This super simple broccoli salad is a crowd favorite! Crisp, creamy, salty, and sweet, it’s perfect for any potluck or summer gathering. It’s naturally gluten-free and low-carb, adaptable for keto or vegan diets, and easily doubles up or down depending on the crowd! Serve it up with Slow Cooker Brisket and Homemade Hawaiian Rolls!
Broccoli salad is hands down my favorite side dish to bring to a potluck.
Anytime I bring this light and easy salad to a gathering, I always come home with an empty bowl. Which makes me sad because I want to eat the leftovers!
Family and friends always complement this simple salad. And I can’t blame them. I really think this is the best broccoli salad recipe ever!
The Best Broccoli Salad Recipe with Bacon
Look no further for a healthy salad recipe. I’ve tried several salads with broccoli and this one is still my favorite. It’s so easy to put together, uses fresh healthy ingredients that I typically have on hand, and makes everyone in the crowd ooo and ahh.
The vibrant crunch of the broccoli, the sweet notes from golden raisins, and the tangy, creamy dressing brings so many delicious flavors together, I just can’t get enough. And to top it off the salty smoky flavor of BACON!
The Best Broccoli Bacon Salad Recipe for All Occasions
Instead of bringing the picnic classics like potato salad, pasta salad, and baked beans to your next big gathering, bring a creamy broccoli salad!
Perfect for potlucks, Summer BBQs, holiday meals, and easy no-cook dinners. The beauty of this classic salad recipe is its flexibility.
You can easily adjust the quantities to serve a smaller family dinner or scale it up to feed a large crowd. Plus, it requires chilling for at least two hours, or even up to 24, making it a fantastic make-ahead dish that saves you from the last-minute rush.
What goes in a broccoli salad?
Broccoli & Bacon Salad Ingredients:
- fresh broccoli
- red onion
- golden raisins (substitute dried cranberries or regular raisins, if desired)
- sunflower seeds
- bacon
Dressing Ingredients:
- apple cider vinegar
- sugar (maple syrup or honey work in a pinch as well.)
- yogurt or mayonnaise
How to Make Broccoli Salad
Step 1: Cook the bacon, crumble, and set aside.
Step 2: Using a large mixing bowl combine small broccoli florets, diced red onion, and raisins.
Step 3: At this time in a smaller bowl, whisk vinegar, sugar, and yogurt/mayonnaise.
Step 4: Add the dressing mix to the broccoli and stir well. Refrigerate for 2-24 hours.
Step 5: Add sunflower seeds and bacon before serving.
Recipe Tips for the Best Broccoli Salad with Bacon
You’ll want to use crisp fresh broccoli for this recipe. You don’t want to use frozen broccoli since it is already cooked and will turn mushy.
I love to make bacon in the oven. (Follow this tutorial!) It makes less mess and is hands-off so you can keep preparing the rest of this delicious dish while it cooks.
When you dice up the onion, cut up some extra to put in the freezer. This will save you time later on when you need diced onion!
If you don’t have sunflower seeds on hand, use another nut like chopped pecans, walnuts, or sliced almonds. You could even go extra fancy with these Maple-Glazed Pecans or Honey-Roasted Almonds!
You can use either Homemade Mayo or plain Greek Yogurt for this recipe. I found regular yogurt to be a bit too thin. Vanilla Greek yogurt works if you want to skip the sugar!
Unlike other salad recipes, I don’t add cheese to mine. However, if you prefer the taste of cheese with broccoli, toss in some sharp cheddar cheese or crumbled goat cheese. Feta cheese would be delicious too!
Variations for Cold Broccoli Salad
- Keto broccoli salad: Use a low-carb yogurt or olive oil mayo and skip the sugar.
- Vegan broccoli salad: Use a vegan mayo (egg-free) and skip the bacon.
- Broccoli Cranberry Salad: Use dried cranberries instead of raisins. Omit the sugar if it is too sweet.
- Raw Broccoli Salad: No changes needed! This salad calls for raw broccoli already.
Frequently Asked Questions About Broccoli Salad Recipe
Can I use a different type of vinegar in my broccoli salad?
Yes, you can. While apple cider vinegar gives a great flavor, you can also use white wine vinegar or even red wine vinegar for a different twist.
Can I make this salad ahead of time?
Absolutely! This salad is perfect for making ahead. After combining the broccoli, onions, raisins, and dressing, let it chill in the fridge for 2 to 24 hours. Just remember to add the sunflower seeds and bacon just before serving to retain their crunch and freshness.
How long will this broccoli salad last in the fridge?
This salad can be kept for up to three days in the fridge. But honestly, it’s so delicious that it rarely lasts that long in my house!
Can I use a different kind of raisin?
Certainly! I personally love the sweetness of golden raisins, but regular raisins, dried unsweetened cranberries, or even chopped dried apricots would work wonderfully.
