Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing

Teresa Ambra

Gluten Free Living – 2014

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing is awesome! This high-protein salad is perfect for hot summer days when you don’t want to heat up your kitchen. I usually microwave the bacon so it really does keep the whole kitchen cool. It’s hearty, filling and fully satisfying for a main dish meal. This salad includes spinach, bacon, cheese cubes, red onion, miniature bell pepper rings, mushrooms, cucumbers, grape tomatoes and hard-boiled eggs. The salad dressing is also wonderful for this recipe.

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This recipe brings back wonderful, nostalgic memories of the 1990s. Carolyn Allen and I used to cater meals for the Baptist Convention of New England on occasion. Carolyn made a Spinach Salad with a either a homemade or store-bought dill dressing that we served frequently. This salad is based on that recipe.

I’ve adapted her recipe over the years. Hers had mushrooms, cheese cubes, bacon, red onion and hard-boiled eggs.  I’ve added the tomatoes, the salad pepper rings or chopped bell peppers and cucumber. We always enjoyed this tasty salad and everyone we served it to enjoyed it as well.

I’ve included a homemade Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing that was given to me after dining at Warren’s Lobster House in Kittery, Maine. We used to travel frequently around the area and stopped in their restaurant whenever we could. This is a scaled-down version. The original recipe filled a five-gallon pail! If you are ever in Maine, you need to check out this restaurant. Their salad bar is second-to-none and this homemade salad dressing is spectacular. I’m sure theirs is better than mine because it’s really hard to convert ounces and pounds into teaspoons sometimes.

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing is a filling and satisfying main dish salad that’s hearty enough for any dinner meal. It’s packed with protein due to the bacon, hard-boiled eggs, cheese cubes, spinach, and even the dressing. It’s got so many interesting textures going for it, too. This is a great salad for company dinners.

I made up a batch of this delicious salad last Sunday when we had a houseful over for a Memorial Day Weekend swim party bash. Because one of the folks who came has full-blow Celiac Disease, I wanted to make several things for her that she could eat without having immediate and severe complications. I made sure my mayonnaise, bacon, and other condiments didn’t have any wheat products.

And, I set aside some of the brisket we made and left off the BBQ sauce so she wouldn’t get sick. I also set out a whole plate of this salad so she would have something she could eat and not go without. We had such an abundance of fresh fruit that there was no problem finding something healthy to eat. But you don’t always know that when you’re planning potlucks!

If you’re looking for a fabulous and delightful salad, then consider this tasty recipe with its tangy dressing. It’s a great alternative to potato salads and baked beans. It’s a great contrast to other heavy fare brought to most picnics and backyard barbecues during the long summer days, too. Plus it just tastes great! Feel free to indulge yourself. We sure did. 🙂

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing is a fantastic summer salad.

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

This hearty salad is filling enough to be a main dish.

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

The Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing is wonderful.

Here’s what I did.

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

I used these ingredients for this salad.

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

Place spinach in a large salad bowl. Add sliced, fresh mushrooms.

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

Add cucumber and sliced miniature bell pepper rings.

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

Add red onions, sliced and separated into rings, halved grape tomatoes, and cheese cubes.

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

Add cooked bacon and hard-boiled eggs.

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

I used these ingredients for the salad dressing. 

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

Place sugar, garlic, lemon pepper, dill, and white pepper in a bowl. Add cider vinegar.

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

Add mayonnaise and milk.

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

Whisk to combine or place in a blender and pulse about 10 seconds until ingredients are combined.

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

This homemade Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing is fantastic. Thanks to Warren’s Lobster House for this great recipe.

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

Remove salad with tongs onto a plate.

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

Drizzle with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing as desired.

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

We love Spinach Salad in all it’s various forms and this one sure is a winner.

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing is a great salad to serve for company.

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

You can serve it with steaks or grilled chicken, or serve it just by itself!

Here’s the recipe.

SPINACH AND BACON SALAD WITH LEMON PEPPER DILL DRESSING

(Salad inspired from Carolyn Allen when we catered meals for the Baptist Convention of New England, Northborough, MA, circa 1990s; Salad Dressing adapted from Warren’s Lobster House, Kittery, ME)

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing

Teresa Ambra
Fabulous high protein salad that's hearty and filling. This one uses spinach, bacon, tomatoes, cucumber, miniature bell peppers, red onion, cheese cubes, hard-boiled eggs and mushrooms. Includes a homemade Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing. Terrific for hot summer nights when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. Gluten free.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Salads and Salad Dressings, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 540 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 sharp knife to cut vegetables
  • 1 small mixing bowl
  • 1 whisk
  • 1 large skillet to fry bacon
  • 1 large sauce pan with lid to hard-boil egga
  • 1 colander
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons

Ingredients
  

SALAD:

  • 10 oz. bag baby spinach
  • 4 oz. fresh mushrooms sliced
  • 2-3 slices red onion separated into rings
  • 1 cucumber quartered
  • 10.5 oz. container grape tomatoes sliced
  • 6 miniature bell peppers core and pulp removed
  • 8 oz. bag Colby/Monterey Jack cheese cubes
  • 6 oz. bacon cooked and broken into one-inch pieces
  • 6 hard-boiled eggs quartered

LEMON PEPPER DILL DRESSING:

  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup 2% milk cold
  • 1/4 tsp. white pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. granulated garlic
  • 2 1/2 cups mayonnaise or part Miracle Whip
  • 1/4 cup cider vinegar
  • 1/2 tbsp. Lemon pepper seasoning
  • 1 1/2 heaping tbsp. dill weed

Instructions
 

SALAD:

  • Layer ingredients in salad bowl in order listed.
  • Toss before serving.
  • Serve with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing.

