This broccoli salad with bacon is a crowd pleaser! Loaded with cranberries, sunflower kernels and red onion then tossed in a sweet and tangy dressing. It’s a classic recipe to bring to a BBQ!
Other cookout salad recipes we love include BLT pasta salad, Caesar salad and chicken salad!
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Broccoli Bacon Salad
One of my favorite parts about summer is having outdoor BBQs! This broccoli salad with bacon is just one of many delicious potluck salads that always makes an appearance, macaroni salad, German potato salad and loaded potato salad being other favorites!
It’s not only a crowd pleaser but is super easy to make. It’s filled with fresh crunchy broccoli, sweet dried cranberries, salty sunflower kernels, diced red onion and crispy bacon pieces. Then it’s topped off with a creamy and tangy dressing that adds the best flavor.
Recipe Ingredients
This super easy broccoli salad recipe with bacon requires only a few really good ingredients to make it shine.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Broccoli: I cut fresh broccoli florets into bite-sized pieces to make this broccoli salad with bacon super easy to eat.
- Bacon: Use bacon that is cooked crispy, cooled and then crumbled to give this salad a nice bit of salty goodness.
- Sunflower seeds: I like to use roasted and salted kernels for the additional flavor.
- Dried cranberries: The sweet and tangy berry adds the perfect balance to the fat from the bacon and the zest of citrus in the dressing.
- Red onion: I finely chop the onion so you always get just the right amount of onion in every bite.
- Dressing: The super simple yet delicious dressing is made with mayonnaise, honey, and lemon.
Substitutions and Variations
- Fruit. Feel free to swap dried cranberries with raisins or 1/4 cup sliced grapes.
- Nuts. You can also use slivered almonds, chopped pecans or walnuts in place of sunflower kernels.
- Cheese. Shredded sharp cheddar cheese is a delicious indulgent addition. Use thickly shredded cheese or cubes so that it remains sturdy in the salad.
- Meat. Try turkey bacon instead of regular bacon for a healthier option. Leave it altogether for a vegetarian dish.
- Dressing. Make this dish lighter, by using Greek yogurt instead of mayo. Sour cream will add more tang. Poppy seed dressing could be used in pinch.
- Acid. I like to use lemon juice, but you can always swap it with apple cider vinegar in a pinch.
How to Make Broccoli Salad with Bacon
Aside from a little bit of chopping, this bacon broccoli salad recipe is so simple!
- Stir. In a large bowl, add the broccoli, bacon, sunflower kernels, dried cranberries, and red onion.
- Combine dressing. I like to make my dressing first and let the flavors marinate together for a few minutes.
- Dress. Pour dressing evenly over the broccoli and toss until well coated. Make sure the broccoli is evenly coated with the dressing.
- Marinate. Chill the salad at least 15 minutes to let the flavors marinate together. Toss well before serving.
Broccoli Salad Dressing
The dressing is what makes this broccoli salad with bacon so flavorful. I made it a little different than the classic dressing with sugar and vinegar and it tastes so much better!
- Mayo or Greek yogurt: I like to use mayonnaise with olive oil, I don’t care for Miracle Whip but if you like it, go ahead and use it.
- Lemon juice: You could use white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar if preferred.
- Honey: Granulated sugar can be used if that is what you have on hand.
Tips for the Best Broccoli Salad
- Bacon in the oven. I love to cook my bacon in the oven. It’s by far the easiest method in my opinion and way less messy. Give it a shot if you haven’t tried it!
- Chop, chop chop. Make sure to chop the broccoli florets into small, evenly sized pieces. They’re easier to eat this way and will soak up more of the dressing.
- Let marinate. Chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes prior to serving. It enhances the flavor and allows the dressing to soak into the broccoli to soften it up a bit.
- Convenience. If you’re in a hurry, you can buy pre-chopped broccoli and pre-cooked bacon. It makes this side dish come together super quickly.
