Discover the ultimate crowd-pleaser for any gathering: our sensational Broccoli Bacon Salad with a secret homemade dressing! This isn’t just any side dish; it’s a vibrant, flavorful concoction that promises to elevate your meal and leave your guests craving the recipe. Get ready to experience a fresh, crunchy, and irresistibly creamy salad, featuring a unique ingredient that makes all the difference.

The Best Broccoli Bacon Salad: A Potluck Favorite

Are you searching for an easy-to-make, utterly delicious salad that’s perfect for any occasion? Look no further! This Broccoli Bacon Salad, complete with a rich and tangy homemade dressing, is guaranteed to be a hit. What truly sets it apart is a surprising ingredient in the dressing that infuses every bite with an unparalleled depth of flavor. Prepare yourself for a dish so good, it might just steal the spotlight!

This past summer, my kitchen became a laboratory for new salad recipes. I wanted to diversify our menu, moving beyond traditional options like a simple fruit salad or a refreshing Greek Cucumber Salad. The goal was to find something hearty, fresh, and universally appealing, a dish that could stand proudly at any family dinner or festive event.

My husband and I often discuss healthy and delicious vegetable dishes we can contribute to holiday meals. We love bringing something green and vibrant to the table, and this Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheese has quickly become our top choice. We are particularly excited to share this fantastic creation at this year’s Thanksgiving celebrations, where it’s sure to be devoured by all!

The Secret Ingredient for an Epic Dressing

For all bacon lovers out there, prepare to have your minds blown! The “secret” ingredient that transforms this dressing from good to absolutely epic is none other than bacon drippings. Yes, that rich, smoky fat rendered from cooking bacon is pure liquid gold. As many seasoned Southern cooks will attest, incorporating bacon grease into dressings and other dishes adds an incredible layer of savory flavor that simply cannot be replicated. If you don’t already, you might want to invest in a bacon grease container to save every precious drop for your future culinary endeavors. This simple addition is a game-changer, lending a subtle smokiness and unparalleled richness to the creamy dressing.

This easy broccoli salad recipe has swiftly risen to the top of my go-to list for potlucks, barbecues, and family gatherings. It’s one of those magical dishes that takes minimal effort to prepare but consistently garners rave reviews and requests for the recipe. Its fresh crunch combined with the savory bacon and creamy dressing creates a harmonious blend of textures and tastes that appeals to everyone.

One of the best advantages of this salad is its make-ahead potential. You can prepare it hours, or even a day, in advance, allowing the flavors to meld and deepen beautifully. This not only saves you precious time and reduces stress on the day of your event but also ensures the salad tastes even better after a good chill in the fridge. It’s the ultimate convenience food that doesn’t compromise on flavor.

Ingredients for Your Irresistible Broccoli Bacon Salad

Crafting this epic broccoli salad requires just a handful of simple, fresh ingredients. The full, printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions is available further down the page, but here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need to create this fantastic dish.

Main Salad Components:

• Fresh Broccoli Florets: The star of our show! Choose vibrant green broccoli for the best flavor and crunch. Cutting them into bite-sized pieces ensures an enjoyable texture in every spoonful.
• Crispy Bacon: Provides a savory, salty crunch that perfectly complements the fresh broccoli. Using high-quality bacon is key to unlocking the best flavor.
• Medium Onion: Adds a subtle pungency and a delicate sweetness. Diced finely, it blends seamlessly into the salad without overpowering other flavors.
• Cheddar Cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese brings a sharp, creamy element and a beautiful color contrast. You can use mild or sharp, depending on your preference.

Broccoli Salad Dressing Ingredients:

• Mayonnaise: Forms the creamy base of our dressing, binding all the flavors together.
• Granulated Sugar: Balances the tang of the vinegar and the savoriness of the bacon, adding a touch of sweetness.
• White Wine Vinegar: Provides a bright, acidic kick that cuts through the richness of the mayonnaise and bacon.
• Bacon Drippings: Our secret weapon! This is where the magic happens, infusing the dressing with incredible depth and a smoky undertone.

