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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Salad Recipes

    Broccoli Bacon Salad

    Published: Sep 16, 2021 ยท Updated: Nov 6, 2023 by Tammilee ยท This post may contain affiliate links

    Hereโ€™s a delicious Broccoli Bacon Salad with homemade dressing! You wonโ€™t believe the secret ingredient in the dressing! It makes all the difference in making this salad fantastic!

    Broccoli Bacon Salad over a glass salad dish filled with broccoli salad and a wooden spoon

    Contents show
    Broccoli Bacon Salad
    Preparation and Storage
    Recipe Variations
    Tips for the Best Broccoli Bacon Salad
    What to Serve with Broccoli Bacon Salad
    When to Serve
    Great Salad Recipes
    Broccoli Bacon Salad Recipe
    Ingredients
    Dressing
    Instructions
    Kitchen Tools
    Nutrition

    Broccoli Bacon Salad

    Hereโ€™s a delicious Broccoli Bacon Salad with homemade dressing! You wonโ€™t believe the secret ingredient in the dressing! It makes all the difference in making this salad fantastic!

    This summer, I experimented with new salad recipes to expand our collection and offer options beyond an easy fruit salad or Greek Cucumber Salad.

    My husband and I have recently talked about what veggies and salads we can bring to holiday gatherings to bring more green to the table. Weโ€™re excited to bring this Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheese to this yearโ€™s Thanksgiving festivities!

    Bacon lovers will especially love the โ€œsecretโ€ ingredient that makes the dressing epic - bacon drippings! As many Southern cooks have advised, you may want to invest in a bacon grease container to save all the bacon grease for your Southern recipe rotation.

    This broccoli salad recipe has become my go-to side dish for events. It is one of those recipes that takes minutes to prepare and garners lots of requests from guests whoโ€™ve loved it!

    Plus, you can make it beforehand to save on time and stress.

    Shredded cheddar cheese, broccoli florets, and bacon in a red bowl

    Ingredients

    Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients for making an epic easy Broccoli Salad! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.

    • Fresh Broccoli Florets
    • Bacon
    • Medium Onion
    • Cheddar Cheese

    Broccoli Salad Dressing Ingredients

    • Mayonnaise
    • Sugar
    • White Wine Vinegar
    • Bacon Drippingsย 

    Optional - You can throw in dried cranberries for sweetness or sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, or your favorite nuts for extra crunch. Additional fun add ins include red onions, raisins

    Equipment Needed

    • Salad Bowl or Large Mixing Bowl
    • Small Bowl/Whisk: For the dressing
    • Wooden Spoons: For tossing the salad togetherย 

    Broccoli salad with bacon and cheese in a glass bowl

    How to Make the Best Broccoli Salad Recipe

    I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.

    1. Cut the broccoli into bite-sized pieces. If not already prepped, dice the onion and grate the cheddar cheese.
    2. Cook the bacon and rest each strip on paper towels.
    3. Once most of the grease absorbs, cut the bacon into bite-sized pieces.
    4. Mix the broccoli, bacon, diced onion, and grated cheddar cheese in a large salad bowl.
    5. Combine the dressing ingredients, then pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture.
    6. Chill in the fridge for 1-3 hours or overnight for the best flavor.ย 

    Preparation and Storage

    Make-Ahead: This Broccoli Bacon Salad is make-ahead-friendly! Plan for this salad to rest in the fridge for at least an hour so the dressing can meld with everything. It is better if it sits for a few hours.

    Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container and enjoy them within three days.

    Freezing/How to Freeze: We donโ€™t recommend freezing this side dish salad, as broccoli loses its crispness and turns soggy when thawed, and mayonnaise tends to separate.

    ย 

    Recipe Variations

    Substitutions: Feel free to swap the mayo for Miracle Whip if you prefer this ingredientโ€™s flavor.

    To save time you can use real bacon bits instead of freshly cooked bacon.

    Use sharp cheddar cheese instead of regular for a stronger taste.

    Vegetarian Option: Swap the bacon and bacon grease with meat-free alternatives to make this recipe vegetarian. This guide to bacon grease substitutes has some meatless options to get you started.

    Vegan Option: In addition to the guidance for vegetarians, vegans should use plant-based mayonnaise and cheddar cheese.

    Gluten-Free: The components of this recipe are typically gluten-free by nature. Check each pantry ingredient for a gluten-free label if you are highly sensitive.

    Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: The written recipe makes eight servings. Scale it up or down to your desired yield.

