Skip to main content

A Better Way to Make Wedge Salad (Easy + Homemade Dressing)

Image

Deconstructed Wedge Salad with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing

There are days when you want something a little special… but you don’t want anything fussy.

That’s exactly where this deconstructed wedge salad comes in. A deconstructed wedge salad is a simple twist on the classic steakhouse favorite. Instead of serving lettuce in wedges, everything is chopped and layered in a bowl, making it easier to serve and eat—especially for smaller households.

A bowl with iceberg lettuce, chopped tomato, bacon, blue cheese dressing in a white bowl.g

It has everything you love about a classic wedge salad: crisp lettuce, blue cheese, bacon, and tomatoes, but it’s easier to make, easier to serve, and honestly, easier to eat.

And when you add a simple homemade blue cheese dressing? It turns a basic salad into something that feels like it came straight from a restaurant.

A deconstructed wedge salad.
Why You'll Love Making Wedge Salad This Way

When I'm in the kitchen, I try to simplify. Instead of serving a traditional wedge, I chop everything and arrange it in a bowl.

That simple change makes a big difference.

  • No cutting at the table

  • Easy to serve for a group

  • You can make it ahead of time

  • Everyone can take exactly what they want

It’s one of those small shifts that makes dinner feel more put together—without adding extra work. Jump to Recipe

Watch: Deconstructed Wedge Salad with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing

What You’ll Need

For the salad:

  • Iceberg lettuce (about 1/4 head per person)

  • Cherry tomatoes

  • Cooked bacon

  • Blue cheese (a wedge is best)

  • Salt and pepper

For the dressing:

  • A woman drizzling blue chees dressing from a spoon.
    1/2 cup mayonnaise

  • 1/4 cup sour cream

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

  • 1 large clove of garlic, crushed

  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 2–4 tablespoons buttermilk (to adjust consistency)

  • About 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles

How to Make a Deconstructed Wedge Salad

Start with a large bowl-something you’d be happy to put right on the table.

A wooman, holding a large white salad bowl.

Coarsely chop the iceberg lettuce into bite-sized pieces and add it to the bowl. Cut your cherry tomatoes into smaller pieces. This makes the salad easier to eat—no knife needed.

Season lightly with salt and pepper.

Add your blue cheese. If you’re using a wedge, just break it up with a fork into crumbles.

A woman making blue cheese crumbles with a fork.

Chop the bacon into pieces and add it to the bowl.

At this point, you can cover and refrigerate the salad until you’re ready to serve. Just toss it with dressing right before serving.

How to Make Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing

I like to make this dressing in a mason jar—it’s simple, and the measurements are right on the side.

Mix together:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise

  • 1/4 cup sour cream

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

  • 1 crushed clove of garlic

  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Add 2 tablespoons of buttermilk and shake or stir to combine.

You’re looking for a slightly thinner base than your final dressing will be.

Now add about 1/4 cup of blue cheese crumbles. Stir, taste, and adjust as needed.

Let the dressing sit for at least an hour before serving. The flavor improves as it rests.

A Few Simple Tips

Buy a wedge of blue cheese
It has better flavor and texture than pre-crumbled.

Keep the dressing a little thinner at first
The blue cheese will thicken it as it sits.

Make the dressing ahead
Even an hour makes a difference in flavor.

How to Serve a Deconstructed Wedge Salad

This salad pairs perfectly with simple dinners like:

  • grilled shrimp, steak, or chicken

  • lamb chops, pork chops

  • or a quick weeknight protein

It’s an easy way to round out a meal without adding stress.

Final Thought

This is one of those recipes that reminds you:

Good food doesn’t have to be complicated to feel special.

A simple salad, made just a little differently, can completely change how dinner feels.

>

Let’s Keep It Simple

If you try this, I’d love to know, do you prefer a classic wedge, or this easy version?

The Deconstructed Wedge Salad Recipe

steakhouse salad, blue cheese salad
dinner
American
Yield: 2
Author: Donna Urso
Deconstructed Wedge Salad with homemade Blue Cheese Dressing

Deconstructed Wedge Salad with homemade Blue Cheese Dressing

A simple, deconstructed wedge salad with homemade blue cheese dressing. Easy to make, perfect for guests, and full of classic flavor without the fuss.

