It’s been a while since I’ve bought a bottle of blue cheese dressing, and while I have nothing against it (shoutout to Ken’s), I figured might as well get a recipe here on the site since I tend to make it fairly often. Plus, it’s so simple. This recipe makes a good amount, you’ll be happy you have some extra. Besides just a dressing, we’ll use it as a dip, or do what Ry does and use it as a sammie spread. Great on a BLT (or as he puts it, a wedge salad sandwich), buffalo chicken sandwich or tomato sandwich. With this dressing the world is your sandwich, or salad, whatever.
I love a big dinner salad. Not only cause it’s delish, but they’re pretty quick and easy to make, usually only cooking one or two ingredients, and then it’s just a matter of chopping, slicing and assembling. Plus, Ry and I generally both just eat off the same giant platter, so cleanup is usually pretty quick, and as necessary as it is, I hate cleaning up.
Besides just a dressing, we’ll use it as a dip, or do what Ry does and use it as a sammie spread. Great on a BLT (or as he puts it, a wedge salad sandwich), buffalo chicken sandwich or tomato sandwich. With this dressing the world is your sandwich, or salad, whatever.
An easy Steak Salad Recipe with THE BEST Blue Cheese Dressing
This grilled skirt steak salad takes the flavors of a classic wedge salad, but makes a full meal out of it. The quick and easy grilled skirt steak is thinly sliced and arranged on a bed of crisp, cold romaine lettuce with cherry tomatoes, red onions and lots of crumbled bacon. Oh, and the whole thing is drizzled with THE BEST homemade blue cheese dressing. This recipe is definitely going to get added into your weekly rotation!
Table of Contents
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Blue Cheese Dressing:
- Blue Cheese – Get a blue cheese you like for this. I typically like Roquefort or Stilton, but you could go extra cream with a gorgonzola, use a Danish blue, or even a Point Reyes Blue. Pick a good quality blue cheese for this.
- Milk – A dash of whole milk helps thins out the dressing to get the perfect consistency for drizzling over that salad.
- Mayonnaise – Mayo is part of the base for this dressing, I like Hellman’s, but extra rich Kewpie would also work.
- Sour Cream – Adds lots of creaminess to the dressing.
- Black Pepper – Lots of fresh ground black pepper adds some punch to the dressing and pairs so well with blue cheese.
- Fresh Herbs – Pick whatever you like. I think the added fresh herbs help to brighten up the dressing, making it a little less one note. Choose some tender herbs like chives, or tarragon. If you don’t have any, you can certainly leave out the fresh herbs and the dressing will still be absolutely delicious.
For the Salad:
- Romaine Lettuce – Chilled and well washed. You can really use any crispy lettuce you want here, I just think the romaine work really well.
- Skirt Steak – The skirt steak cooks up in minutes and is packed with flavor.
- Red Onion – thinly sliced and soaked in some cold water to remove any harshness.
- Grape Tomatoes – Juicy and sweet, these balance out the savory elements.
- Bacon – Lots of smoky, crispy bacon gets crumbled over the whole salad. Yum!
How to Make This Salad
Make the Blue Cheese Dressing
- In a bowl, mix the milk, mayo, sour cream, crumbled blue cheese, salt, and black pepper. Smash the cheese slightly for a creamier texture.
- Add in any fresh herbs you like. Mix again.
- Let the dressing sit for at least 20 minutes (an hour is better) to thicken. The longer you let it sit the thicker it’ll get. If you need to thin it out later add a touch of milk until you get a consistency you like.
Crisp the Bacon
- Lay you bacon on a parchment-lined tray, or on a rack, and place in a cold oven. Set to 425°F and bake for 20-25 minutes until crispy.
- Crumble up the bacon and set aside. And have a few bites while you’re at it, for quality control 😉
Cook your Skirt Steak
- Lightly oil the steak, season generously with salt, and grill on high heat for 3-4 minutes per side. Adjust time based on your desired doneness. (I have a handy chart for Steak Doneness Temperatures if you need it.)
- Let the steak rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain.
