Easy Broccoli Salad with Bacon
Elevate your summer cookouts with a quick and easy side dish that’s bound to steal the spotlight. This Easy Broccoli Salad with Bacon is full of broccoli, onion, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, cheese, and bacon. All are mixed together and topped with a creamy dressing of mayonnaise, sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Perfect for gatherings of any size, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s just as delicious as leftovers. Whether you’re hosting a potluck or simply craving a refreshing dish, this classic recipe is your go-to option.
I made this for our Father’s Day lunch, and not a bite was left. My family loved it, and many asked for the recipe. Be prepared when you serve this to your guests; they WILL ask for the recipe.
Chopping the broccoli and the onion is the hardest part, and I promise it is so worth it! I plan to make this again this week to serve to my family for dinner. And yes, I am excited to have leftovers to eat during the week.
What Is Broccoli Bacon Salad
This salad is a versatile and crowd-pleasing salad that’s perfect for any occasion, from potlucks to picnics to family dinners. It delivers on taste, texture, ease of preparation, and versatility, making it a standout addition to any summer menu or year-round side dish. This is a must-have addition to your menu plus, it’s ready in under fifteen minutes, making it the perfect side dish for busy days and last-minute gatherings. So simple to make and it’s bursting with deliciousness.
Why This Recipe Works
We’re big fans of broccoli and absolutely adore bacon. This salad brings together the best of both worlds, along with some other tasty additions.
It’s incredibly simple to whip up, and in just minutes, you’ll have a delectable side dish ready for any occasion – whether it’s a potluck, holiday gathering, weeknight dinner, or backyard cookout. With this dish, you simply can’t go wrong. Who knows? It might even become a new family favorite for you, too!
Perfect Balance of Flavors: All of the ingredients work nicely together for the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, savory, and creamy. The sweetness of the cranberries works beautifully with the creamy dressing.
Versatile: This works as a delightful side dish for year-round enjoyment. It pairs with many main dishes and is suitable for any occasion.
Make Ahead: Make this dish ahead of time, store it in the refrigerator, and allow the flavors to meld for a couple of hours. Store the ingredients and dressing separately if you are making this dish the day before. Add the bacon before serving.
Crowd Pleaser: This is a delicious recipe and is always a crowd-pleaser. The vibrant colors, textures, and flavors make this a popular dish for all to enjoy. Serve this as a potluck dish, at summer parties, or as a weeknight side dish.
Ingredients Needed for Bacon and Broccoli Salad
These are simple ingredients to create a satisfying and easy broccoli salad recipe. Please see the printable recipe card below for a complete list of ingredient amounts.
For the Salad:
Broccoli Florets – Use fresh, raw broccoli florets for the best taste and texture. Rinse the broccoli under cold water, then chop it into small bite-sized pieces for this salad and discard the tough broccoli stem.
Red Onion – The red onion adds flavor as well as color to this salad. It also gives it a nice crunch and the best flavor.
Dried Cranberries – The cranberries also add a lot of color and flavor. If you don’t like them– leave them out. The great thing about this salad is that it will still be just as good.
Dried Roasted Sunflower Seeds – The crunchy sunflower seeds are a must for this salad. They provide a satisfying crunch and nutty flavor.
Bacon – The crisp bacon adds a ton of flavor to this dish. Use real bacon for the best outcome and not bacon bits.
Cheddar Cheese – I prefer to use the extra sharp cheddar cheese for this classic broccoli salad. Use the brand and flavor you like the best.
For the Dressing: Just three simple ingredients are needed to make this creamy and tangy homemade dressing. Feel free to adjust the amounts of each ingredient to achieve the desired taste and consistency you prefer.
Mayonnaise – This provides a creamy base for the dressing. Use your favorite brand. I prefer full-fat mayonnaise.
Sugar – The sugar balances out the tanginess of the vinegar and adds sweetness. Adjust the amount if desired.
Apple Cider Vinegar – The vinegar adds a refreshing flavor and acidity to the dressing and ties the flavors together.
How To Make Easy Broccoli Bacon Salad
This recipe comes together fast with simple ingredients and straightforward instructions Besides cooking the bacon, it’s just chopping and mixing.
- Cook the bacon, crumble, and set aside.
- Chop the broccoli into small pieces.
- Add all of the salad ingredients to a medium-sized bowl–except the bacon. Stir until everything is mixed well.
- Whisk the mayonnaise, sugar, and vinegar in a small bowl until smooth. Spoon or pour the dressing over the bowl of broccoli salad and stir until evenly coated.
- Refrigerate for several hours or overnight to allow the flavors to meld.
- Before serving, add the bacon and stir well to incorporate.
