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    🏠Home » Recipes » Salad Recipes

    Broccoli Salad with Bacon

    Jul 2, 2022 · Modified: Oct 26, 2022 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · 2 Comments

    Recipe Table of Contents    
    4.75 from 8 votes

    A full-size "take to the family picnic" recipe for classic broccoli salad with bacon and cheese that is quick and easy to make. Better than deli made with perfect creamy dressing and crunchy fresh broccoli, cheese, bacon, and other ingredients of your choice.

    broccoli salad on a white plate-2

    Jump To:
    • 👨‍🍳How to this recipe
    • 🥦Ingredients
    • ❓FAQs
    • 📖Summer Salad Recipes
    • 🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
    • 📝Recipe

    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    Introduction

    Let's start by saying this is a full-size recipe made for family gatherings, and it is not broccoli salad for two. You can cut the recipe down if you wish with the options in the recipe card.

    Most of us need a go-to side for the family and company. Take it to that summer potluck event, and you will be the only one without the potato or macaroni salad.

    Based on Food Network's Paula Deen Broccoli Salad recipe. The original Paul Deen recipe was a little heavy in vinegar, heavy in cheese, and had some tomatoes.

    I have modified the original recipe and included options for you to customize for your tastes.

    👨‍🍳How to this recipe

    1. Use the freshest broccoli you can find. Time the florets into bite-size pieces, and I like to cut up some of the stems if they are not too woody.
    2. Fry bacon after cutting it into pieces. Drain well on paper towels.
    3. Prepare onion, cheese, and any optional ingredients you like.
    4. Stir well in a large bowl with dressing ingredients.
    5. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Setting overnight in the refrigerator will enhance the flavor.

    🥦Ingredients

    The Broccoli

    The broccoli needs to be the freshest possible. The older it is, the dryer it will taste, and it will be more like the deli version, which always seems dry.

    A medium head of broccoli will yield about 2-3 cups of broccoli florets—so two medium heads. A large head of broccoli will make 3-4 cups.

    Other ingredients

    The dressing is a good quality mayonnaise with some white or apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. You can use greek yogurt if you wish for the mayo.

    Use mild cheddar cheese and cut into cups. Other cheese may be used, but it doesn't seem right.

    Optional ingredients-Make it your own.

    A half-cup of sliced cherry tomatoes, golden raisins, diced carrot, diced celery, or dried cranberries are all good additions.

    Nuts will add some nice crunch. So a half cup of toasted sunflower seeds, almonds, walnuts, or pecans would add a great touch.

    Cutting the bacon into pieces before cooking will make it easier to fry.

    ❓FAQs

    How to make broccoli salad healthier.

    For a "Healthy Broccoli Salad," substitute a low-fat mayo or lower-fat Greek yogurt. And you can substitute diced ham or Canadian bacon for the bacon.

    How to store broccoli salad.

    Place leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Do not freeze.

    Can I use frozen broccoli for broccoli salad?

    No, the texture will be wrong.

    📖Summer Salad Recipes

    Homemade Macaroni Salad

    Broccoli Slaw

    Caprese Pasta Salad

    Fresh Spinach Salad; A Summer Favorite

    This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.

    Grill Side Dish Recipes, Salad Recipes, Side Dish Recipes
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    🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

    trimming broccoli on a black board

    Start by washing and trimming the broccoli. Trim the florets off and cut smaller if needed.

    trim broccoli stems

    Don't throw the stem away. Trim off the leaves and the tough peel, then cut into ½ inch cubes. You need 4-6 cups for a full recipe—that is 2 medium heads.

    cooking cut bacon in skillet

    Cut up 6-8 slices of bacon and cook until crispy over medium-high heat—about 5 minutes. Drain the bacon on a paper towel.

    ingredients in a large bowl

    Additional ingredients: ½ cup (one medium) red onion chopped.  ¼ to ½ cup sharp cheddar in small cubes. Optional: A half cup of sliced cherry tomatoes, golden raisins, diced carrot, diced celery, or dried cranberries, Or add some nuts: toasted sunflower seeds, almonds, walnuts, or pecans.

    mixing broccoli salad in bowl

    In a small bowl, combine 1 cup mayonnaise, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, 1-2 tablespoons white or apple cider vinegar, and 1-2 tablespoons sugar. Vary the sugar and vinegar for your taste. Pour into the broccoli mixture and mix to combine.

