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Broccoli Salad with Bacon

5 from 25 votes

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This is the best Broccoli Salad recipe ever! It’s sweet, creamy, and crunchy with fresh broccoli, homemade dressing, and lots of bacon! This salad pairs well with so many different meals. Make it at your next BBQ alongside some burgers and fries.

Broccoli salad in a serving bowl with serving spoon

Broccoli Salad Basics

This tasty little broccoli salad recipe will blow your mind! What sets this one apart? Homemade dressing and all the bacon! The best part is you can adapt this salad to fit your liking and did I mention, all the bacon!?

While the original recipe posted here does not call for raisins, craisins or grapes, I know that many like to add those to a broccoli salad. I recently tried a friend’s version that had halved red seedless grapes…and wow! It was amazing. I highly recommend! Raisins, Craisins or grapes bring a chewy sweet flavor to the whole salad.

How to Make Broccoli Salad

It’s definitely one of the better fail-proof recipes I have in my custody that I am in LOVE with. It’s easy, has a good crunch factor, has the right broccoli to bacon ratio plus that sweet dressing turns otherwise unassuming broccoli into magic. Here is how to make it. For full recipe details, see the printable recipe card down below.

Cook Bacon + Prep Veggies

Chop all the vegetables making sure to cut the broccoli into bite-size pieces. Cook bacon according to your liking and cut up into small pieces, or you could buy bacon bits.

Combine in a Bowl

Place all salad ingredients into a large bowl and set aside.

close up view of broccoli salad ingredients in a bowl

Make the Dressing + Toss to Coat

In a smaller bowl, mix sugar, real mayonnaise, white vinegar and salt + pepper together to combine. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Serve or store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Make Ahead

The best part about this salad is you can chop all the veggies, store it in your refrigerator and add the dressing right before serving. It’s a definite crowd pleaser and is fabulous for holidays and potlucks.

Storing Leftovers

Store any leftovers in an airtight container, in the fridge for up to 5 days. Beyond this time, the broccoli will start to wilt.

broccoli salad in a serving bowl

Other salad recipes you might like:

What others are saying about this Broccoli Salad Recipe:

“This is by far the best broccoli salad recipe I’ve seen!! Yumm” ~ Stacy

“Made this last weekend and it was delicious! Loved the sunflower seeds” ~ Bryn

“I made this on Saturday night for our Easter dinner. I couldn’t wait to eat it and it was worth the wait. It was delicious. I did add the raisins and some shredded carrot that I had after making your carrot cupcakes. This will be made again.” ~ Teresa

“My Mom would make this often. My three brothers’ Dad and I loved it. Made it for my Hubby, he loved it and said, “you can make this again, anytime”. I will.” ~ Mare

“This salad is a huge hit. I bring it to family parties and everyone loves it.” ~ Dorene

“Absolutely delicious. Has been requested from my family to be made again and again!! Thanks for sharing!!” ~ Karen

Below is the printable recipe card! Have a great day and enjoy, friends!

5 from 25 votes

Broccoli Salad

This is the best Broccoli Salad recipe that will be devoured at your next barbecue! It's sweet, creamy and crunchy with fresh broccoli, homemade dressing and lots of bacon!
servings 8 servings
Prep Time 15 mins
Total Time 15 mins

Ingredients

  • 8 cups fresh broccoli florets bite size
  • 1/2 cup red onion finely diced
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup crumbled bacon
  • 1/2 cup raisins or craisins optional, but not used in my recipe

For the dressing:

Instructions

  • Chop all the vegetables making sure to cut the broccoli into bite-size pieces. Cook bacon according to your liking and cut up into small pieces, or you could buy bacon bits.
  • Place all salad ingredients into a large bowl and set aside.
  • In a smaller bowl, mix dressing ingredients together to combine. Pour over salad and toss. Serve or store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 512kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 548mg | Potassium: 526mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 625IU | Vitamin C: 82.7mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 1.6mg
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: broccoli salad, broccoli salad recipe, broccoli salad with bacon, summer salad

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Recipe Rating




64 Responses
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  4. Kathryn Wolff

    5 stars
    So many varieties of this special salad! We add the onion and raisins (Craisins) to the mayo mixture and let it set up over night – plumps the raisins

  5. Carrie Monts

    5 stars
    Oh I love broccoli salad and this one is just different enough that I HAVE to try it! All the ingredients made the shopping list!

  6. Teresa

    5 stars
    I made this on Saturday night for our Easter dinner. I couldn’t wait to eat it and it was worth the wait. It was delicious. I did add the rasisins and some shredded carrot that I had after making your carrot cupcakes. This will be made again.

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  8. Mare T.

    5 stars
    My Mom would make this often. My three brothers’ Dad and I loved it. Made it for my Hubby, he loved it and said, “you can make this again,,anytime”. I will.

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  10. Elizabeth

    I am probably around your mom’s age, and this recipe has been a staple since before by now 34 year old was born. Good things last forever, I think. I find the slight differences in recipes to be interesting…like you, definitely no raisins, but sliced mushrooms have always been there.

  11. Julio Gonzalez

    5 stars
    I use heavy cream instead of mayonnaise (find the mayo too heavy) and always use craisins! This has become a favorite at every gathering, even with those who don’t like broccoli!

  12. Karly

    Making this for Mother’s Day! Will I ruin it by adding shredded cheddar? I kind of add shredded cheddar to everything. 😉

  13. Sarah

    Craisins yes raisins not a chance. Also use red wine vinegar. Makes a big difference. And add shredded cheese. Mmmm. One of our favs

  14. Annie S

    5 stars
    One of my family’s all time favorites! Your broccoli salad is pretty identical to mine, with a couple small changes I’ve made over the years…
    rather than raisins, I use fresh organic grapes, halved if they are large , and I frequently use walnuts or pecans rather than sunflower seeds as both are very tasty in it. I use about half that amount of dressing, made with a blend of mayo and unsweetened yogurt.
    Thanks for a great recipe!

    1. Kathy Evans

      I like Annie’s idea – half mayo half yoghurt. I think most or all of the sugar could be left out. Looks like a delicious recipe.

  15. PJ Aringdale

    Just looking at the picture makes me hungry for some. Thanks for posting such beautiful pictures. We love broccoli salad at our house too. I use sliced almonds in mine, not sunflower seeds and yes love the raisins. I don’t care for celery much so I would omit that.

  16. Cindy W

    The craisins are really good in it. I agree on the raisins though. I use red wine vinegar in mine. I’ll have to try adding celery next time.

    1. PJ Aringdale

      Love craisins they are delish…raisins too. I always put which ever I have on hand. It is a wonderful blend of flavors and textures for sure!

  17. Karen @ On the Banks of Salt Creek

    I happen to LOVE broccoli and broccoli salad is delightful. When we lived in the city and would have dinners at Sweet Tomatoes (boys favorite spot….so many choices) I always put a couple of scoops of their broccoli salad on my plate.
    Yummy.

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