Try This Zesty Broccoli Salad with Bacon Recipe Today

Crisp summer memories often spark my love for this delightful broccoli salad with bacon that combines fresh ingredients and bold flavors.

Crunchy florets mingle with smoky bacon pieces in a creamy dressing that surprises your taste buds.

Sweet and tangy notes dance across each forkful, creating a harmony of textures.

Raw broccoli provides incredible nutritional benefits while adding satisfying crunch to every bite.

Bacon brings a rich, salty dimension that perfectly complements the green vegetable’s natural earthiness.

Simple ingredients come together in minutes, making this recipe ideal for quick gatherings or casual weeknight meals.

Prepare to wow everyone at your next potluck with this irresistible salad that keeps people coming back for seconds.

Broccoli Salad: Best Ways To Store Leftovers

• Transfer leftover broccoli salad to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Keep the container sealed tightly to maintain freshness and prevent absorption of other food odors.
• Do not freeze this salad, as the mayonnaise-based dressing and fresh vegetables will separate and lose their crisp texture when thawed.
• Serve cold directly from the refrigerator, as reheating will make the broccoli soggy and compromise the salad's crisp texture and fresh ingredients.
• If the salad seems dry after storage, gently stir in a small amount of fresh dressing to revive its moisture and flavor before serving.

Bacon Broccoli Salad Goes Best With

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: A chilled Sauvignon Blanc cuts through the salad's richness, complementing the tangy dressing and bacon's smoky flavor.
• Serve Alongside Grilled Chicken: Tender, herb-seasoned grilled chicken creates a protein-packed meal that balances the salad's crunchy texture and bold ingredients.
• Match with Craft Amber Ale: A smooth, malty amber ale enhances the bacon's smokiness while providing a refreshing contrast to the creamy dressing and crisp broccoli.
• Complement with Rustic Sourdough: Toasted sourdough bread offers a hearty accompaniment that soaks up the dressing and adds extra texture to the meal.

Flavor Combos for Broccoli Salad with Bacon

• Vegan Broccoli Delight: Replace bacon with crispy tempeh bits, use vegan mayonnaise, swap cheddar for nutritional yeast, and add roasted chickpeas for protein.
• Low-Carb Broccoli Crunch: Eliminate sugar from dressing, use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise, add chopped almonds, and increase sunflower seed quantity.
• Mediterranean Broccoli Salad: Substitute dried cranberries with kalamata olives, replace cheddar with crumbled feta cheese, add diced cucumber, and use lemon juice instead of apple cider vinegar.
• Spicy Broccoli Blast: Include diced jalapeños, mix red pepper flakes into dressing, add cayenne pepper, and sprinkle with hot smoked paprika for extra heat.

FAQs

• Can I make this broccoli salad ahead of time?

Yes, this salad is perfect for preparing in advance. You can mix all ingredients except the bacon and sunflower seeds up to a day before serving. Add these crunchy toppings just before serving to maintain their texture.

• Is there a way to make this salad healthier?

Absolutely! You can substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt, use turkey bacon instead of regular bacon, and reduce the sugar in the dressing. These swaps will lower calories and increase nutritional value.

• What if I don't like dried cranberries?

No problem! You can replace dried cranberries with other dried fruits like raisins, chopped dried cherries, or diced dried apricots. They’ll add a similar sweet and tangy element to the salad.

• How can I make this salad vegetarian?

Simply omit the bacon and add extra sunflower seeds or chopped nuts like almonds or pecans for crunch. You can also add roasted chickpeas for protein to replace the bacon’s savory flavor.

What Makes Broccoli Salad with Bacon So Satisfying

• Quick to Whip Up: Assemble this broccoli salad in mere minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute gatherings.
• Flavor Explosion: Packed with crispy bacon, tangy cranberries, and crunchy sunflower seeds, this salad delivers an irresistible mix of textures and tastes.
• Crowd-Pleasing Potential: Appeals to both kids and adults with its kid-friendly ingredients and satisfying crunch, making it a guaranteed hit at potlucks and family dinners.
• Meal Prep Champion: Can be prepared ahead of time and stays fresh in the refrigerator, allowing you to enjoy a delicious side dish without last-minute stress.

Broccoli Salad with Bacon: What You’ll Need

• Broccoli: Fresh, crisp vegetable for the salad base.
• Bacon: Crispy, smoky protein that adds crunch.
• Cheddar Cheese: Sharp, tangy cheese for extra flavor.

