Also known as Pennsylvania Dutch hot bacon dressing, this sweet, tangy, and bacon-filled dressing is perfect for a simple spinach salad. Serve it warm over spinach, roasted vegetables, or even as a dip for bread.
I love this bacon dressing served over spinach salad with thinly sliced red onion and mushrooms. I will also crumble blu cheese or dice up hard-boiled eggs for added flavor.
You may also hear it called old fashioned hot bacon dressing or hot bacon salad dressing so one dressing goes by many different delicious names.
This was always my favorite dressing, (growing up) we ate ours over endive with hard-boiled eggs and of course bacon. ★★★★★ Conni.
Ingredients:
For the Dressing:
For the Spinach Salad:
Recipe Card?
To find the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions CLICK HERE to go to the recipe card.
Can I use turkey bacon?
No, turkey bacon won't render enough fat for the dressing.
How to make hot bacon dressing
Cooking the bacon first renders the fat, which forms the base of the dressing. The sugar and vinegar create a sweet-tangy balance, while the cornstarch thickens the dressing to a perfect consistency.
Slice the bacon into one-inch pieces.
Cook Bacon
In a heavy-bottomed pan, cook the diced bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
Drain The Fat
Reserve ¼ cup of the rendered bacon fat in the pan; discard the rest.
Cook onions
Add the diced onion to the pan and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
Whisk The Dressing
In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Add the water and vinegar, and whisk until smooth.
Combine and thicken
Pour the vinegar mixture into the pan with the onions. Scrape the bottom of the pan to incorporate any browned bits. Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly, and cook until thickened, about 1 minute.
Flavor Tip
For extra flavor, scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pan when adding the vinegar mixture.
Add bacon to pan
Crumble the bacon and add it back into the dressing and stir to combine.
Serve
Drizzle the warm dressing over spinach salad, roasted vegetables, or your favorite greens.
Did you make this recipe?
Do you have feedback that would be helpful to others? If so can help this small business owner by leaving a rating and a review in the comments section? Thank you for being part of the Savoring The Good Community. ~ Sarah
Ingredients
- 8 slices (8 slices) Bacon diced
- ¼ Cup (40 g) onion finely diced
- ¾ Cup (150 g) Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon (1 Tablespoon) Cornstarch
- ½ Teaspoon (0.5 Teaspoon) salt
- ¼ Cup (59.15 g) Water
- ½ Cup (119.5 g) apple cider vinegar
- ¼ Teaspoon (0.25 Teaspoon) Black Pepper
Instructions
- Slice the bacon into one-inch pieces.
- In a heavy bottom pan, cook diced bacon until crisp.8 slices Bacon
- Remove the crisp bacon from the pan with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Drain all but ¼ cup of bacon grease from the pan.
- Add the onion to the pan and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.¼ Cup (40 g) onion
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, salt and pepper. Whisk in the water and apple cider vinegar.¾ Cup (150 g) Sugar, 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch, ½ Teaspoon (0.5 Teaspoon) salt, ¼ Cup (59.15 g) Water, ¼ Teaspoon (0.25 Teaspoon) Black Pepper, ½ Cup (119.5 g) apple cider vinegar
- Carefully pour the sugar/vinegar mixture into the pan.Scraping the bits off the bottom of the pan.
- Bring the dressing to a simmer, whisking continually. Cook until thickened about 1 minute.
- Add the bacon back into the dressing and stir to combine.
- Serve warm over salad greens.
Nutrition
Notes
Pair this salad with Chicken Dorito Casserole Recipe to turn it into a complete meal.
Serving Suggestions
- Spinach Salad: Toss with baby spinach, thinly sliced red onions, mushrooms, and crumbled blue cheese.
- Roasted Vegetables: Drizzle over roasted Brussels sprouts, carrots, or potatoes.
- Wedge Salad: Serve over a quartered head of iceberg lettuce.
Seasonal Favorite
This is the best homemade seedless black raspberry jam recipe made with fresh or frozen black raspberries.
