How to Make a Better Wedge Salad [With 9 Delicious Recipes!]

The wedge salad is one of America’s favorites for so many tasty reasons. This crisp classic inspires delicious variations and always serves as a crowd-pleaser.

Is it possible to improve the traditional wedge salad?

Let’s take a look at the basics, explore new recipes and dive into ideas for making wedge salads irresistible.

What Is a Wedge Salad?

The classic wedge salad was originally a steakhouse staple, but it was too good not to be copied. Easy prep and appetizing presentation keep it a favorite with home chefs and foodservice professionals.

Simple wedge salad ingredients are a plus too. All you need are lettuce heads sliced into quarters, crisp bacon bits, diced tomatoes and creamy blue cheese dressing.

The original steakhouse salad has evolved over time, renewing its respected presence in all types of restaurant settings. Dressing and toppings choices are wide open to culinary creativity, while lettuce options range from heads of baby iceberg to romaine hearts.

How to Make a Wedge Salad

Wedge salad recipes are easy to prepare, and most are ready in half an hour. Start with a fresh head of lettuce, a clean cutting board and a sharp knife. Just follow these simple steps.

• Inspect the lettuce head, and remove any leaves that appear wilted or brown.

• Slice the head from top to bottom into four equal wedges, leaving the core intact.

• Give each wedge a cold-water rinse, and dry by patting with paper towels.

• Use a paring knife to carefully remove the lettuce core without detaching the leaves.

• Christen with your dressing of choice, sprinkle with garnish, and give the wedge a final drizzle.

9 Wedge Salad Recipes You'll Love

1. Baby Iceberg Wedges

Just a few changes turn a traditional wedge salad into a contemporary classic.

Start with crisp heads of Iceberg Babies® and a garnish of tiny tomatoes, radishes and sweet corn sliced off the cob. Finish with a herbed buttermilk ranch dressing.

2. Grilled Wedge Salad

Save room on the backyard grill for freshly quartered iceberg lettuce. It only takes a minute to give the wedges a golden char and smokey overtones.

A dash of curry paste or siracha puts a little heat in the salad's ranch dressing.

3. Special Steakhouse Wedges

Make your next steakhouse wedge salad stand out with special toppings and a rich dressing.

Dried cranberries, candied pecans and bacon bits crown the iceberg wedges. Bathe the bites in a creamy Roquefort spiked with fresh lemon juice.

4. Chicken and Apple Wedge Salad

Another take on the original wedge salad transforms it into a quick dinner entree. It's fast and easy with strips of refrigerated chicken breast and apple slices.

Glazed walnuts and chopped red onions add tantalizing crunch and flavor.

5. Romaine Heart Wedge Salad

Hearts of romaine give a unique texture and taste to wedge salads, with delicious results.

This recipe kicks up the creamy blue cheese dressing with a dash of cayenne. Tantalizing salad toppers include candied walnuts and thinly sliced apples.

6. Greek Wedge Salad

The combination of favorite Mediterranean flavors and a fresh wedge salad creates a memorable dining experience. Garnish with Persian cucumbers, kalamata olives and peperoncini.

Finish with a creamy christening of feta and yogurt dressing.

7. Salsa Verde Wedges

Rework the wedge concept with an innovative combination of grilled napa cabbage quarters and homemade salsa. The nontraditional, spicy wedge salad is delicious, ready in 30 minutes and sure to become a new classic.

8. Shrimp Wedge Salad

Think outside the recipe box with freshly steamed shrimp, cucumbers and dried wasabi peas. They're a perfect fit on this wedge salad drizzled with scratch-made creamy wasabi dressing.

The results are a sophisticated serving of elegant Asian accents.

9. Festive Holiday Wedge Salad

Transform baby iceberg lettuce into platters filled with holiday-ready wedge salads.

Decorate the little wedges with Calabrese salami, pine nuts and poached pears. A glaze of balsamic and dijon vinaigrette wraps up the festive presentation.

What to Serve With a Wedge Salad

Most wedge salads hold their own as satisfying entrees, especially when they're served with a complementary side. Think about your salad's flavor profile, and then try one of these ideas.

• Spicy black bean salsa

• Assorted marinated olives

• Homemade crostini or bruschetta

• Grilled sweet corn on the cob

• Crispy, skin-on new potato fries

Bonus Ideas That Make Wedge Salads Irresistible

Everyone loves a quick and easy wedge salad recipe. Just drizzle a quarter wedge with blue cheese dressing, top with cheese crumbles, bacon bits, and you have a perfect salad.

