Name: Grilled Wedge Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 3 min
Total time: 13 min
Ingredients: 2 Romaine Lettuce Hearts; 1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil; 1 cup Grape Tomatoes (halved); 4 pieces Turkey Bacon (or other bacon); Salt and Pepper (to taste)

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As a Health Coach and salad lover, this Grilled Wedge Salad is one of my favorite side salads I've ever had. When I think of summer side dishes I usually think macaroni salad, potato salad, or broccoli salad, but this might quickly be added into the rotation!

This grilled salad has a nice char from the grill, yet is still crisp and delicious, just like you're favorite steakhouse wedge salad. It's a perfect dish for a warm summer day or a backyard barbecue, and it's incredibly easy to make. I love serving it with my dairy-free ranch dressing, which makes it a refreshing and satisfying dish.

Whether you're a vegetarian or a meat lover, this grilled salad is a great way to add some color and nutrition to your meal. So fire up your grill and let's get started!

grilled wedge salad on a plate with tomatoes, onions, and ranch dressing

Why You'll Love Love This Recipe

Something new: We all love a good side salad, but they can get boring. By grilling it you're adding a new level of flavors that just might keep you excited about salads all summer long.

Easy to make: This salad only takes about three minutes on the grill and doesn't require any special toppings that add additional time to cooking.

Make it your own: This salad is totally customizable for you and your family, so feel free to make it your own. If you like blue cheese dressing, use that and if you like radishes, add those. If you want to keep this plant based, leave off the bacon.

No clean up: Since you're making this right on the grill, there's no extra dishes to wash!

Ingredients You Will Need

Romaine Lettuce Hearts: This is the base of the salad. I like to use Romaine hearts instead of the full romaine head because the leaves are more tightly packed and don't burn as easily. Romaine lettuce is one of the leafy greens that is great for your heart! It is packed full of vitamin C, potassium and folate to help lower cholesterol and decrease blood pressure.

Cherry tomatoes: These sweet little tomatoes are perfect for a grilled wedge salad because they add some acidity and sweetness! They also pack a punch in the nutrition department too. They're full of lycopene, a powerful nutrient that helps fight inflammation and blood clotting.

Red onion: These give a nice crunch to the salad. Red onions are full of antioxidants which help fight inflammation. They also have folate, manganese, and some vitamin C. They are antibacterial, help digestion (for some), and can help reduce your risk of cancer.

Bacon: I like turkey bacon best, but any will do. I get my turkey bacon from Rastelli's, but if you are getting it from the store, be sure to check the ingredients for sugar content and any other unwanted added ingredients. You can also add any other protein to make this a fuller meal.

Dressing: I like to use my Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing, but you can also use blue cheese dressing if you are ok with some dairy.

Instructions

Preheat the grill to medium-low heat.

Cut the romaine hearts in half length-wise and wash. I just rinse the lettuce and make sure that it's completely dry before grilling. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Grill the romaine lettuce for about 3 minutes or until the lettuce started to get charred. If you are not using Romaine hearts, this may happen very quickly on the outer edges of the lettuce.

Top the lettuce with red onion, tomatoes, bacon, and your favorite dressing. Enjoy! It's best to eat it right after grilling.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Serving: I eat this almost every night in the summer to get extra veggies in. It goes great with chicken, steak or pork. If you want to make it a full meal, double the salad size and add your favorite protein.

Washing: Be sure the lettuce is dry from washing it or it will steam the lettuce. Also be sure that it's thoroughly coated in olive oil before putting it on the grill.

Scaling: You can easily double or triple this recipe. I estimate one half of a romaine heart per person (unless they are very small) so just make enough to feed as many people as you need!

Recipe Variations

This recipe is already gluten-free and dairy-free (depending on the dressing that you use), however you can customize the salad to your liking. If you like cheese, add cheese or if you like almonds, add almonds.

If you cannot find Romaine hearts, you can also use iceberg lettuce, but this will cook VERY quickly so be sure not to walk away from your grill.

Storage Tips

I don't recommend storing the Grilled Wedge Salad after you've grilled it. However to keep your romaine lettuce fresher longer, I store mine in the container it came in with a paper towel.

FAQs

What other dressings can I use?

Any that you like! I like ranch dressing best on this type of salad, but a tangy vinaigrette or blue cheese dressing would be great too.

Can I do this inside?

Yes you can do this on an indoor griddle or in a cast iron pan.

What grill do you use?

We love our BlackStone Grill, but this also works on any grill with grates.

What is the proper way to eat a wedge salad?

The best way to eat a wedge salad is with a steak knife and a fork. Cut it into bite sized-pieces so you grab some topping with each bite.