Bacon Broccoli Salad

5 from 14 votes

This Bacon Broccoli Salad is the ultimate crowd-pleasing side dish! Fresh broccoli, crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, and a creamy homemade dressing come together for a flavorful salad perfect for potlucks, cookouts, and family dinners.

Prep Time15

Cook Time10

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 792kcal

Author: Gina Abernathy

Ingredients

Salad Ingredients

8 cups broccoli florets finely chopped
½ medium red onion chopped
1 cup dried cranberries
¾ cup dried roasted sunflower kernels
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. Cook the bacon, crumble it, and set it aside.
Prep the broccoli. Chop the broccoli florets into small, bite-sized pieces for easier mixing and texture.
Mix the salad. Add broccoli, onion, sunflower kernels, cheese, and cranberries to a large bowl. Stir well.
Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, sugar, and vinegar until smooth.
Combine and chill. Pour the dressing over the salad and stir well until coated. Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
Add the bacon. Before serving, add the bacon and give the salad a good stir. This will keep the bacon crispy.

Notes

Recipe Tips

Chop the broccoli into small pieces. This makes it easier to eat and for the dressing to coat it thoroughly.
Add the bacon last. This keeps it crispy and from softening in the dressing.
Refrigerate for a few hours to help the flavors blend. This is a delicious cold broccoli salad.
To make broccoli bacon salad in advance, mix the salad and dressing, and store the bacon in a separate container in the refrigerator. Add the bacon before serving. Make this a day or two in advance.

Nutrition