Prep time: 10 MinTotal time: 10 Min

Ingredients

For the Salad
For the Dressing

Instructions

  1. Mix together:
  2. 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  3. 1/4 cup sour cream
  4. 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  5. 1/2 teaspoon salt
  6. 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  7. 1 crushed clove of garlic
  8. 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  9. Add 2 tablespoons of buttermilk and shake or stir to combine. You’re looking for a slightly thinner base than your final dressing will be.
  10. Now add about 1/4 cup of blue cheese crumbles. Stir, taste, and adjust as needed.
  11. Let the dressing sit for at least an hour before serving. The flavor improves as it rests.

Recommended Products

Knife Set

White Salad Bowls

Cutting Board Set

Nutrition Facts

Calories

691

Fat (grams)

64 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

18 g

Carbs (grams)

15 g

Fiber (grams)

3 g

Net carbs

12 g

Sugar (grams)

9 g

Protein (grams)

17 g

Sodium (milligrams)

1783 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

83 mg

Nutrional information is approximate.

Similar Recipes

Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing

Fresh Garden Tomato Salad with Basil and Mozzarella

Creamy Crunchy Cucumber Salad

https://www.justonedonna.com/2026/05/a-better-way-to-make-wedge-salad.htmlhttps://www.justonedonna.com/2026/05/a-better-way-to-make-wedge-salad.html
©Just One Donna

It's easy to add me as a preferred source on Google, so my latest updates show up first in your search results and AI Overviews!

Add Just One Donna as Preferred Source

Comments

Post a Comment

Talk to me. I welcome your comments. (These comments are strictly moderated. Spammers take note.)

More Popular Posts

Traditional New England Whoopie Pies

These old-fashioned whoopie pies are soft, chocolatey, and filled with a rich, creamy filling, just like the ones many of us remember. What is an original New England Whoopie Pie? This is a true New England-style recipe. If you’re looking for a true whoopie pie recipe—the kind made in New England with a cooked filling—this is it. Whoopie pies are a beloved treat, a nostalgic dessert that evokes childhood memories and continues to delight today. My mom would make them for us every once in a while. Oh, what a treat to come home from school to a platter of chocolate whoopie pies! This recipe, inspired by traditional Maine-style whoopie pies, comes from my family recipe box. It delivers soft, chocolatey cakes with a rich, creamy cooked filling, no marshmallow fluff needed! The Best Whoopie Pies Recipe (Soft Cakes & Creamy Filling) This post includes affiliate links. Whoopie pies are essentially handheld cake sandwiches: soft, round, cake-like cookies embracing a ...
11 comments
Read more

Artisan Bread in Your Bread Machine

Finally. Artisan Bread from Your Bread Machine Yes, Really. If you want to make artisan-style bread using your bread machine, the secret is simple: use the dough cycle, then bake the loaf in a preheated Dutch oven. This method gives you a crisp crust and chewy crumb without any hand kneading. If you use your bread machine regularly, you already know what it does well. It mixes, kneads, and handles the first rise beautifully. It is a dependable helper in the kitchen. What it does not do especially well is produce that deep golden, crackly crust we associate with artisan bread. The good news is you do not need to give up the ease of your bread machine to get that result. You simply need to change how the bread is baked. Today I’m showing you how to use your bread machine’s dough cycle and bake the loaf in a Dutch oven for a crusty, bakery-style result.
Post a Comment
Read more

Rum Punch for a Party

Easy Rum Punch Recipe (Perfect Party Cocktail) Looking for an easy rum punch recipe for a party? This fruity rum punch is made ahead, full of tropical flavor, and perfect for summer gatherings. It’s the kind of drink that makes you feel like you’re sitting by the water with your toes in the sand. One sip and you’re there. Why This Rum Punch Is Perfect for Entertaining Jump to Recipe This is one of those recipes that just makes hosting easier. Make it ahead : mix it before guests arrive Serves a crowd : easy to double or triple It's No-fuss : no mixing drinks all afternoon It has a Bright, tropical flavor everyone loves If you’re hosting a barbecue, picnic, or holiday gathering, this one always works. Rum Punch Ingredients This classic rum punch uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients: Lime juice Grenadine Spiced rum Light rum or coconut rum Pineapple juice Orange juice Optional garnish: Pi...
4 comments
Read more

How to Make a Perfect Bacon and Eggs Breakfast

In my opinion, the best breakfast consists of two perfectly fried eggs, crispy bacon, and toast made with hearty bread. This bacon and eggs recipe delivers. Bacon and eggs or eggs and bacon? No matter, it is definitely the breakfast you want on those lazy mornings when you have time to relax around the kitchen table, drinking a cup of coffee or two. The Best Bacon and Eggs Breakfast (This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.  When you make a purchase using these links you help support this blog.) How to Cook Bacon and Eggs My technique was learned from my mom, by watching her make our family's breakfast over and over again, year after year.  This is a basted egg recipe which means the eggs are cooked in bacon grease. Cooking eggs in bacon fat is easy and takes just a little practice to perfect.
3 comments
Read more

