauteed aromatics into the dressing along with the bacon for a deeper, more complex flavor profile.

I do not recommend freezing this dressing. It will separate and become grainy upon thawing.

More Dressing Recipes

Looking for more mouthwatering salad dressing ideas? I’ve got you covered:

• Creamy Balsamic Greek Yogurt Dressing
• Italian Dressing
• Creamy Southwestern Dressing
• Greek Yogurt Caesar Dressing
• Jalapeno Ranch Dressing