• Dried Cranberries, Sunflower Seeds: Sweet and nutty mix-ins for texture.
• Red Onion: Sharp, zesty flavor enhancer.

• Mayonnaise, Apple Cider Vinegar, Sugar: Creamy, tangy, and sweet dressing components.

Bacon Broccoli Salad Mixing Guide

Step 1: Crisp Up the Bacon

Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until golden and crunchy. Once done, transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease. Crumble the bacon into small, delectable pieces when cooled.

Step 2: Prep Fresh Broccoli

Thoroughly rinse broccoli under cool water. Chop the florets into bite-sized chunks, ensuring they’re uniform in size for even texture and perfect mixing.

Step 3: Slice Sharp Accents

Finely dice red onion into thin, delicate pieces. These sharp, zesty bits will add a punch of flavor to the salad.

Step 4: Craft Creamy Dressing

• Tangy mayonnaise
• Granulated sugar
• Apple cider vinegar

Blend until the mixture becomes smooth and well-incorporated, creating a luscious coating for the salad.

Step 5: Build Flavor Layers

• Chopped broccoli
• Crumbled bacon
• Diced red onion
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Dried cranberries
• Crunchy sunflower seeds

Step 6: Dress and Toss

Pour the creamy dressing over the salad ingredients. Gently toss everything together, ensuring each component gets a beautiful, even coating.

Step 7: Chill and Enhance

Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least one hour. This resting time allows the flavors to mingle and develop, creating a more delicious and harmonious salad experience.

Best Tricks for Broccoli Salad with Bacon

• Crisp Bacon Technique: Cook bacon in a cold skillet to render fat slowly and achieve maximum crispiness without burning.
• Broccoli Texture Trick: Blanch broccoli briefly in boiling water, then immediately cool in ice water to maintain bright color and slight crunch.
• Dressing Balance Hack: Adjust vinegar and sugar proportions to create a perfect sweet-tangy profile that complements the salad's ingredients.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare salad components separately and combine just before serving to prevent soggy texture and maintain ingredient freshness.
• Dietary Swap Strategy: Replace bacon with coconut bacon or tempeh bits for vegetarian version; use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise for lighter dressing.

Best Broccoli Salad with Bacon Recipe

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4.7 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Creamy and crunchy broccoli salad with bacon elevates classic side dishes to a mouthwatering experience. Fresh ingredients and zesty dressing create a perfect balance that keeps you coming back for more delicious bites.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 4 cups (960 milliliters) fresh broccoli florets
• 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 3/4 cup (112 grams) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Supplemental Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (75 grams) red onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup (75 grams) dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup (60 grams) sunflower seeds

Dressing Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup (180 milliliters) mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup (50 grams) sugar
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) apple cider vinegar

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Instructions

1. Trim fresh broccoli florets into uniform, bite-sized clusters, ensuring crisp texture and easy consumption.
2. Render bacon in a skillet until golden and perfectly crisp, then crumble into rustic fragments.
3. Mince red onion into delicate, translucent slivers to distribute subtle sharp flavor throughout the salad.
4. Whisk creamy mayonnaise with tangy apple cider vinegar and sweet granulated sugar until smooth and well-integrated.
5. Layer prepared ingredients in a spacious mixing vessel: verdant broccoli, pungent onion, sharp cheddar cheese, jewel-like dried cranberries, and crunchy sunflower seeds.
6. Generously drizzle prepared dressing over assembled ingredients, gently folding to ensure comprehensive and even coating.
7. Allow salad to marinate in refrigerator for minimum 60 minutes, enabling flavors to meld and intensify, creating a harmonious taste profile.
8. Before serving, give salad a final gentle toss to redistribute dressing and reinvigorate ingredient textures.

Notes

• Choose fresh, crisp broccoli with tight, green florets for the best texture and flavor in your salad.
• Crisp the bacon in a skillet or oven for maximum crunchiness, ensuring it’s not too greasy or limp.
• Balance the sweetness by adjusting the sugar in the dressing, using honey or a sugar substitute for healthier options.
• Make this salad vegetarian by replacing bacon with roasted nuts or tempeh for a protein-packed alternative.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: None
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 330
• Sugar: 7g
• Sodium: 500mg
• Fat: 27g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 22g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 8g
• Cholesterol: 25mg