The Best Asian Dipping Sauce You'll Ever Taste

If you're looking for a versatile, easy-to-make Asian dipping sauce perfect for sushi and dumplings, then you've come to the right place. This recipe for the best Asian dipping sauce is perfect for any time you want a  kick of delicious Asian flavor. An Asian Dipping Sauce for Sushi and Dumplings Try this if you are looking for a dipping sauce that is a little more flavorful than you typically get with your takeout order. You'll love it with dumplings, too!
2 comments
Read more

Coffee and Dessert-A Perfect Pairing

3 Easy Coffee Drinks to Make at Home (Perfect with Dessert) Coffee and dessert just belong together. Not in a fussy, go-out-to-a-restaurant kind of way… but in that simple end-of-the-day moment when you want something a little special without making a big production out of it. The good news? You don’t need any special equipment to make a really good “dessert coffee” at home. If you can brew a strong cup of coffee and warm a little milk, you’re already halfway there. In this post, I’m going to show you three easy coffee drinks you can make in your own kitchen, and exactly what to serve with them when you want that coffee shop feel without leaving the house.
55 comments
Read more

Grandma's Soft and Chewy Date-Filled Cookies

One of the things I can count on as the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons arrive each year is a feeling of nostalgia. The traditional foods we serve at our family's holiday tables can surely bring out all the feels. Now that it is officially cookie season, we should kick it off with an old-fashioned homemade date-filled cookie recipe. This is a soft, tender cookie with dates that is a special, nostalgic, family recipe.   An Old-Fashioned Date Cookie Recipe What are old-fashioned date-filled cookies?   Old-fashioned date-filled cookies are a nostalgic, soft sandwich cookie featuring two rounds of tender sugar cookie dough with a sweet, homemade date jam filling in the center.  This vintage 1930s recipe is a traditional holiday favorite, prized for its soft texture and the perfect balance of buttery dough and naturally sweet dates. This old-fashioned, date-filled cookie was my dad's favorite cookie from his childhood. My dad was born in 1932, so this...
18 comments
Read more

The Ultimate Cinnamon Swirl Bread: A Bread Machine Recipe

Today's recipe will fill your kitchen with an incredible aroma and lots of smiles. It's homemade cinnamon swirl bread made with your bread machine. If you’ve ever struggled to get that perfect cinnamon swirl or ended up with gaps or leaking filling, this method fixes that using your bread machine. Bread Machine Cinnamon Swirl Bread (Soft, Easy Recipe) This post includes affiliate links. This recipe brings together the ease of your trusty bread machine with the deliciousness of a warm, sweet, and perfectly swirled cinnamon bread. Get ready for a slice of pure comfort!
2 comments
Read more

The Best Way to Cook Bacon: Oven vs. Stovetop

How to cook bacon is often hotly debated. Cooking bacon in a pan on the stove has always been an easy go-to method. Cooking bacon in the oven has grown in popularity over time.  Are you curious about which bacon cooking method cooks bacon faster, which method produces the crispiest bacon, or which method offers easier cleanup? Those were the primary questions I wanted to answer in this bacon cooking comparison. How to Cook Bacon (This post includes paid links.) Whether you're a breakfast aficionado or just looking for bacon cooking tips for the quickest, crunchiest, and most hassle-free way to cook your bacon, I've got answers. Check out the Oven vs. Stovetop bacon battle and discover the fastest, crispiest, and easiest way to cook bacon for breakfast.
Post a Comment
Read more

Crunchy, Spicy Gingersnap Cookies

An Old-Fashioned Cookie That Always Turns Out There’s something about a good gingersnap cookie that just feels right. Not fancy. Not complicated. Just dependable… and really, really good. These crunchy, spicy gingersnaps are the kind of cookie you make when you want something you know will turn out—and something everyone will recognize and enjoy. They’ve got that classic crackled top, a warm blend of spices, and just enough sweetness to balance it all out. And the best part? They’re easy. No mixer required. Traditional Ginger Snaps Cookie Recipe ( This post contains affiliate links.  I will be compensated when you make a purchase with these links.) Gingersnaps Cookies This old-fashioned gingersnap cookie is a winner.  It's easy to make and will be a favorite in your recipe rotation.
11 comments
Read more