Broccoli Salad
This delightful recipe has all the elements of a crowd-pleaser – it’s easy to make, adaptable in quantity, delicious to the last bite, and perfect for making ahead. Whether it’s a potluck, a family dinner, or a picnic, it’s guaranteed to steal the show every time. Happy cooking, and enjoy your parties (and this salad)!
Recipes To Go With Broccoli Salad
- Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
- Slow Cooker Brisket
- Easy Jerk Chicken
- Best Burger Recipe
- Sheet Pan Lemon Salmon
30 Minute Dinners Sample Meal Plan
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Broccoli Salad
This quick and easy healthy broccoli salad is a crowd favorite, perfect for gatherings! Crisp, fresh broccoli, salty bacon, sweet golden raisins, crunchy sunflower seeds, and a simple creamy dressing – you’ll bring home an empty bowl every time!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Sides
- Method: Bowl
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 6 cups fresh broccoli florets (chop larger florets into smaller pieces) (936g)
- ¼ cup red onion, chopped finely (31g)
- ½ cup golden raisins (100g)
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (45g)
- 2 tablespoons sugar (26g)
- 1 cup yogurt or mayonnaise (227g)
- 1 cup sunflower seeds (46g)
- 10 slices of bacon (you decide on the nitrates, approx ½ lb pre-cooking weight) (51g)
Instructions
- Cook bacon, crumble, and set aside.
- Combine broccoli, onion, and raisins in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, whisk vinegar, sugar, and yogurt/mayonnaise. Add dressing to broccoli and combine well. Refrigerate 2-24 hours.
- Add sunflower seeds and bacon before serving.
Notes
- You could scale this back and make it for your own dinner tonight, or leave it as is to feed a large crowd.
- It does need to be refrigerated for at least two hours and could go for up to 24.
I have made a salad that has all of these ingredients with the addition of cauliflower and shredded mozzarella cheese. You could use cheddar or any cheese really. It is ALWAYS a hit where ever I have taken it.
Re in answer to your question, ‘Do you think four heaping servings of broccoli salad is considered fair?’ I say, fair is fair in anyone’s book. EAT THE BROCCOLI SALAD!!! Besides yourself, you’ll make the person who brought it, SOOOOO HAPPY!!! If they’re like me, they left themselves a portion of it back at home. GO BACK FOR MORE! If you get a glaring stare, just smile😊 & eat the Broccoli Salad. Oh! & ask for the recipe.
Tiffany,
This looks amazing! I can’t wait to try the recipe. Thanks so much for linking up to Creative Thursday. Can’t wait to see what you share this week! Have a wonderful weekend
Michelle
I love broccoli salad! Your version looks delicious! Thanks for sharing your post with the Hearth and Soul Hop.
Oh you have entered the world of cole-slaw dressed salads. Welcome because you will never go back! Broccoli-Bacon salad is a family favorite for us. Our recipe has less ingredients. Check it out at www.whatsinthatdish.com it has swiss cheese, bacon & broccoli. YUM!
Thanks Lamchops! Your recipe looks good too!
Thank you for your submission on Nourishing Treasures’ Make Your Own! Monday link-up.
Check back tomorrow when the new link-up is running to see if you were one of the top 3 featured posts! 🙂
Looks delish! Thanks for sharing at the Pomp Party! Pinning!
Hi Tiffany,
I just love this salad with all these awesome ingredients! Hope you are having a great weekend and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
I LOVE broccoli salad! Featuring you this week at Addicted to Recipes! Please come by and grab a button!
Thanks!
This is my absolute favorite salad! Delicious! I’d take 4 helpings too =o)
I love broccoli salad! I always use pine nuts but I’ll try it with the sunflower seeds. That sounds really good too. Thanks for linking up. Have a great week.
I’ve never tried it with pine nuts, but that sounds good. Those tend to be insanely expensive here (near $20/lb), so sunflower seeds are much more economical at only $1.99/lb. And at the rate this salad disappears, frugal is best!
I love broccoli salad! One of my favorites of all time:) Thanks for sharing at Church Supper. Have a blessed week & come back soon!
I like that this salad can be made and kept for days. A super easy go-to dish for your in-laws!
I have two versions of broccoli salad because I actually love them! Yours is similar to what I have, and I love the sweetness of it (the raisins or fruits). I almost feel guilty for thinking that the salad is “healthy” because of all the mayo and bacon. But then I tell myself, “It’s broccoli!” and add some more 😉
The sweetness is what drew me in. I ran out of mayo making this, which mean I have to make my own now. Maybe that will make it feel “healthier” too? LOL!
I too have made this salad. Even my son who dislikes veggies will eat this. My recipe also calls for shredded cheddar cheese. This is a fav at our house.
Mmmm…. cheese!