    Make It Spicy: We havenโ€™t seen any spicy versions of this Broccoli Bacon Salad, but you can add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce or spicy seasoning blend to kick up the heat.

    Sugar-Free: The written recipe contains 15 grams of sugar per serving. Replace the white sugar with a sugar-free alternative to make it sugar-free.

    Broccoli salad with bacon in a white bowl

    Tips for the Best Broccoli Bacon Salad

    • I like to cut the bacon into bite-size pieces; you can also crumble the cooked bacon.
    • Depending on your available time, you can buy pre-cut broccoli florets or cut your own.
    • I do not blanch the broccoli, but you totally can if you prefer it blanched.

    What to Serve with Broccoli Bacon Salad

    Make this broccoli and bacon-infused take on a summer salad favorite a part of your next warm-weather porch hangout, potluck, or barbecue gathering. Here are some menu planning suggestions.

    Sides: BLT Pasta Salad, Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon, Pear Salad, Sauerkraut Salad, Air Fryer Corn on the Cob, Air Fryer Texas Toast, Jiffy Cornbread with Sour Cream, Southern Style Green Beans, Creamed Corn Casserole, Watermelon Salad, Kool-Aid Pickles

    Main Dishes: Jalapeรฑo Beer Brats, CrockPot Cheeseburger Casserole, Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole, Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork, Ranch Steak Kabobs, Hot Dog Chili, CrockPot Bacon Mac & Cheese, Smoked Sausage Gnocchi, CrockPot Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole

    Desserts: Strawberry Fluff Salad, Grape Salad, Orange Dreamsicle Salad, Apple and Snickers Salad, Lemon Icebox Pie, Pig Pickin' Cake, Watergate Salad, Ambrosia Salad, Butterfinger Cake, Strawberry Poke Cake, Cherry Fluff Salad, Oreo Poke Cake, Bisquick Peach Cobbler

    Drinks: Kool-Aid Slushie, Red Robin Freckled Lemonade, CopyCat Chick-fil-A Lemonade, CopyCat Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade, Sonic Ocean Water, Brazilian Lemonade, CopyCat McDonald's Sweet Tea, Watermelon Agua Fresca, CopyCat Sonic Cherry Limeade

    When to Serve

    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Potlucks
    • Barbecues/Cookouts
    • Summer Parties

    Great Salad Recipes

    Kidney Bean Salad

    Grape Salad

    Snickers Salad

    Caprese Pasta Salad

    7 Layer Salad

    Big Mac Salad

    Black Eyed Pea Salad

    We love serving this as a side for ribs!

    Do you love recipes? Check out our copycat recipes, dessert recipes, and our CrockPot Recipes.

    Follow Tammilee Tips on MSN, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for our recipe posts.

    Broccoli bacon salad with cheddar cheese in a glass bowl with wooden spoons

    Broccoli Bacon Salad in a white Bowl

    Broccoli Bacon Salad Recipe

    Delicious easy Broccoli Bacon Salad with a homemade dressing. The perfect salad for family dinners, barbecues, or holidays.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 512kcal
    Author: Tammilee Tips

    Ingredients

    • 4-5 stalks Broccoli
    • ยฝ pound Bacon
    • 1 medium onion diced
    • 2 cups cheddar cheese grated

    Dressing

    • 1 cup Mayonnaise
    • ยฝ cup White Sugar
    • 2 Tablespoon white wine vinegar
    • 2 teaspoon Bacon Grease

    Instructions

    • Cut broccoli into bite size pieces
    • Cook bacon and rest on paper towels
    • Cut bacon into bite size pieces
    • Mix together broccoli, bacon, onion, and cheese in a large bowl.
    • Mix dressing ingredients together and then pour over broccoli mixture
    • Chill in the fridge for 1-3 hours or overnight

    Kitchen Tools

    • Large Mixing Bowl

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Broccoli Bacon Salad Recipe
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 512 Calories from Fat 387
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 43g66%
    Saturated Fat 13g81%
    Trans Fat 1g
    Cholesterol 61mg20%
    Sodium 568mg25%
    Potassium 350mg10%
    Carbohydrates 20g7%
    Fiber 2g8%
    Sugar 15g17%
    Protein 13g26%
    Vitamin A 782IU16%
    Vitamin C 68mg82%
    Calcium 246mg25%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    About Tammilee

    Lifestyle blogger who travels the world and drinks too much Chai tea. Travel blogger, award winning photographer, sunset hunter, Birkenstock girl, bird nerd
    You can find Tammilee on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

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