Broccoli Bacon Salad – a classic, delicious and flavorful broccoli bacon salad recipe (option to use cheese) – perfect side dish for any meal!
An Easy Broccoli Bacon Salad Recipe
This deliciously simple broccoli bacon salad is a staple side dish recipe at all summer barbecues and holiday get-togethers! The whole family loves this recipe and it is made with real, simple ingredients that come together in about 10 minutes. Another great perk is that it’s a side dish that travels easily making perfect for all those potlucks, picnics, barbecues, and even for bringing to a friendsgiving!
Looking for more broccoli side dishes – try our Best Ever Broccoli Casserole!
What You Will Need
- fresh broccoli florets – you could use frozen broccoli but we highly recommend using fresh broccoli.
- bacon – everything is better with bacon! Feel free to just grab your favorite, we love this one!
- dried cranberries & yellow raisins – these are great for a touch of sweetness and color!
- red onion – the perfect complement to the salad that provides some mild onion flavor and color.
- sunflower seeds – it’s all about the crunch for this one!
- mayo – the base of the sauce that brings the whole salad together.
- coconut sugar – gives the sauce a bit of sweetness!
- apple cider vinegar – a very mild vinegar that brings just a bit of tang to the dressing.
- lemon juice – just a dash helps to bring out all the great flavors.
- kosher salt – everything needs a little salt!
Can I Add Other Ingredients To Broccoli Bacon Salad?
Definitely! You can really mix just about anything into this salad. We used bacon, dried cranberries, yellow raisins, red onion, and sunflower seeds, but you can omit any of those if they are not your jam. Other common options to add to the salad are shredded cheese or jalapeños (for a bit of spice).
What Goes Well With Broccoli Salad?
This delicious side dish can go with just about anything! We love serving it at our holiday meals with Turkey or Ham, or during the summer we will serve it with Smoked Baby Back Ribs, Smoked Pork Shoulder, or Grilled Spatchcock Chicken. This side dish can really be enjoyed ANY time of the year!
Can I Prep This Salad Ahead Of Time?
Absolutely! You can chop the broccoli, cook & chop the bacon, mix up the dressing, and measure out all of your ingredients ahead of time. Just wait to mix everything together until you are ready to serve the salad. Once the dressing is mixed in, everything will start to get a little softer the longer it sits.
How Long Can I Keep Leftover Broccoli Bacon Salad?
You can store this salad in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3 days. It is possible to freeze broccoli salad in a freezer-safe container for up to 6 months, but mayo doesn’t generally freeze and then thaw very well so your thawed salad might end up a little watery or soggy.
How To Make Broccoli Bacon Salad
Gather your ingredients.
Place all of your ingredients, except the dressing ingredients, in a large mixing bowl.
Mix up your dressing ingredients.
Add the dressing to the rest of your ingredients and mix until fully combined.
Enjoy!
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Broccoli Bacon Salad
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Counter Top
- Cuisine: American
Description
Broccoli Bacon Salad – a classic, delicious and flavorful broccoli bacon salad recipe (option to use cheese) – perfect side dish for any meal!
Ingredients
Salad:
- 4–6 pieces cooked bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 4–6 cups fresh broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup yellow raisins
- 1/4 cup red onion, diced
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
Dressing:
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Combine Dressing ingredients in a small bowl; stir until creamy and smooth.
- Add Salad ingredients to a medium-sized bowl. Pour Dressing over top; stir to combine.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Please note, the broccoli may get a little softer as it sits in the mayo.
- Cheese: feel free to add 1/3 cup of shredded cheese (dairy-free or otherwise)
- Bacon: we love cooking our bacon in the oven!
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