LEMON PEPPER DILL DRESSING:

  • Whisk all ingredients in a bowl.
  • Cover.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • Serve with Spinach and Bacon Salad.
  • Makes 3 to 3 ½ cups dressing.

Notes

NOTE: This recipe turns out a lot better using only mayonnaise, but I had run out and had to add some Miracle Whip as well.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 540kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 12gFat: 50gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 22gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 142mgSodium: 566mgPotassium: 394mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 2842IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 204mgIron: 2mg
Keyword bacon, cheese, eggs, salad, side dish, spinach, tomatoes
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

[b]Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing[/b]
Recipe Type: Salads and Salad Dressings
Cuisine: American
Author: Teresa Ambra inspired from Carolyn Allen when we catered for Baptist Convention of New England, Northborough, MA, circa 1990s; salad dressing adapted from [url href=”http://www.lobsterhouse.com/” target=”_blank” title=”warren’s lobster house”]Warren’s Lobster House[/url], Kittery, ME
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 8
Fabulous salad that’s hearty and filling. This one includes spinach, bacon, tomatoes, cucumber, miniature bell peppers, red onion, cheese cubes, hard-boiled eggs and mushrooms. Includes a homemade Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing. This recipe is gluten free.
Ingredients
  • 10-oz. baby spinach
  • 4-oz. fresh sliced mushrooms
  • 2 or 3 slices of red onion, separated into rings
  • 1 cucumber, quartered
  • 10.5-oz. container grape tomatoes, sliced
  • 6 miniature bell peppers, core and pulp removed, sliced
  • 8-oz. Colby/Monterey Jack cheese cubes
  • 8-oz. bacon, cooked and broken into one-inch pieces
  • 6 hard boiled eggs, quartered
Instructions
  1. Layer ingredients in salad bowl in order listed.
  2. Toss before serving.
  3. Serve with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing.
Notes
This salad needs to be eaten up within about 36 hours as the mushrooms start getting brown.

 

[b]Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing[/b]
Recipe Type: Salads and Salad Dressings
Cuisine: American
Author: Teresa Ambra adapted from [url href=”http://www.lobsterhouse.com/” target=”_blank” title=”warren’s lobster house”]Warren’s Lobster House[/url], Kittery, ME
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 16
Fabulous salad that’s hearty and filling. This one includes spinach, bacon, tomatoes, cucumber, miniature bell peppers, red onion, cheese cubes, hard-boiled eggs and mushrooms. Includes a homemade Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing. This recipe is gluten free.
Ingredients
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 cup cold milk
  • ¼ tsp. white pepper
  • ¼ tsp. granulated garlic
  • 2 ½ cups mayonnaise (or part Miracle Whip)
  • ¼ cup cider vinegar
  • ½ tbsp. lemon pepper seasoning
  • 1 ½ heaping tbsp. dill weed
Instructions
  1. Whisk all ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Cover.
  3. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  4. Serve with Spinach and Bacon Salad.
  5. Makes 3 to 3 ½ cups dressing.
Notes
This recipe turns out a lot better using only mayonnaise, but I had run out and had to add some Miracle Whip as well.
Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

Doesn’t Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing look wonderful?

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dressing is an elegant and festive salad that’s great for summer holiday entertaining.

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

Each bite is mouthwatering. I love salads!

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Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic high protein #salad is terrific for hot summer days when you don't want to heat up your kitchen. It's hearty, filling & totally satisfying as a main dish meal. #glutenfree #hardboiledeggs #cheese #mushrooms #tomatoes #bacon

Spinach and Bacon Salad with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing

Teresa Ambra
Fabulous high protein salad that’s hearty and filling. This one uses spinach, bacon, tomatoes, cucumber, miniature bell peppers, red onion, cheese cubes, hard-boiled eggs and mushrooms. Includes a homemade Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing. Terrific for hot summer nights when you don’t want to heat up your kitchen. Gluten free.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Salads and Salad Dressings, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 540 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 sharp knife to cut vegetables
  • 1 small mixing bowl
  • 1 whisk
  • 1 large skillet to fry bacon
  • 1 large sauce pan with lid to hard-boil egga
  • 1 colander
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons

Ingredients
  

SALAD:

  • 10 oz. bag baby spinach
  • 4 oz. fresh mushrooms sliced
  • 2-3 slices red onion separated into rings
  • 1 cucumber quartered
  • 10.5 oz. container grape tomatoes sliced
  • 6 miniature bell peppers core and pulp removed
  • 8 oz. bag Colby/Monterey Jack cheese cubes
  • 6 oz. bacon cooked and broken into one-inch pieces
  • 6 hard-boiled eggs quartered

LEMON PEPPER DILL DRESSING:

  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup 2% milk cold
  • 1/4 tsp. white pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. granulated garlic
  • 2 1/2 cups mayonnaise or part Miracle Whip
  • 1/4 cup cider vinegar
  • 1/2 tbsp. Lemon pepper seasoning
  • 1 1/2 heaping tbsp. dill weed

Instructions
 

SALAD:

  • Layer ingredients in salad bowl in order listed.
  • Toss before serving.
  • Serve with Lemon Pepper Dill Dressing.

LEMON PEPPER DILL DRESSING:

  • Whisk all ingredients in a bowl.
  • Cover.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • Serve with Spinach and Bacon Salad.
  • Makes 3 to 3 ½ cups dressing.

Notes

NOTE: This recipe turns out a lot better using only mayonnaise, but I had run out and had to add some Miracle Whip as well.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 540kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 12gFat: 50gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 22gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 142mgSodium: 566mgPotassium: 394mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 2842IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 204mgIron: 2mg
Keyword bacon, cheese, eggs, salad, side dish, spinach, tomatoes
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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