Assemble the Salad
- Arrange lots of chilled romaine on a platter, top with sliced red onion, tomatoes, crumbled bacon, and thinly sliced skirt steak.
- Drizzle generously with lots of that blue cheese dressing, garnish with extra crumbled cheese and lots of fresh ground black pepper.
FAQs
How do you cook skirt steak for this salad?
Let the steak come to room temperature before cooking. Grill the steak over high heat for 3-4 minutes per side. Let the steak rest for about 5 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain.
Can I make the blue cheese dressing ahead of time?
Yes, it’s even better after resting for a few hours or overnight in the fridge. It will get thicker the longer it sits, but you can thin it out with a splash of milk. Add a bit and mix until you get a dressing consistency you like.
What’s the best substitute for skirt steak?
Flank steak or flat iron steaks are great alternatives with similar texture and flavor. But really, use any steak you like. If you only really like filet, use that. Big fan of rib-eye? Use that! I LOVE skirt steak, which is why I used it here, but I get it’s not everyone favorite.
Can I use store-bought dressing?
Sure. Get a good store bought brand. I’ve had Marie’s and Ken’s before, but find something you like and use that! While homemade dressing is mind-blowingly delicious, high-quality store-bought blue cheese dressing can be used in a pinch.
Some Other Recipes you Might Like
The Calabrian Chili Oven Oven Baked Chicken Wings
Crispy oven baked chicken wings with a sweet and spicy Calabrian chili sauce and creamy gorgonzola dressing. The secret is in the flour and baking powder coating. It gives them a bubbly, crunchy exterior that’s very, very satisfying.
Steak Crostini with Horseradish Sauce and Caramelized Onions
Perfectly seared ribeye, caramelized onions, and creamy horseradish sauce served on toasted baguette slices. an easy-to-make, delectable little hors d’oeuvre!
Grilled Skirt Steak Fajitas
Mouthwatering grilled skirt steak fajitas with a chipotle-orange marinade and perfectly charred veggies. An easy fajita recipe that’s got BIG flavor!
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Did you love this Skirt Steak Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing? Leave a review or tag me on Instagram @TheMostHungry with your version!
Grilled Skirt Steak Salad
Ingredients
Blue Cheese Dressing
- 1/2 C milk
- 1/4 C mayo
- 1/4 C sour cream
- 1/2 C crumbled blue cheese plus some extra for topping – roquefort, stilton, splurge a little here
- black pepper
- salt
- chives tarragon, scallions – all good additions too
The Salad
- 1-2 heads romaine lettuce
- ~1/2 lb skirt steak
- 1/2 red onion thinly sliced
- handfull grape tomatoes halved
- bacon as much as you want – cooked and crumbled
Instructions
- Combine all your ingredients and mix well. I recommend smashing up the blue cheese a bit as you stir. Let sit for at least 20 minutes, an hour would be better. The longer you let it sit, the thicker it’ll get. When you first make this it’ll be pretty thin, but as the blue cheese sits it’ll all thicken up to that nice creamy dressing you’re expecting. And, if you need to thin it out the next day, add in a splash of extra milk.
- Get your bacon crisp and cooked. I recommend using the oven for this. Lay strips on a baking tray, either parchment lined or with a rack, put it in a cold oven, turn it to 425°F (220°C) and cook for 20-25 minutes keeping an eye on it. Get it as cooked and crispy as you like.
- Next, get all your veggies sliced and prepped.
- Then cook up that steak. I recommend grilling here. Coat it with a little bit of oil, make sure it’s well seasoned with salt and grill it on high for just a few minutes on each side. I like about 3-4 minutes on each side, but cook it more of less depending on how you like it.
- Assemble everything on a large platter, chilled if you’re extra fancy, and drizzle with plenty of your homemade blue cheese dressing, a nice showering of fresh pepper and some extra crumbles of blue cheese.
Did You Make This Recipe?
Leave a comment with your thoughts or share your version on Instagram by tagging @TheMostHungry. I’d love to see how you made it your own!
One thought on Skirt Steak Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
Def gonna have a go with this one. Looks delish..