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    📝Recipe

    broccoli salad on a white plate-2

    Broccoli Salad with Bacon

    From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
    A full-size "take to the family picnic" recipe for classic broccoli salad with bacon and cheese that is quick and easy to make. Better than deli made with perfect creamy dressing and crunchy fresh broccoli, cheese, bacon, and other ingredients of your choice.
    Tap to leave a Rating
    4.75 from 8 votes
    Print Email CollectionCollected
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings #/Adjust if desired 12

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Convert to Metric
    • 4-6 cups fresh broccoli - two medium heads
    • 6-8 strips bacon
    • 1 medium red onion
    • ½ cup sharp cheddar - small cubes

    Optional

    • ½ cup cherry tomatoes - halves
    • ½ cup golden raisins
    • ½ cup sunflower seeds

    Dressing

    • 1 cup mayonnaise
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • 1-2 tablespoons sugar
    • 1-2 tablespoons white vinegar
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Start by washing and trimming the broccoli. Trim the florets off and cut smaller if needed.
      trimming broccoli on a black board
    • Don't throw the stem away. Trim off the leaves and the tough peel, then cut into ½ inch cubes. You need 4-6 cups for a full recipe—that is 2 medium heads.
      trim broccoli stems
    • Cut up 6-8 slices of bacon and cook until crispy over medium-high heat—about 5 minutes. Drain the bacon ona paper towel.
      cooking cut bacon in skillet
    • Additional ingredients: ½ cup (one medium) red onion chopped.  ¼ to ½ cup sharp cheddar in small cubes. Optional: A half cup of sliced cherry tomatoes, golden raisins, diced carrot, diced celery, or dried cranberries, Or add some nuts: toasted sunflower seeds, almonds, walnuts, or pecans.
      ingredients in a large bowl
    • In a small bowl, combine 1 cup mayonnaise, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, 1-2 tablespoons white or apple cider vinegar, and 1-2 tablespoons sugar. Vary the sugar and vinegar for your taste. Pour into the broccoli mixture and mix to combine.
      mixing broccoli salad in bowl
    See the step-by-step photos in the post. Some recipes have an option to display the photos here with a switch above these instructions but the photos DO NOT print.

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    Recipe Notes

    Pro Tips:

    1. This is a very easy recipe to scale down or up for your needs.
    2. The broccoli needs to be the freshest possible. The older it is, the dryer it will taste.
    3. A medium head of broccoli will yield about 2-3 cups and a large head will be 3-4 cups.
    4. A half cup of sliced cherry tomatoes, golden raisins, diced carrot, diced celery, or dried cranberries all are good additions.
    5. Nuts will add some nice crunch. So a half cup of toasted sunflower seeds, almonds, or pecans would add a great touch.
    6. The flavors will come together better after overnight refrigeration but is great the day it is mixed, also.
    7. Good refrigerated for about 3 days.

    To adjust the recipe size:

    You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.

    Nutrition Estimate

    Nutrition Facts
    Broccoli Salad with Bacon
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 96.9 Calories from Fat 66
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 7.3g11%
    Saturated Fat 2.1g11%
    Trans Fat 0.02g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 2.8g
    Monounsaturated Fat 1.9g
    Cholesterol 11.7mg4%
    Sodium 359.3mg15%
    Potassium 125.8mg4%
    Carbohydrates 4.9g2%
    Fiber 0.8g3%
    Sugar 2.2g2%
    Protein 3.4g7%
    Vitamin A 250.9IU5%
    Vitamin C 27.1mg33%
    Calcium 49.4mg5%
    Iron 0.3mg2%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Serving size is my estimate of a normal size unless stated otherwise. The number of servings per recipe is stated above. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.
    Course : Salad
    Cuisine : American

    © 101 Cooking for Two, LLC. All content and photographs are copyright protected by us or our vendors. While we appreciate your sharing our recipes, please realize copying, pasting, or duplicating full recipes to any social media, website, or electronic/printed media is strictly prohibited and a violation of our copyrights.

    Editor's Note: Originally Published March 13, 2012. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.

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    More Salad Recipes

    • Waldorf Chicken Salad
    • Fresh Spinach Salad with Bacon
    • Homemade Macaroni Salad
    • Caprese Pasta Salad—Fresh and Easy

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    1. Kate

      July 04, 2019 at 9:57 am

      Instead of the bacon, try using some coarsely chopped Smokehouse Almonds (Blue Diamond brand, I think).

      Reply
    2. Emily Littlefield

      March 13, 2012 at 9:06 pm

      So minimal but so awesome!

      Reply

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