Don’t throw out that grease left over after cooking your bacon – save it and use it as the base for this quick-to-make, versatile, flavor-packed dressing, just like you’ll find on the menu at Bennigan’s.
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Hot Bacon Dressing
There’s so much to love about Bennigan’s, from its friendly, casual vibes to its mouthwatering menu of Irish pub-inspired cuisine. However, one of the most beloved yet subtle offerings isn’t among the sandwiches, burgers, or entrees like fish and chips or steaks. It’s found on Bennigan’s salads, with the chain’s deliciously craveable hot bacon dressing.
While it might taste sophisticated and unique, you may be surprised how easy it is to recreate at home.
Why Bennigan’s Hot Bacon Dressing is so good
The dressing can make or break a salad, no matter what type or what kind of ingredients are in it. Bennigan’s hot bacon dressing stands out among competitors thanks to its perfectly balanced and contrasting taste.
Ultra-savory bacon grease is paired with honey for sweetness and vinegar for tartness, creating a one-of-a-kind vinaigrette bursting with flavor from Dijon mustard and hot sauce. It’s the kind of homemade dressing recipe that will have you tossing out those store-bought bottles for good!
Why you are going to love recreating this recipe
Despite the complex and unique flavor, home cooks may be surprised by how easy it is to pull together this dressing. There’s not much required other than a bit of mixing and sauteeing, with the prep process taking just 20 minutes from start to finish.
Outside of the bacon grease, all of the ingredients are affordable and can easily be stocked up on in advance, ensuring you’ve got what you need to whip up an unexpected batch.
Meanwhile, it’ll also appeal to thrifty cooks who want to minimize waste, allowing them to repurpose the incredibly robust bacon drippings into another dish rather than deal with the messy process of disposing of it.
Ingredients you will need
A handful of everyday ingredients combine to produce tantalizing flavors in this delicious recipe:
- Bacon grease
- Finely diced red onion
- Water
- Honey
- Red wine vinegar
- Dijon mustard
- Corn starch
- Tabasco sauce
Feel free to omit the Tabasco if you prefer to avoid spice or replace it with your hot sauce of choice.
How to make Bennigan’s hot bacon dressing recipe
Here’s the secret to whipping up a bacon vinaigrette just like they serve at Benningan’s:
- Heat the bacon grease in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the diced onions and saute until they begin to blacken and caramelize.
- Meanwhile, whisk the water, honey, and vinegar until combined, then stir in corn starch.
- When the onions have caramelized, add the Dijon mustard and honey/vinegar mixture to the pan. If desired, add a dash or two of Tabasco hot sauce for a bit of heat.
- Cook, stirring until the ingredients thicken and begin to boil.
- Remove from the heat and serve when cooled to the appropriate temperature.
- Pour the cooled dressing into a jar for easy serving and storing.
What goes well with warm bacon dressing
Naturally, this delicious hot bacon dressing is most at home on fresh green salads, especially a spinach salad. It adds a savory pop to any combination of salad greens, veggies, and other mix-ins and toppings, along with accentuating any added proteins like chicken or beef.
However, this dressing can also be used as a marinade for grilled or roasted meat. It’s also great to toss on potatoes, mushrooms, and Brussels sprouts before roasting them. It’s a delicious dipping sauce for rolls or crusty bread and can even be a boost for sandwiches in need of some extra flavor.
How to store hot bacon dressing
It’s easy to store this delicious dressing if you have leftovers or are making it ahead of time. Simply allow it to cool to room temperature, pour it into a sealed container, and store it in the fridge.
Alternatively, it can also be frozen in a freezer-safe vessel for longer-term storage.
How long will the dressing last?
Generally, you should use the refrigerated dressing within a week of making it to ensure it’s at top quality. When frozen, it can last up to three months.
More Bennigan’s copycat recipes
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Bennigan’s Hot Bacon Dressing
Make Bennigan’s Hot Bacon dressing at home.
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Servings: 4
Calories: 282kcal
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bacon grease
- 1/4 pound finely diced red onion
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon Tabasco
Instructions
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Using the insides of the red onion, finely diced, 1/4 pound., Place the bacon grease in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and saute until the onions start to blacken. While the onions are caramelizing, in a mixing bowl place the water, honey, and red wine vinegar. Using a wire whisk, mix the ingredients well. Add the cornstarch and whisk well. After the onions have caramelized, add the
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Dijon mustard to the onions and stir together with a rubber spatula. Add the water, vinegar, pepper, honey, and cornstarch to the mustard and onions and mix. Continue stirring until mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Remove from heat and store in the refrigerator until needed. Makes 1 quart. Note: To reheat use a double boiler. I put Tabasco on the ingredient list if you like it. In different parts of the country, Bennigan’s omits this ingredient.
Nutrition
Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 203mg | Potassium: 85mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin C: 4.7mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 0.5mg