Low Carb Hot Bacon Dressing for Salads

This Low Carb Hot Bacon Dressing for Salads is much like a tangy-sweet warm vinaigrette with crunchy bacon. Filling and versatile, and full of amazing flavors, it takes a regular salad to an entirely new level. If you’re searching for a low-carb dressing for salad, this hot bacon dressing recipe is absolutely delicious. 

LOW CARB HOT BACON DRESSING RECIPE FOR SALADS

Years ago, I ordered a salad at Bennigan’s Restaurant with Hot Bacon Dressing, and it made such an impression on me that more than 20 years later, it came back to my mind. I’m pretty sure that bacon makes everything better, and salad is indeed no exception to that rule, especially when it is hot bacon infused with spices.

When I made this Low Carb Hot Bacon Salad Dressing for my family, I made a big salad with leafy greens and spinach and added keto-fried chicken chopped into small pieces. Instead of mixed greens, you could make a spinach salad if you prefer. I topped the salad with cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and boiled eggs, then dressed it with this tangy Low Carb Hot Bacon Dressing. I’m kind of boring when it comes to toppings, so many other options like avocados and such would make a delicious addition.

Ingredients needed to make low carb hot bacon dressing

• Bacon – Bacon has the flavor we crave and the fat we need to stay keto. I like thinner sliced bacon for this recipe as it fries up crispier. If you can find uncured bacon, that is the best option. If not, check the label as you’ll want to avoid maple or brown sugar bacon for the sugar content. 
• Garlic & onion – add flavor.
• Bacon fat– the oil base of the hot bacon dressing
• Yellow mustard – adds a punch of flavor
• Lakanto Monkfruit Golden  – This sugar substitute works perfectly for salad dressings. It resembles brown sugar in taste and consistency and helps balance out the tangy vinegar in this low-carb hot bacon dressing recipe.
• Water –  Adds additional liquid to the dressing.
• Red vinegar – adds the vinegar flavor to this hot bacon vinegarette dressing.
• Italian seasoning – This blend of herbs is what gives the hot bacon dressing its spicy Italian flavor. 
• Salt & Pepper – Adds flavor as needed

Tips for Making hot bacon keto dressing

I cut up my bacon into smaller pieces so that it cooks faster since I was going to crumble it anyway. Make sure to get it nice and crispy for this recipe. You want all those yummy, flavorful bits of bacon to be brown but not burned.

Monkfruit Golden works perfectly in this recipe for homemade low-carb Hot Bacon dressing for salads. It is a sugar-free keto-friendly brown sugar substitute that balances out the tangy vinegar flavor of this dressing.

Don’t be afraid to make homemade keto-friendly salad dressings as you avoid so many ingredients that those who follow a strict keto lifestyle omit from their diet. Plus, it tastes better than store-bought and is simple to make.

Once your low carb Hot Bacon Dressing has cooked down, crumble all of the bacon you cooked into smaller pieces and add them back to the dressing. The crunchy bacon, along with the tangy-sweet undertones of the vinaigrette, is an explosion of flavor that will leave you wondering why you aren’t making this at least once a week.

HOW DO I MAKE HOT BACON DRESSING KETO-FRIENDLY?

It’s a simple recipe to revamp so that it isn’t full of sugar. Many use brown sugar in traditional Hot Bacon Dressing to give a sweet twist to the vinegar flavor, but in this low-carb recipe, I used sugar-free Lakanto Monkfruit Golden. Lakanto Monkfruit Golden is a keto-friendly brown sugar substitute.

How to make low carb salad dressing 

Step 1: Chop the bacon into small pieces, then saute it until it is crispy. The crispier, the better. Once it is crisp, remove it and set it aside on a plate covered with a paper towel. When it cools, crumble it into even smaller pieces. 

Step 2: Leave ⅓ cup of the bacon grease in the skillet and remove the rest. Over medium heat, saute the minced garlic and chopped onion in the grease. Cook until the onion becomes translucent.

Step 3: Add the rest of the ingredients and continue to heat until it comes to a boil. Let it boil for five minutes uncovered. It should could until the dressing reduces, stirring with a whisk or wooden spoon.

Step 4: Once your low-carb Hot Bacon Dressing has cooked down, crumble all of the bacon you cooked into smaller pieces and add them back to the dressing. The crunchy bacon, along with the tangy-sweet undertones of the vinegarette, is an explosion of flavor that will leave you wondering why you aren’t making it more often. 

HOW DO I STORE THIS KETO SALAD DRESSING?

The hot bacon salad dressing should be stored in the fridge. It will need to be reheated before using and will require adding a little water as the bacon grease thickens in cold temperatures. It can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days. I haven’t tested freezing it.

IS THE HOMEMADE HOT BACON SALAD DRESSING KETO-FRIENDLY?

Yes, all of the ingredients are low carb and keto-friendly. Any ingredients in a traditional hot bacon dressing have been substituted with a low-carb version.

WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THE LEFTOVER BACON DRIPPINGS?

You can never have too much bacon grease! If you store it properly, it doesn’t need refrigeration. Strain any leftover bacon grease and put it in a covered container. Leftover bacon grease is a tasty addition to most cooked vegetable dishes. Add a little bit to the pan when sauteeing brussels sprouts, asparagus, zucchini, or cabbage. You can even use it for cooking your scrambled or fried eggs. It is wonderful when caramelizing onions or roasting cauliflower or butternut squash.

LOW CARB HOT BACON DRESSING IDEAS

Since this hot bacon dressing is warm, it can wilt most salad greens. This is why I use baby spinach. Not only is it a bit sweeter than other spinaches, but it tends to hold up well to the hot dressing. 

There are a lot of low-carb options to use with this dressing. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Boiled eggs
• Feta cheese
• Goat cheese
• Red onion
• Pine nuts
• Pecans or walnuts
• Grilled chicken
• Sliced mushrooms

Notes for this hot bacon keto dressing 

This recipe makes approx. 1 cup Low Carb Hot Bacon Salad Dressing. The sugar alcohols in the Lakanto Monkfruit Golden are included in the nutritional information because most subtract to calculate net carbs. 

More Keto Salad Recipes:

• Keto Chicken Salad
• Keto Broccoli Bacon Salad
• Keto Taco Salad (with Creamy Dressing)
• Marinated Keto Cole Slaw
• Keto Cucumber Salad Recipe
• Keto Egg Salad with Bacon

MORE EASY KETO RECIPES:

• Keto Sloppy Joe Skillet 
• Monterey Chicken
• Keto Butter Burgers 
• Loaded Broccoli 
• One-Skillet Chicken & Asparagus 
• Crock-pot Barbacoa Recipe
• Portobello Mushroom Pizza 

If meal planning is stressful, I post a weekly free meal plan. You can find a list of all my easy keto meal plans here for inspiration.

 How to Make Low Carb Hot Bacon Dressing for Salads