Optional Add-ins for Extra Flavor and Texture: Feel free to customize your salad with these delightful additions.
You can throw in dried cranberries for a burst of chewy sweetness, or sunflower seeds, sliced almonds, pecans, or your favorite nuts for extra crunch and nutty flavor. Additional fun add-ins include thinly sliced red onions for a sharper bite, or sweet raisins for another layer of complexity.

Essential Kitchen Equipment Needed

You won’t need any fancy gadgets for this recipe, just a few standard kitchen tools:

• Large Salad Bowl or Mixing Bowl: Essential for combining all the ingredients and tossing the salad without spills.
• Small Bowl and Whisk: Perfect for effortlessly blending the dressing ingredients until smooth.
• Wooden Spoons or Salad Tongs: For gently tossing the salad, ensuring every piece of broccoli and bacon is coated in that incredible dressing.

How to Make the Best Broccoli Bacon Salad Recipe

Preparing this incredibly delicious salad is surprisingly straightforward. While complete step-by-step instructions are provided in the printable recipe card below, here’s a simplified version to guide you through the process:

1. Prepare Your Ingredients: Begin by washing and cutting the fresh broccoli into uniform, bite-sized florets. If your onion isn’t pre-diced, finely dice it, and grate your cheddar cheese if not using pre-shredded.
2. Cook the Bacon: Cook your bacon slices until they are perfectly crispy. A skillet or oven method works equally well. Once cooked, transfer each strip to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess grease. Remember to reserve two teaspoons of the precious bacon drippings for the dressing!
3. Dice the Bacon: Once the bacon has cooled slightly and most of the grease has absorbed, cut it into small, bite-sized pieces. Alternatively, you can crumble it, depending on your preferred texture.
4. Combine Salad Ingredients: In your large salad bowl, gently combine the prepared broccoli florets, crispy bacon pieces, diced onion, and grated cheddar cheese.
5. Whisk the Dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, granulated sugar, white wine vinegar, and the reserved bacon drippings until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
6. Dress and Chill: Pour the luscious homemade dressing evenly over the broccoli mixture. Toss gently with wooden spoons or salad tongs until all ingredients are thoroughly coated. For the best flavor, cover the bowl and chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 1-3 hours, or even better, overnight. This allows the flavors to truly meld and develop.

Preparation and Storage Tips for Convenience

This Broccoli Bacon Salad is a champion when it comes to make-ahead convenience, making it ideal for busy hosts.

Make-Ahead: This salad thrives with a little resting time! For optimal flavor integration, plan to prepare this salad at least an hour before serving. However, it genuinely shines when allowed to chill in the fridge for several hours or even overnight. This extended rest allows the creamy dressing to soften the broccoli ever so slightly and lets all the savory, sweet, and tangy notes deepen and meld into a truly spectacular taste experience.

Storage: Any delightful leftovers should be transferred to an airtight container and refrigerated promptly. You can enjoy this salad for up to three days, though its crunchiness is best within the first day or two.

Freezing/How to Freeze: We strongly advise against freezing this side dish salad. Broccoli tends to lose its appealing crispness and can become disappointingly soggy upon thawing. Furthermore, mayonnaise-based dressings, like ours, have a tendency to separate and develop an undesirable texture when frozen and thawed. For the best quality and enjoyment, always prepare this salad fresh or store it refrigerated.

Recipe Variations: Customize Your Broccoli Bacon Salad

One of the joys of cooking is the ability to adapt recipes to suit your taste or dietary needs. This broccoli bacon salad is wonderfully versatile!

Substitutions: If you prefer the tangier, slightly sweeter flavor of Miracle Whip, feel free to substitute it for mayonnaise in the dressing. For a quicker preparation, you can opt for store-bought real bacon bits instead of cooking fresh bacon, though fresh bacon offers superior flavor and texture. To amp up the cheesy goodness, try using sharp cheddar cheese instead of regular for a more pronounced flavor profile.