Recipe FAQs
I can eat this salad as a meal, but it also an amazing potluck salad because it goes with almost anything. I like to serve it with baked BBQ chicken, BBQ pork sandwich or turkey burgers.
No, I never do. Broccoli has so many amazing nutrients that you can benefit from by eating it raw, including fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants.
While broccoli is healthy, a classic broccoli salad isn’t exactly known for being healthy. This one, though, has been lightened up as it uses honey versus sugar and skips adding cheese. You can make it more of a healthy food by reducing the amount of bacon and using Greek yogurt instead of mayo.
Make Ahead and Storing
This dish can easily be prepped ahead of time if preferred. Assemble as directed, except leave out the bacon pieces so that they don’t get soggy. Then right before serving, mix them in. This helps keep the bacon nice and crispy.
If there are any leftovers, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge up to 5 days.
Want even more recipes where broccoli shines? Try Parmesan roasted broccoli, broccoli and cheese soup, and chicken broccoli rice casserole.
More Potluck Salad Recipes
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Broccoli Salad Recipe
Video
Ingredients
Dressing
- ¾ cup mayonnaise or plain Greek yogurt
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- Kosher salt , to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper , to taste
Broccoli Salad
- 5-6 cups broccoli florets , cut into bite-sized pieces
- 6 pieces bacon , cooked crisp, cooled and crumbled
- ¼ cup salted sunflower kernels
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup red onion , finely chopped
Instructions
Dressing
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, and honey. Season with salt and pepper.
Broccoli Salad
- In a large bowl, add the broccoli, bacon, sunflower kernels, dried cranberries, and red onion.
- Pour dressing evenly over the broccoli and toss until well coated.
- Chill the salad at least 15 minutes to let the flavors marinate together. Toss well before serving.
Notes
- Cheese. Shredded cheddar cheese is a delicious addition. You want the cheese to be thickly shredded, so that it remains sturdy in the salad.
- Convenience. If you’re in a hurry, you can buy pre-chopped broccoli and pre-cooked bacon. It makes this side dish come together super quickly.
- Lighten it up. If you want to make this dish lighter, use Greek yogurt for the dressing and turkey bacon instead of regular.
- Bacon in the oven. I love to cook my bacon in the oven. It’s by far the easiest method in my opinion and way less messy. Give it a shot if you haven’t tried it!
- Chop, chop chop. Make sure to chop the broccoli florets into small, evenly sized pieces. They’re easier to eat this way and will soak up more of the dressing.
- Let marinate. Chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes prior to serving. It enhances the flavor and allows the dressing to soak into the broccoli to soften it up a bit.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 4th of July, American, Gluten-Free, Low Carb, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegetables
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
I could eat an entire plateful of this salad. It is so yummy!!
This is such a quick and easy recipe. It was absolutely delicious, I am going to make it again this week! ❤️
So glad to hear it was a hit! Thanks for your review Gena! :)
The bacon just makes this broccoli salad better than any other I’ve had. SO GOOD.
Such an amazing salad!! This is such a great side dish!
Very easy to make and we loved it!
I’m so glad to hear you loved it!
This is one of my all time favorite recipes! It’s always a hit in the summer, too!
This sounds delicious. What is the serving size?
Hi Cory! It serves 12!
This is a favorite summer side dish of ours! So good.
I don’t see GRAPES listed under the ingredients, only in the Instructions……what is the quantity of grapes? Thanks…
I changed it to cranberries, but you can always substitute the cranberries with 1/2 cup sliced grapes :)
I love broccoli salad so much! This was delicious!
Loved the sauce on this broccoli salad recipe! It’s perfect!
This is such an amazing salad! Perfect side dish for our grilled meats
I am a broccoli fanatic! Loved this recipe!
This looks amazing! definitely going to try this!
This is my FAVORITE summer salad! A staple in this house!
Such a great way to enjoy broccoli! My family definitely love this!
This would be perfect for our church potlucks!
I’m fine with potluck, of course, but this seems to be perfect for my office lunch (quartered quantities) ! Thank you so much !