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My easy Broccoli Salad with Bacon is honestly the best recipe you will find for this classic side dish. I added bacon and cranberries, so this creamy salad is perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Colorful and packed full of flavor and texture, this salad is ready in 15 minutes!
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“This is my favorite side dish!!” -April
Easy Broccoli Salad Recipe
The classic broccoli salad has had a makeover! My recipe is so creamy and delicious, it’s a perfect side to serve to friends and family over the holiday season. Ready in just 15 minutes and loaded with texture from the crispy bacon, crunchy broccoli, and chewy sunflower seeds, it doesn’t get any better than this.
The bacon adds a wonderful smoky and salty flavor to the dish, and let’s be honest, it’s everyone’s favorite bit. To add a festive element, I tossed in some cranberries, which add a hit of sweetness as well as a pop of color.
This is a great base salad that I change up depending on my mood and what I’ve got on hand.
Tips For Beginners and Variations
- Dry the broccoli well. Wash the broccoli and ensure that it is dried thoroughly.
- Blanching optional. I don’t blanch my broccoli, but you can if you like. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook for 60 seconds. Drain, rinse in cold water, and pat dry.
- Reduce the bite in the onions. Soak the cut pieces in ice water for 10 minutes.
- Reduce the calorie and fat content. Use a low or nonfat mayonnaise.
- Change up the mix-ins. Swap the cranberries for other dried fruit and use a different seed or nut.
- Make it vegetarian. Use vegan bacon or roasted mushrooms instead of the bacon.
Broccoli Salad Recipe with Bacon
Ingredients
- 24 oz. broccoli florets (about 5 cups), do not use frozen
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup bacon crumbles or 8 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 red onion diced
- ½ cup toasted sunflower kernels
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
Video
Instructions
- Place the broccoli, cranberries, bacon, onion, and sunflower kernels in a large bowl.24 oz. broccoli florets, ½ cup dried cranberries, ½ cup bacon crumbles, 1 red onion, ½ cup toasted sunflower kernels
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayo, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper.1 cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 3 tbsp granulated sugar, ½ tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper
- Pour mayo mixture over broccoli and use a mixing spoon to toss/fully coating the broccoli.
- Serve immediately or store in the fridge until ready to serve.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make Broccoli Salad with Bacon Step by Step
Make the salad: Place 5 cups of broccoli florets, ½ cup of dried cranberries, ½ cup of bacon crumbles, 1 diced red onion, and ½ cup of toasted sunflower kernels in a large bowl and mix to combine.
Make the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk 1 cup of mayonnaise, 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar, 3 tbsp of granulated sugar, ½ tsp of kosher salt, and ½ tsp of ground black pepper until smooth and creamy.
Toss: Pour the mayo mixture over the broccoli and use a mixing spoon to toss/fully coat the broccoli.
Serve: Serve immediately or store in the fridge until ready to serve. Enjoy.
How to Store
Store leftover broccoli salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I highly recommend storing the dressing and salad separately for the crispiest result.
I do not recommend freezing this salad, as the texture will be ruined during the thawing process.
Serving Suggestions
Because this salad is wonderfully creamy, I find it’s perfect to pair with salty foods such as this hearty bacon wrapped turkey breast, these summertime favorite grilled hot dogs, or a sweet and savory smoked ham.
I’ve made this recipe several times! It is delicious and full of flavor. This is my new side dish to take to family gatherings.
Loved the salad but what I liked the most was having the amount of the ingredients down in the instructions, brilliant! Why is this no done more!
Thanks Sandra!
Love this salad! I was missing having this salad since store prices have gone way up and now I can have my favorite salad. Its so easy to make! You can also add extra stuff if you want..I put a bit more seeds
How far ahead can you make this salad or do you have to serve immediately or can you store overnight??
Hi Barbara, it should keep well overnight!
I also add shredded cheese just before serving, so it doesn’t get mushy
I love how you list the ingredient amounts with the instructions. Thank you for doing that! So easy to use!
Please Put the Cheesy Broccoli Salad that used to be at this link back. It has been a fav of my entire family for years. I have tried to find it elsewhere and just can’t. So I am improvising. I would love to be able to see your recipe again !! Thanks !!
Hi Laurie, here is a link to print that recipe for safe keeping: https://www.thecookierookie.com/wprm_print/80983
Thank you so, so much !! You are and Angel !! This is seriously the only recipe like this my whole family enjoys. One of the differences is you use red wine vinegar and the others I found use apple cider vinegar. I can’t thank you enough !! We really love every recipe of yours that I have tried !! Thanks again !!
Really easy to make . I had to add an additional tbsp of sugar to cut the apple cider vinegar overpowering taste.I used shredded cheddar instead of cranberries due to serving diabetics. Will make again
The best recipe ever! I have to double it because my husband (who dislikes broccoli) devours this ;)
I love this recipe I make it all the time I did adjust a few things I used stevia instead of real sugar (Diabetic) and I added red seedless grapes and omitted the salt. Used maple flavored bacon Love it!!