Vegetarian Option: To make this delicious recipe suitable for vegetarians, simply swap out the traditional bacon and bacon grease. There are many excellent plant-based bacon alternatives available today that offer a similar smoky flavor and crispy texture. For the dressing, replace the bacon grease with a savory alternative like smoked paprika-infused olive oil, or a dash of liquid smoke mixed with a neutral oil. This guide to bacon grease substitutes offers some fantastic meatless options to inspire you.

Vegan Option: Expanding on the vegetarian guidelines, vegans can enjoy this salad by incorporating plant-based mayonnaise and dairy-free cheddar cheese alternatives. Ensure all other ingredients, like sugar, are certified vegan if strict adherence is required.

Gluten-Free: By its very nature, the core ingredients of this Broccoli Bacon Salad are typically gluten-free. However, for those with severe sensitivities or allergies, it’s always wise to double-check the labels of all pantry ingredients, such as mayonnaise or specific brands of bacon, to ensure they carry a certified gluten-free label.

Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: The written recipe is designed to yield eight servings, making it perfect for a medium-sized gathering. Should you need to feed a smaller household or a much larger crowd, simply scale the ingredients up or down proportionally to achieve your desired yield. This recipe is highly adaptable.

Make It Spicy: While not traditionally spicy, adding a little heat can be a fun twist! Introduce a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce, a pinch of red pepper flakes, or a spicy seasoning blend to the dressing to give your salad an exciting kick. Start small and adjust to your preferred level of spice.

Sugar-Free: For those monitoring their sugar intake, the original recipe contains approximately 15 grams of sugar per serving. You can easily make this salad sugar-free by substituting the white granulated sugar in the dressing with a sugar-free alternative, such as erythritol or stevia, adjusting to taste.

Expert Tips for Crafting the Best Broccoli Bacon Salad

To ensure your Broccoli Bacon Salad is nothing short of perfect, keep these helpful tips in mind:

• Bacon Preparation: While I prefer to cut the cooked bacon into neat, bite-sized pieces for consistent texture, crumbling the crispy bacon is also a popular and equally delicious option. Choose what you enjoy most!
• Broccoli Convenience: Save yourself some prep time by purchasing pre-cut broccoli florets from the grocery store. However, if you have a fresh head of broccoli, cutting it yourself is easy and often more cost-effective.
• To Blanch or Not to Blanch: I typically do not blanch the broccoli for this salad, as I love the crisp texture of raw broccoli. However, if you prefer a slightly softer broccoli or want to enhance its vibrant green color, you can quickly blanch the florets in boiling water for about 30 seconds, then immediately plunge them into an ice bath to stop the cooking process before draining and drying thoroughly.
• Chilling is Crucial: Don’t skip the chilling step! Allowing the salad to rest in the refrigerator for at least 1-3 hours, or ideally overnight, allows the flavors to truly develop and marry. The dressing permeates the broccoli, resulting in a more cohesive and delicious salad.

What to Serve with Broccoli Bacon Salad

This broccoli and bacon-infused summer salad favorite is incredibly versatile and makes a fantastic addition to almost any meal. It’s perfect for a warm-weather porch hangout, a casual potluck, or a lively barbecue gathering. Here are some menu planning suggestions to inspire your next feast:

Perfect Side Dishes:
Enhance your spread with other delectable sides that complement the rich flavor of our broccoli bacon salad. Consider a refreshing BLT Pasta Salad, hearty Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon, a crisp Pear Salad, tangy Sauerkraut Salad, savory Air Fryer Corn on the Cob, buttery Air Fryer Texas Toast, moist Jiffy Cornbread with Sour Cream, comforting Southern Style Green Beans, creamy Creamed Corn Casserole, light Watermelon Salad, or even adventurous Kool-Aid Pickles.