Frequently asked questions, answers and tips about this warm bacon dressing recipe
I reheat this dressing by microwaving it in a microwave safe container in 15 second interval, stirring to avoid hot pockets in the dressing.
Yes, store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Red wine vinegar or white vinegar works as a substitute.
Yes, you can substitute honey or maple syrup for the sugar, but the consistency may vary slightly.
Chef Tip
This homemade salad dressing is super popular at potlucks, church gatherings and bridal showers. To keep this dressing warm, keep it in a slow cooker set on low.
I am Sarah Mock. Welcome!
Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and a graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 17 years, Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.
Conni says
Hi Sarah, this was always my favorite dressing, we ate ours over endive with hard boiled eggs and of course bacon. Our Pa. Dutch family always used a couple of eggs for thickening and equal parts of vinegar and sugar. Either way yummy!
Jean says
Thank you so much for this recipe! My husband's grandma made the best was the kind who would never give out the recipe or leave something out of it so it didn't taste as good as hers. We could never recreate it until now!
Sarah Mock says
Oh my goodness!! I can't imagine not sharing recipes! I am so glad you found what you were looking for here. Thanks Jean!
Patricia Underwood says
When growing up in Pennsylvania Dutch country my mother would make this often. We had dandelion salad with this dressing. This is how we are this then. Living in Oregon I do not use dandelion but lettuce salad instead.
Enjoy this dressing it can be used in other salads as well.
Another good salad and dressing is the Amish Supper Seven Layer Salad. Wonderful dressing too.
Thank you for sharing this dressing with all.
Patricia Underwood
Sarah Mock says
Thank you for sharing your memory Patricia!
Truth be told I have never had a dandelion salad. I KNOW! How crazy is that!? Guess I need to have one soon.
I will look into finding the recipe for the salad you recommended. I think I saw it in my recipe box recently. I need to pull it out.
Sarah
Joann Stephens says
First time making this delicious dressing. I didn’t have corn starch so I used flour, it turned out perfect consistency. I made scallops and put that on top of the spinach then added the dressing, better than the restaurant I go to!
Thank you for sharing
Sarah Mock says
you are more than welcome Joann. I am glad the flour worked out for you. I bet that salad was SO GOOD!
Janna says
Sounds super yummy - trying it tonight!
#3 step - “crips bacon” (maybe crisp bacon?)
Sarah Mock says
Jenna,
Yes! You caught a spelling error. Crisp bacon. I hope that helps. You are going to love this dressing!
Sarah
Darcy says
WOW!! Awesome! Thought it was going be too much vinegar but the sugar balances it out and makes enough dressing for a family. I really didn’t want to use the corn starch, but it made it the right consistency. Thank you very much!!
Lynette says
1/2 cup of sugar was too much for me so I used 1/4 cup. It’s still sweet but tastes great. Next time I am only going to use 1 tablespoon of sugar. It will still be slightly sweetened taste wonderful.
I prefer to cook all of the bacon before cutting it into pieces. That way you don’t have to mess with turning each little piece while it cooks.
I added about 1/4 cup more of water after it thickened, to thin the dressing a bit. I didn’t want it to be like gravy.
I also added a few grape tomatoes and 1 chopped hard boiled egg to my salad before drizzling the dressing. Wonderful!
Sarah Mock says
Your salad sounds delicious!!
I love the addition of egg and tomatoes.
Isn't it funny how everyone likes dressings at different sweetness? THIS recipe is my 'reduced' sugar dressing. I have seen others add a whole cup of sugar. Depends who you are!
Thanks, Lynette!
Sarah
Cindy says
I made the dressing! It was an easy recipe to follow! The dressing was delicious and I will make this again. Home made better than store bought and fresher and cheaper too!
Sarah Mock says
That warms my heart to hear that you loved this recipe! I appreciate that you said that the recipe was easy to follow. That is my goal with all of the recipes. I share!
sarah
Sandra says
LOVE this dressing! Thank you for taking the time to include step by step photos, they are so easy to follow.