Name: House Salad w/ Hot Bacon Honey Mustard Dressing {primal}
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 3 Tbsp Paleo Lime Mayo; 2 Tbsp Sir Kensington's Dijon Mustard; 2 tsp Yellow Mustard; A few drops of your favorite hot sauce, optional; 1/8 tsp Salt; Pinch Ground Black Pepper; 1 1/2 Tbsp Honey; 5 Tbsp Bacon Fat, melted and hot; 1/2 head Iceburg Lettuce; 1 head Romaine Lettuce; 3/4 cup Smoked Ham Slices, chopped; 3/4 cup Smoked Turkey Slices, chopped; 3/4 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese, leave out for dairy-free; 6 Hard Boiled Eggs, sliced; 20-24 Cherry Tomatoes, halved; 3/4 cup Sliced Almonds; 8 slices Cooked Bacon, crumbled

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Hot Bacon Honey Mustard Dressing Recipe

14+ years ago, I went on a date with a really great guy. Long story short, we got married. It was a good date. The date started at a local restaurant that had the world’s best salad and croissants. After a few years, the restaurant closed down and it’s been over a decade since I tasted what was the best salad dressing ever.

House Salad w/ Hot Bacon Honey Mustard Dressing {primal; grain-free; dairy-free option}

It wasn’t until just recently that it even crossed my mind to try and recreate the salad and dressing. I can’t really say how accurate I was in the recreation since it’s been so long, but this turned out so good that I don’t think it matters how closely it resembles the original.

House Salad Recipe (Hot Bacon Grease Trick)

The key to this dressing is the hot bacon grease. I know that might sound weird, and even a little gross, but I promise it’s what makes this dressing the best you’ll ever have. If you’re not already saving the grease from your bacon, you need to start. Simply strain it through a mesh sieve into a glass jar and store it in the fridge. Use it to cook up veggies and eggs instead of using other cooking fats.

This Hot Bacon Honey Mustard Dressing is dairy-free but the salad does have cheese added to it, so if you’re dairy-free, just omit the cheese and you’ve got a perfectly dairy-free meal. We like to make extras and have a side salad for lunch each day.

House Salad w/ Hot Bacon Honey Mustard Dressing {primal}

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

Dressing (yields approx. 3/4 cups)

3 Tbsp Paleo Lime Mayo
2 Tbsp Sir Kensington's Dijon Mustard
2 tsp Yellow Mustard
A few drops of your favorite hot sauce, optional
1/8 tsp Salt
Pinch Ground Black Pepper
1 1/2 Tbsp Honey
5 Tbsp Bacon Fat, melted and hot

Salad

1/2 head Iceburg Lettuce
1 head Romaine Lettuce
3/4 cup Smoked Ham Slices, chopped
3/4 cup Smoked Turkey Slices, chopped
3/4 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese, leave out for dairy-free
6 Hard Boiled Eggs, sliced
20-24 Cherry Tomatoes, halved
3/4 cup Sliced Almonds
8 slices Cooked Bacon, crumbled

Instructions

In a bowl, whisk together all of the dressing ingredients except the bacon fat. Set aside.

Salad

Add mixed greens to a large mixing bowl. Add in ham, turkey, shredded cheddar (if using), eggs, cherry tomatoes, almonds, and crumbled bacon. Toss to combine.
Divide salad into 6 individual serving bowls.
Stir the bacon fat into the prepared honey mustard dressing. Drizzle onto the individual salads.

Make-Ahead Option

To make the Hot Bacon Honey Mustard Dressing in advance, combine all ingredients except bacon fat and store in the fridge. When ready to use, heat up the bacon fat and mix in right before pouring onto salad.

Nutrition Information

Yield 6 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 508Total Fat 37gSaturated Fat 11gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 22gCholesterol 246mgSodium 1172mgCarbohydrates 21gFiber 6gSugar 11gProtein 27g

This House Salad w/ Hot Bacon Honey Mustard Dressing is restaurant quality right in your own home. Naturally gluten-free with a dairy-free option. #primal

Alex smith

Friday 18th of August 2023

Omg…are u by chance talking about lighthouse grill??? I still have DREAMS about their croissants and house salad dressing

Kendra Benson

Wednesday 23rd of August 2023

@Alex smith, Haha! Yes! Dream no more about the dressing, but the croissants....

Monday 2nd of March 2020

If I'm not putting any bacon fat, can I heat up the dressing in the microwave with mayonnaise in it? Or should I omit the mayonnaise and heat up the honey and mustard, and add the mayonnaise back into it?

Caryn

Sunday 18th of August 2019

Is the salad and dressing, by any chance from a restaurant in Jacksonville, FL called Lighthouse Grille that closed a few years ago? I’ve been looking specifically for a recipe for the hot bacon honey mustard dressing from that restaurant and that’s how I stumbled upon your recipe. When I read your comment about a restaurant you had visited that has since closed I thought: “what are the odds?” ?. Well, if it’s not the same it sounds pretty similar so I will still try your recipe ?. I don't Remember the salad much but that can vary, the dressing is what I’m most interested in ?. Thank you so much!

@Caryn, YES!! We were so sad when it closed (it's where we had our first date). Now to get a paleo version of those croissants... Haha!

@Caryn, OMG I JUST COMMENTED THE SAME THING! small world 🤯

Holly

Tuesday 22nd of August 2017

You are amazingly talented with food Kendra! I just happened to stumble upon your blog and I've tried several recipes in the last few weeks...all of them awesome! This one is no exception. YUM!!! I can't wait to read all your recipes! I love cassava flour and unrefined sugars such as maple as ingredients so this is right up our alley! Keep 'um comin! ????

Laura

Tuesday 21st of February 2017

We used to go to a restaurant in Myrtle Beach (Carolina Roadhouse by California Dreamin') that had this salad & dressing! BEST stuff EVER!! If you figure out how to make the honey butter croissants in a paleo-friendly way, PLEASE let me know!

YES! California Dreaming is owned by the same company that owned the restaurant where I first had this salad. My parents still travel to SC and get the salad every time. I have not given up on trying to make the croissants paleo. They are slightly life-changing... ;)