Switch up your salad game with this crunchy Broccoli Salad With Bacon. The raw broccoli florets pair beautifully with tart dried cranberries, sharp cheddar cheese, salty sunflower seeds, and smokey bacon tossed in a creamy dressing.
Serve this broccoli salad at your next barbecue! It’s a delicious change of pace from a regular garden salad.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- broccoli florets
- crumbled bacon
- dried cranberries
- sharp cheddar cheese
- red onion
- mayonnaise
- sour cream
- white wine vinegar
- sugar
- salt and pepper
(Note: Full recipe is at the bottom of the post)
How to Make Broccoli Salad With Bacon
- Combine the broccoli florets, bacon, cranberries, cheddar cheese, and onion in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper until well-combined and smooth.
- Pour the dressing over the broccoli salad and stir well to coat.
- If time allows, refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors develop.
Tips And Tricks
- Use fresh firm broccoli and cut the florets into bite-sized pieces.
- For a less crunchy salad, par-boil the florets in salted water for up to 60 seconds. Immediately plunge into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process and drain well.
- Shred the cheese yourself using the larger side of a box grater or buy thicker pre-shredded cheese. The cheese can also be diced instead of shredded.
- This salad will have the best flavor if it’s allowed to rest in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving.
- For a vegetarian-friendly version, omit the bacon or use a plant-based alternative.
How To Serve Broccoli Salad With Bacon
This salad is a delicious side dish. Serve it at your next barbecue or dinner party. It keeps well in the fridge and can be enjoyed the following day with sandwiches for lunch.
How To Store Broccoli Salad With Bacon
Broccoli salad should be stored in the fridge. Because broccoli is firm and doesn’t absorb a lot of liquid, the dressing won’t make it limp. If you plan on making the salad in advance, wait until it’s time to serve to toss in the bacon and sunflower seeds. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
How To Lighten Up Broccoli Salad With Bacon
To reduce the fat in the salad, you can use turkey bacon instead of pork and replace the sour cream with Greek yogurt. Mayonnaise made with olive oil is also considered to be a healthier option than regular mayonnaise.
How Do You Clean Broccoli For Salad?
Place the broccoli florets in a large colander and rinse well with cold water. Inspect the florets carefully and gently rub them under running water to remove any grit. Place the florets in a large bowl of water and lightly sprinkle with salt to remove any remaining debris. Rinse again with cold running water and drain well.
Broccoli Salad With Bacon Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound broccoli florets
- ½ cup crumbled bacon
- ⅔ cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese thickly shredded
- ⅓ cup red onion finely diced
Dressing:
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1½ tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine the broccoli florets, bacon, cranberries, cheddar cheese, and onion in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper until well-combined and smooth.
- Pour the dressing over the broccoli salad and stir well to coat.
- If time allows, refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors develop.
- Serve and enjoy!
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