Hearty Main Dishes:
This salad pairs beautifully with a wide array of main courses. Serve it alongside sizzling Jalapeño Beer Brats, a comforting CrockPot Cheeseburger Casserole, a flavorful Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole, succulent Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork, delicious Ranch Steak Kabobs, classic Hot Dog Chili, indulgent CrockPot Bacon Mac & Cheese, savory Smoked Sausage Gnocchi, or a hearty CrockPot Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole.

Sweet Desserts:
Complete your meal with a delightful dessert. Options include fluffy Strawberry Fluff Salad, creamy Grape Salad, vibrant Orange Dreamsicle Salad, unique Apple and Snickers Salad, tart Lemon Icebox Pie, southern classic Pig Pickin’ Cake, retro Watergate Salad, festive Ambrosia Salad, decadent Butterfinger Cake, light Strawberry Poke Cake, charming Cherry Fluff Salad, rich Oreo Poke Cake, or a comforting Bisquick Peach Cobbler.

Refreshing Drinks:
Quench your thirst with a variety of beverages like a vibrant Kool-Aid Slushie, a copycat Red Robin Freckled Lemonade, a classic CopyCat Chick-fil-A Lemonade, an exotic CopyCat Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade, a fun Sonic Ocean Water, a creamy Brazilian Lemonade, a sweet CopyCat McDonald’s Sweet Tea, a hydrating Watermelon Agua Fresca, or a zesty CopyCat Sonic Cherry Limeade.

When to Serve This Delightful Dish

This versatile Broccoli Bacon Salad is a fantastic choice for a multitude of occasions:

• Lunch: A satisfying and fresh addition to your midday meal.
• Dinner: An excellent side dish that complements various main courses.
• Potlucks: Always a crowd-pleaser and easy to transport.
• Barbecues/Cookouts: Its crispness and savory notes are perfect for outdoor gatherings.
• Summer Parties: A refreshing and flavorful option for warm-weather entertaining.
• Holiday Gatherings: A vibrant green dish that adds balance to richer holiday spreads, especially Thanksgiving.

More Great Salad Recipes to Explore

If you loved this broccoli bacon salad, you might enjoy exploring other unique and flavorful salad recipes from our collection:

• Kidney Bean Salad
• Grape Salad
• Snickers Salad
• Caprese Pasta Salad
• 7 Layer Salad
• Big Mac Salad
• Black Eyed Pea Salad

We absolutely love serving this as a refreshing side for ribs!

Do you enjoy discovering new recipes? Be sure to check out our extensive collection of copycat recipes, indulgent dessert recipes, and our convenient CrockPot Recipes for more culinary inspiration.

Stay connected and never miss a delicious update! Follow Tammilee Tips on MSN, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for all our latest recipe posts and kitchen adventures.

Broccoli Bacon Salad Recipe

Delicious easy Broccoli Bacon Salad with a homemade dressing. The perfect salad for family dinners, barbecues, or holidays.

Print Recipe

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 512 kcal

Author: Tammilee Tips

Ingredients

Main Salad

• 4-5 stalks Broccoli
• ½ pound Bacon
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, grated

Dressing

• 1 cup Mayonnaise
• ½ cup White Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Bacon Grease

Instructions

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

Kitchen Tools

• Large Mixing Bowl
• Small Bowl/Whisk (for dressing)
• Wooden Spoons (for tossing)

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Broccoli Bacon Salad Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 512

Calories from Fat 387

% Daily Value*

Fat 43g 66%

Saturated Fat 13g 81%

Trans Fat 1g

Cholesterol 61mg 20%

Sodium 568mg 25%

Potassium 350mg 10%

Carbohydrates 20g 7%

Fiber 2g 8%

Sugar 15g 17%

Protein 13g 26%

Vitamin A 782IU 16%

Vitamin C 68mg 82%

Calcium 246mg 25%

Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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