Sometimes I'm running short on time because I forget to thaw something out for dinner. Or I just don't feel like cooking. This salad is perfect for those times. Smoked bacon, with its smokey salty flavor and crunch, sets this salad apart from the rest.
The fact that it's a salad might also make you feel better about yourself. Or not. You decide.
This salad is perfect for even the pickiest of eaters. Put out a variety of toppings and let your peeps customize their own dish. No pressure on you!
It's a Pittsburgher salad... who won't like it?!
Explain to me: Why is Heinz Ketchup the ONLY ketchup in the world worth using?
Let me just say this: Even Morgan has made this dinner for her and Brandon. Yeah, she can cook, but I think she pretends she can't just to get out of it.
We like to tease her by saying we're going to enter her on "Worst Cooks in America". She actually agrees - IF she can win some cash. Point being: If Morgan can make it, so can you!
I’ll probably get in trouble for writing that!
Look at the sun shine on the crispy bacon and crostini. It's a beautiful sight.
Leela thinks your peeps will be Head Over Heels for this meal.
🐶 Leela Storm's Suggested Pairings
- 🎵 Tears For Fears Head Over Heels
- 🍺 Great Lakes Brewing NOSFERATU® IMPERIAL RED ALE
🍽 Kitchen Critique
Out of all the things I cook, it amazes me that this is one of the most requested dinners. When the girls text and ask "What's for dinner?" and I say "Cheeseburger Salad", I get a "YAY!!!".
How could something so easy be requested so often? I don't know.
It's magic.
I guess you'll have to try it and see for yourself.
I usually don't measure the sauce. If you're like me, just wing it... Squirt some ketchup and mustard and spoon in some mayo - DONE.
It's fun to prep the toppings and let your dinner guests make their own salads. Shrooms, jalapeño, sautéd onions - you name it! Plus, it's less work for you since no plating is required.
Leela doesn't know why we even use plates when the floor is perfectly acceptable.
✔ Takeaways
- It's a family hit, time and time again.
- This is your "Easy Button" dinner, so press it, and call it a day.
- Any beer or song will do while you prep and cook.
- Get creative and put out any toppings you enjoy on a burger - they'll work equally well on this salad.
📖 Recipe
Loaded Cheeseburger Salad with Smoked Bacon & Crostini
You can't beat a loaded cheeseburger salad with smoked bacon.
- Prep Time: 12
- Cook Time: 45
- Total Time: 57 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pellet Grill
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Beef
- 2 lb. ground beef
- ½ cup chopped onion
- Season with salt and pepper
Smoked Bacon
- ½ lb bacon
Lettuce
- 1 - 2 heads iceberg lettuce
- Spring mix (optional)
Toppings
- Tomato
- Red onion
- Pickle
- Shredded cheddar
Sauce
- 1 cup Hellmann's Mayonnaise
- ½ cup Heinz Ketchup
- ¼ cup tablespoon yellow mustard
- ½ tsp red wine vinegar
- Splash of pickle juice
Crouton
- 3 - 4 slices homemade or store-bought bread
- Garlic infused olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Extras
- Cheese
- Diced tomato
- Red onion
- Diced Claussen pickles
Instructions
Bacon
- Preheat pellet grill to 325˚ for 15 minutes according to manufacturing instructions
- Once heated add bacon and cook for around 25 minutes flipping halfway.
- Remove bacon and increase grill temperature to 375˚, placing a well-seasoned 12" cast iron skillet with a little olive oil on the grill.
Sauce
- While grill temperature is rising, whisk all sauce ingredients together and set aside.
Salad Fixings
- Chop iceberg lettuce adding mixed greens if you'd like.
- Chop cherry tomato, red onion, and pickle.
- Shred cheddar cheese.
Ground Beef
- Once the temperature is reached, add ground beef and onion, breaking up the ground beef.
- Cook until meat is browned.
- Add Sauce.
Crouton
- Drizzle olive oil over both sides of bread along with salt and pepper.
- Place on grill for a few minutes on each side.
- Remove and cut into squares.
Assembly
- Grab 4 plates dividing lettuce between them.
- Top with ground beef mixture.
- Sprinkle with cheddar cheese.
- Top with tomato, red onion, pickle, bacon, and croutons.
Notes
Instead of adding the sauce to the meat, you can save and drizzle over the salad like a dressing. We just like it mixed in.
Smoke your bacon and cook ground beef on stovetop to save a little time.
Cooking times vary depending on type of pellet grill and outdoor temperatures.
Lettuce and topping amounts vary according to your taste or how hungry you are.
Use whatever cheese makes you happy. Packaged shredded is totally fine.
Keywords: cheeseburger salad, smoked bacon, tomato, cheddar, pickle, onion
Tell us what you think!