Broccoli Salad with Bacon
Take this classic Broccoli Salad to every potluck and watch it disappear! People can’t get enough of these fresh, sweet, and salty flavors!
Why We Love Broccoli Bacon Salad
- The flavors and textures in this salad are amazing, with the slight crunch of the broccoli and nuts, along with the sweet dried fruit and salty bacon. It checks off all of the flavor boxes!
- When it comes to the best make-ahead side dishes, Broccoli Salad is hands down the best. This salad can be a day in advance and still bring all of its wonderful crunch and taste to the party when you need it.
- Chopping, measuring, and mixing are all you need to do for this salad, it’s so simple to make! Plus, this recipe already makes a good amount but it is easily doubled for larger get-togethers.
- This salad is the perfect side dish to have with bacon burgers, grilled chicken thighs, brats, or whatever is being served at the potluck- all of the incredible flavors in the salad complement a variety of meals!
Ingredients
PRODUCE: You need a good amount of finely chopped broccoli for this salad, about 4 heads. You will also need red onion and shredded carrots.
PANTRY ITEMS: Pick up dried cherries, golden raisins, honey-roasted sunflower seeds, and chopped almonds.
REFRIGERATED ITEMS: Crumbled, extra-crispy bacon is needed for this salad, along with Colby Jack cheese.
BROCCOLI SALAD DRESSING: To make the dressing you will need sour cream, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, and black pepper.
How to Make Broccoli Salad with Bacon
- In a large bowl, whisk together the mayo, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, sugar, and pepper until smooth.
- Add the chopped broccoli, onion, carrots, cheese, bacon, sunflower seeds, almonds, cherries, and raisins to the bowl and toss to coat the ingredients well.
- Refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour and serve chilled. If you’re going to store it for longer than 1 hour, cover the bowl with plastic wrap.
Tips & Tricks
- The broccoli does not need to be blanched before making the salad. The raw crunch of the broccoli provides a wonderful contrast in textures in this salad, but if you prefer to blanch the broccoli, the salad will still taste amazing, but will have less texture.
- Let’s talk size. Most people do not enjoy biting into a large broccoli floret and chewing it for 20 minutes, am I right? Finely chopping the broccoli and onion will not only make this salad easier to eat but also allow you to get more ingredients in each bite, so you can enjoy the flavors altogether.
- Steer clear of the finely shredded cheese. It will just get lost in the salad. Choose a thick-cut cheese or purchase a block to cut.
- When it comes to substitutions, white or sweet yellow onion can be used instead of red onion, and cheddar, Monterey Jack, pepper jack, and Mozzarella can be used instead of Colby.
- Store any leftover salad in an airtight container in the fridge for a total of 5 days. Be sure to give it a stir before serving.
FAQ
How healthy is broccoli salad?
There are many healthy elements in Broccoli Salad, from the vitamins and fiber in the broccoli to the protein in the cheese and healthy fats in the nuts. For the entire recipe, there is only 1/2 cup of mayo and sour cream, which breaks down to a small amount per serving. To cut even more calories from the dressing, try subbing low-fat mayo and Greek yogurt, as well as using a low or no-calorie sweetener. Overall, Broccoli Salad is a pretty healthy dish and the perfect way to get lots of things our bodies need!
What goes well with broccoli salad?
Everything goes well with broccoli salad! All of your favorite BBQ foods, from burgers and baked beans to corn on the cob, taste amazing with this salad. Serve this salad alongside roasted chicken, steak, or pork chops for a lighter side to a filling meal. The variety of flavors found in this salad really makes it a versatile dish to serve with anything, which is perfect for those office parties when you don’t know who is showing up with what!
Broccoli Bacon Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- In a large mixing or serving bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup sour cream, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, and 2 teaspoons black pepper until smooth and creamy. Check the seasoning and add salt to taste.
- To the same bowl, add 5 cups broccoli florets, 1/2 red onion, 1 1/4 cups Colby-Jack cheese, 3/4 cup cooked bacon, 1/4 cup almonds, 1/4 cup honey roasted sunflower seeds, 1/4 cup golden raisins, 1/4 cup dried cherries, and 1 cup carrots. Gently mix everything together until all ingredients are coated in the dressing.
- Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour. Stir again just before serving. Best served cold!
Notes
Nutrition
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