I love making salads for potlucks or gatherings. A few of my favorites to make and will serve a crowd are Greek Pasta Salad, Macaroni Salad, and Corn Salad with Jalapenos. They are all delicious and disappear fast.
Recipe Tips for The Best Creamy Broccoli Salad
Here are a few recipe tips to help make this perfect summer side dish a success.
- To save time, prep all of the ingredients, store them separately, and assemble them just before serving. I like to do this if I am traveling with this dish. I add the dressing and bacon when I arrive at the destination.
- Wait until you are ready to serve to add the bacon. This should keep it from getting soggy.
- If you prefer a thinner dressing, you can add a splash of water or extra vinegar.
- I like lots of dressing on my salad. Feel free to make a little bit more and serve it on the side.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
Feel free to get creative and adjust and adapt this recipe to suit your taste preferences. Make this the best broccoli salad recipe for you and your guests.
- Swap out the cheddar cheese for crumbled feta, mozzarella, or cubed cheese.
- Experiment with different dried fruits such as raisins or apricots.
- Add some fresh herbs to the tangy dressing.
- Substitute the mayonnaise for Greek yogurt.
Can I Make Bacon and Broccoli Salad in Advance
Absolutely! Preparing this cold broccoli salad in advance can save you time and effort on the day of your event or gathering. Making this Broccoli Salad in advance is a great way to allow the flavors to meld together for a more delicious dish. I like to make this salad at least 2-4 hours before I serve it. I wait until serving time to add the bacon.
To Make A Day In Advance:
How To Store Leftovers
With a few simple steps, you can ensure this delicious broccoli salad will stay fresh for several days. This salad makes a great snack or lunch, or you can enjoy it for another meal.
Transfer broccoli salad and store all leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This salad should last for 2-3 days in the refrigerator.
What To Serve With This Dish
Easy Broccoli Salad with Bacon pairs well with grilled chicken, barbecue ribs, hamburgers, or a pulled pork sandwich. It is a great accompaniment to creamy potato salad, corn on the cob, or Oven Baked Potato Wedges.
Recipe FAQs
It is not recommended to use frozen broccoli in this recipe. Frozen broccoli can change the texture and taste of this recipe.
Although this salad would be great to serve immediately after preparing, it is best to allow it 2-4 hours to chill in the refrigerator before serving.
To keep the broccoli from becoming soggy, it is best to dry it well with a paper towel after rinsing it under cold water. Dry well before chopping.
You can use turkey bacon for a lighter option if so desired
More Salad Recipes We Love
Easy Mixed Bean Salad--Mixed Bean Salad is perfect for a side dish or to serve as a snack. It has just the right amount of tanginess and color—a great dish for your next party.
Southern Cornbread Salad--Southern Cornbread Salad is a crowd pleasing layered salad with bacon, cheese, and cornbread that comes together easily for all of your gatherings. Perfect for any time of the year.
Carrot Apple Salad--Carrots, pineapple, apple, and raisins make for a delicious salad for just about any occasion. This is an easy dish to throw together with only a few ingredients and little prep work plus it is super yummy!
Macaroni Salad –Classic Macaroni Salad with Peas that’s easy to make, goes great as a side to any main meal, and everyone will love it. This easy make-ahead side dish combines the flavors of macaroni, sweet peas, crisp vegetables, and cheddar cheese tossed together in a creamy dressing.
Tomato Cracker Salad –Southern Tomato Cracker Salad is a delicious dish that combines summertime tomatoes with crispy, salty crackers.
Other Recipe with Bacon
Stuffed Cheesy Jalapenos with Bacon
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Jalapenos
Bacon and Broccoli Salad
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 8 cups broccoli florets finely chopped
- ½ medium red onion chopped
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- ¾ cup dried roasted sunflower seeds
- 1 pound bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
Dressing
- 1 ½ cups mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
Instructions
- Cook the bacon, crumble, and set aside.
- Chop the broccoli into small pieces.
- Add all of the salad ingredients to a medium sized bowl–except the bacon. Stir until everything is mixed well.
- In a small bowl whisk the mayonnaise, sugar, and vinegar until smooth. Spoon the dressing over the salad mixture and stir until evenly coated.
- Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Before serving-add the bacon and stir well.
Notes
- Wait until you are ready to serve to add the bacon. This should keep it from getting soggy.
- To Make in Advance: Prep the ingredients and store the salad in a separate container in the refrigerator.
- Store the bacon in a separate container or zip-top bag in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
I made this salad for a recent potluck and it was a hit!
This was easy to make and it turned out really great! Now I have a new addition to my side dish rotation, thanks!
Outstanding recipe thanks so much! tasted so much good!
Great flavors now I can make it myself cant wait to try this!
Really great salad! Slightly salty with bacon and sweet dressing, all come together beautifully! Thanks for the recipe!