Bacon Broccoli Salad – Easy Recipe Perfect for Hosting

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This bacon broccoli salad is fresh, flavorful, easy to make, and perfect for hosting… Weather it’s a baby shower, bridal shower, or Thanksgiving Dinner!

bacon croccoil salad in blue bowl on cutting board with serving spoons

This savory and perfectly sweet broccoli salad goes perfect with a Turkey dinner, or with light chicken salad sandwiches!

Bacon Broccoli Salad Ingredients

Just a few pantry staples and fresh veggies combine to make this tasty salad. And its versatile, so you can add in fresh veggies that you have on hand too!

The main ingredients are: Broccoli, red onion, celery, bacon, dried cranberries, sun flower seeds, mayo, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper!

I’m adding in: cucumber and purple cauliflower today!

For the dressing you’ll just need a few pantry staples like: mayo for the base, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper!

How to make Broccoli Salad

I like to chop broccoli, celery, cucumber, and cauliflower into very small bite size pieces. When each forkful gets a little bit of everything, you can enjoy how well the flavors compliment each other 😉

Add chopped veggies to a large salad bowl or mixing bowl.

Mince your red onion into tiny pieces, no bigger than 1/8th of an inch, and add to the other chopped veggies. If you mince your onions they give a beautiful flavor, but aren’t too much!

Add the bacon pieces, dried cranberries and sun flower seeds to the mixture, and toss to combine.

Make your dressing: In a small bowl combine 1/2 cup mayo, 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar, sat and pepper to taste!

Pour dressing over salad, and toss to coat, and enjoy!

bacon broccoli salad in bowl and up close with text

Broccoli Salad Variations

For a sweeter salad: Increase the sugar in the dressing or add a drizzle of honey.

For a tangier salad: Use white wine vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar.

For a richer salad: Use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise for a lighter dressing.

For extra crunch: Add chopped almonds or walnuts.  

Rate & Review

If you try this recipe and love it, I’d love if you give it 5 stars and let me know how it turned out in the comments or review! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouse_harvest with your delicious creation!

bacon croccoil salad in blue bowl on cutting board with serving spoons

Bacon Broccoli Salad

This bacon broccoli salad is super easy to make, loaded with flavors of red onion, bacon, broccoli and cranberries that compliment each other perfectly!
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Course: From Scratch Recipes
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 219kcal
Author: Juliea Huffaker

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Broccoli
  • 1 cup cauliflower optional
  • 2 ribs of celery
  • 1/4 cup minced red onion
  • 1/3 cup chopped cucumber
  • 1/3 cup bacon pieces
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/4 cup sun flower seeds
  • 1/2 cup mayo
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 table spoon sugar
  • salt and pepper to taste. I use about a 1/4 teaspoon salt and the same amount of fresh ground black pepper;)

Instructions

  • Chop broccoli, celery, cucumber, and cauliflower into very small bite size pieces, about the 1/4 to 1/2 long. (You want each bite to have a little bit of everything in it so you can enjoy how well the flavors together 😉 Add chopped veggies to a salad bowl.
  • Mince red onion into tiny pieces, no bigger than 1/8th of an inch, and add to the other chopped veggies.
  • Add your bacon pieces, dried cranberries and sun flower seeds to the bowl.
  • Make your dressing: In a smaller bowl whisk together: 1/2 cup mayo, 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar, sat and pepper to taste!
  • Pour dressing over salad, and toss to coat until the dressing coats all the veggies.

Notes

  • Tip: For extra crunch, use a combination of sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds.
  • Storage: Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Make Ahead: If you are hosting a brunch or meal.. This is a great recipe to make ahead! Prepare the veggies and dressing in separate bowls in advance for a quicker meal. Dress the salad before serving!
  • Customization: Feel free to add other favorite ingredients like grapes, apples, or feta cheese.
  • This salad is perfect on its own and it goes perfectly with grilled chicken or glazed salmon!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 219kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 518mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g

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