As much as we enjoy the classic, let’s get creative and reimagine the original. These five ideas make it simple to make irresistible wedge salads.

Go With Different Greens

Iceberg lettuce isn't the only leafy vegetable for building wedge salads. Think outside the crisper drawer. Craft your version of the classic with one of these green alternatives.

• Napa Cabbage - Slightly sweet Napa cabbage is ideal for slicing and serving as a wedge salad base. It's also a healthy choice that features an impressive nutritional profile.

• Hearts of Romaine - Both flavor and texture make romaine hearts crunchy naturals in new wedge salad recipes. The sturdy hearts never wilt under creamy dressings or silky vinaigrettes.

• Baby Iceberg Lettuce - Iceberg Babies® are small, but they're impressive as mini-wedge bite appetizers. Top baby iceberg lettuce wedges with thin slices of avocado or chilled shrimp.

Mix Up Delicious Dressings

Classic wedge salads with blue cheese will always be welcome at the table, but there are so many delicious ways to dress up a wedge. Try your hand at a simple homemade dressing for your next wedge salad.

• Give your wedge a Greek accent with a dressing mix of Greek yogurt, milk, feta, olive oil and lemon

• Put a touch of fire in your favorite vinaigrette with red chili flakes or a splash of Sriracha.

• Update buttermilk dressings for wedge salads by adding ground red pepper and garlic.

• Warm up wedges with a generous drizzle of fresh-from-the-skillet hot bacon dressing.

Crown With Tantalizing Toppings

Traditional wedge toppings are hard to beat. Classic blue cheese crumbles, chopped cherry tomatoes and crispy croutons add familiar flavors and textures, but there are so many delicious variations. 

Try crowning a wedge salad with tender chickpeas and sliced black olives. Substitute aged cheddar crumbles for blue cheese. Garnish salads with homemade toasted bread crumbs instead of croutons. Diced apples and pecan halves provide a perfect crunch.

Use your choice of toppings to create a healthy wedge salad. Sprinkle wedges with goat cheese and colorful assortments of seasonal berries. Splash with low-cal dressing, and enjoy guilt-free wedge salads that satisfy the heartiest appetites.

Complement With Enticing Bites

What do you pair with a wedge salad to create a satisfying meal?

Serve with small bites that complement your wedge salad creation. Think small bowls of marinated olives, or miniature antipasto platters with artichoke hearts, provolone and prosciutto.

Fill sauce bowls with orzo and feta salad. Be sure to pass the bread, and offer sliced sourdough or a favorite baguette. Savory garlic toast also pairs well with a wedge.  

Serve Side, Entree and Buffet Wedges

You can craft a wedge salad into an appetizing side dish. Knowing what goes well with a wedge salad can inspire nutritious entrees. You can even throw a party celebrating wedge salads. The classic dish easily fills these slots on home, restaurant and catering menus.

• Wedge Salads as Sides - A traditional wedge salad with ranch dressing is always a welcome side to grilled steaks and roasted poultry. Dress up wedge salads for your best seafood dishes with a bright lemon vinaigrette.

• Wedge Salad Entrees - Premium romaine hearts star as the main dish, especially when they're grilled. Plan your next lunch or dinner around a healthy entree BLT wedge salad made with grilled romaine hearts, turkey bacon, cherry tomatoes and boiled eggs.

• Wedge Salad Station - Let party guests build their own wedge salads. Set out a buffet offering different greens, a selection of dressings and an array of tasty toppings. Enjoy the fun as everyone customizes colorful wedge salads. 

Fresh Produce Fits Every Menu

Whether you're thinking about a nutritious lunch or planning a family dinner, the wedge salad is always a welcome addition to the menu. Restaurant guests love the classic too, and it's ideal for catering businesses.

Wedge salads are another example of how well fresh produce fits in home and commercial kitchens. Here at Hitchcock Farms, we're happy to make it happen with premium produce fresh from our fields to your tables.

FAQ

What is the best dressing for wedge salads?

Blue cheese is a favorite dressing for wedge salads, but ranch is also a popular choice. Creative kitchens often drizzle wedge salads with tangy Caesar, creamy buttermilk or rich tahini dressings.

What are the most popular wedge salad toppings?

Tomatoes, bacon and blue cheese crumbles are classic wedge salad toppings. Other delicious garnish ideas include marinated olives, finely chopped red onion, chopped hard-boiled eggs and soft nuts, such as pecans and pine nuts.

How do you eat a wedge salad?

Insert your fork into the wedge center, and use your knife to cut a bit from the wedge tip closest to you. With your fork, swirl the bite in dressing, roll it in the salad toppings, and enjoy.