This bacon broccoli salad is fresh, flavorful, easy to make, and perfect for hosting… Whether it’s a baby shower, bridal shower, or Thanksgiving Dinner!
This savory and perfectly sweet broccoli salad goes perfectly with a Turkey dinner, or with light chicken salad sandwiches!
The Perfect Side Dish for Potlucks, BBQs, and Showers
Just a few pantry staples and fresh veggies combine to make this tasty salad. And its versatile…
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 Prep Broccoli for Salad
When you’re hosting a gathering like a baby shower or a summer BBQ, the last thing you want is your guests struggling to eat giant chunks of raw vegetables while trying to mingle. Proper prep makes all the difference!
Stick to the Florets: For the best texture in this salad, use just the broccoli florets. Save the woody stems for a future stir-fry or homemade vegetable broth.
Cut into Bite-Sized Pieces: Chop the broccoli florets into very small, uniform, bite-sized pieces. Smaller pieces mean the creamy homemade dressing can coat every single nook and cranny, and it ensures a perfectly balanced forkful of broccoli, smoky bacon, and sweet cranberries in every bite.
How to Make Chopped Bacon Broccoli Salad
This salad comes together in just a few simple steps, making it the perfect stress-free side dish when you’re busy preparing for guests!
Step 1: Chop the Veggies
Start by chopping your fresh broccoli florets, celery ribs, cucumber, and optional cauliflower into very small, uniform, bite-sized pieces (about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long). You want each forkful to have a little bit of everything in it so your guests can enjoy how beautifully the flavors blend together! Toss all of your chopped vegetables into a large salad bowl.
Step 2: Add the Aromatics & Crunch
Mince your red onion into tiny pieces—no bigger than 1/8 of an inch—so it adds flavor without overpowering the salad, and add it to the bowl. Next, toss in your smoky bacon pieces, sweet dried cranberries, and crunchy sunflower seeds.
Step 3: Whisk the Creamy Homemade Dressing
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise base, apple cider vinegar, and sugar. Season with salt and pepper to taste (I like to use about 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper to start). Whisk until the dressing is completely smooth and the sugar is dissolved.
Step 4: Toss and Chill
Pour the creamy dressing over the broccoli mixture and toss everything together until every single veggie is perfectly coated. For the absolute best results, pop the salad into the refrigerator for a couple of hours before your baby shower, BBQ, or family gathering to let the flavors marry together!
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.
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If you try this recipe, I’d love if you give it a review on the recipe card, and let me know how it turned out in the comments or review! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouse_harvest with your delicious creation!
Bacon Broccoli Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups Broccoli chopped (or sub with some cauliflower)
- 2 ribs of celery
- 1/4 cup minced red onion
- 1/3 cup chopped cucumber
- 1/3 cup bacon pieces cooked to srispy and chopped
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds optional
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp sugar white
- 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, if using) 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, salt 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 Instructions: If you are hosting a brunch, shower, or potluck, this is the ultimate make-ahead side dish! Because broccoli is incredibly hearty, it won’t wilt the way lettuce does. You can safely pour the dressing over the salad and toss it 2 to 4 hours before your bridal shower or BBQ without worrying about it getting soggy. In fact, letting it sit in the refrigerator for a couple of hours actually gives the flavors time to marry together perfectly. Farmhouse Tip: If you want to prep it a full day in advance, keep the chopped veggie mixture and the dressing in separate airtight containers in the fridge, then simply toss them together a few hours before your guests arrive!
- Customization: Feel free to add other favorite ingredients like grapes, apples, or feta cheese.
Nutrition
About Juliea
Juliea is a mother of six, a sourdough baker, and a homestead builder living in Idaho. Alongside her husband and their horse, Dude, she manages a busy farmhouse and shares her love for scratch-cooking and simple homemaking. Through her blog and YouTube channel, she helps millions of families every year master the art of the handmade home.
