You know the old saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”? Well, that’s what I first thought after making this copycat Outback Steakhouse blue cheese vinaigrette. I mean, heck, it isn’t the most attractive dressing ever. But then I poured it over my fresh homemade garden salad and thought “Yee haw! Now THAT’S good!”. Two great flavors (a classic vinaigrette and blue cheese) come together to make me one happy guy. Give me extra, because I really love this dressing!
Is There A Such Thing as Too Much Blue Cheese?
As much as I am a fan of blue cheese, I actually have a ‘blue cheese limit’. I just cannot do the big chunks. That’s the beauty of making this copycat Outback Steakhouse blue cheese vinaigrette at home. I got the blue cheese crumbles to be just my size. Perfect on a salad.
Add copycat Outback Steakhouse croutons to my ever-growing list of things I have no self-control around. I love a crouton that is packed with flavor. The bread has to be crunchy, golden brown on the outside. And the inside has to be just a bit soft. Not like mushy soft, but softer than the crust. These croutons hit the spot and tested my ability to control myself like it hadn’t been tested in a long, long time.
Make it Your Way
Don’t over-melt the butter when you make these copycat Outback Steakhouse croutons. You want it a bit thick. Like the consistency of mayonnaise. That’s what you’re looking for. Me, I love Cajun seasoning, so I added extra. I like a little spiciness. Most salads don’t have any heat to them at all. No kick. Well, add a little extra seasoning and yours can.
Croutons and More Croutons
This recipe calls for a whole loaf of Texas toast. That means you’ll get a lot of croutons. I do mean a lot. Enough for a big ole party or family get-together. You can easily cut the recipe in half and get a ‘manageable’ amount of croutons. Or make the entire thing and freeze any excess croutons for later.
Cut the bread into bite-sized pieces. I cut mine into 1" cubes. Transfer to two large baking sheets and bake for 8 or so minutes or until golden brown but NOT crunchy. You're more after color than doneness at this point. Remove and let cool.
Place butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds or more until the butter is just soft but NOT melted. You want it to be the consistency of mayonnaise.
Add the garlic and seasoning to the butter and mix well.
Transfer half of the butter mixture to a large bowl and add half of the bread cubes. Stir gently with a spatula or large spoon to coat well. Transfer the coated cubes back to a baking sheet. Repeat with the other half of the butter mixture and bread cubes.
Bake cubes another 10-20 minutes or until the croutons have the desired doneness, stirring every few minutes. For me this was about 10 minutes. I like my croutons to be crunchy on the outside and a little soft on the inside.
I have an addiction to Ranch dressing. It’s probably the reason I love wings so much. I can use wings as and excuse to feed my dressing habit. This copycat Outback Steakhouse Ranch salad dressing didn’t help me control my habit at all. In fact, it’s worse now. I wanted to drink this dressing out of the bottle. I didn’t even care if anyone was watching. It’s perfectly buttermilk-y. Perfectly creamy. And it has just the right hint of garlic. Man, oh man, do I love this dressing!
Let it Rest
Make sure that you let this copycat Outback Steakhouse Ranch salad dressing rest at least 30 minutes before serving. Overnight is even better. Just give it a little stir before serving. You’ll get about 2 cups of dressing from this recipe. I’d call that 12 servings, but it really depends on how much you love dressing. If you’re normal, you’ll likely get more servings. If you’re like me, a true Ranch-aholic, you’ll be happy if you get the full 12 servings!
Of course, this dressing is also perfect (in flavor and consistency) for dipping your favorite vegetables. It’s not just for wings! I mean, salads.
