Happy Fourth of July weekend to you! I have a great recipe for you today. I am a huge fan of broccoli salads and I came up with my own variation using LOTS of bacon! I also added other elements of different textures and flavors.. savory, sweet, crunchy, chewy, and best of all – delicious! If you’re still wondering what to bring to your holiday potluck party, this is very simple to prepare and has that nostalgic flare everyone loves. It’s old school made new. Enjoy!
BROCCOLI BACON SALAD
Serves 8-10
SALAD:
2 heads fresh broccoli, washed and cut into bite-size flowerets
½ cup chopped red onion
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup slivered almonds
½ cup roasted sunflower seeds
½ – 1 cup crumbled bacon (approx. 6 to 8 slices for 1/2 cup and 12-16 slices for 1 cup) * I like mine with lots of bacon!
DRESSING:
1 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons white vinegar
⅓ cup sugar or zero calorie sweetener for low-carb
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
**If your local grocery store sells ingredients in a bulk bin, what I like to do is buy just what I need for 1 recipe. It’s often cheaper and you have no waste afterwords. Bulk bins are great for dried cranberries, nuts, sunflower seeds, etc. Most butcher cases also sell thick-quality bacon in bulk. Just tell them what you need!
Add broccoli, red onions, cranberries, almonds and sunflower seeds to a large bowl. Next, make the dressing by mixing mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, and pepper in a small bowl. Pour dressing over the broccoli salad and mix thoroughly. Transfer salad to a large plate or serving bowl. Finish the salad off by garnishing with the crumbled bacon. If you prefer a bacon free version, omit bacon and garnish with ¼ of cranberries and ¼ of slivered almonds. Enjoy!
*Good quality bacon makes the best crumbled bacon bits, ever. Instead of frying slices, pre-cut bacon slices into small pieces and cook them all at once.
I’ve tried this recipe as it is. It was superp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
made this for a church potluck last night. it was devoured in a matter of minutes! by far the best broccoli salad recipe i have tried! thanks 🙂
Hi Alice,
I couldn’t get roasted sunflower seeds, but should I bake the regular ones I have to get the same effect?
My husband’s exact words…” this is the best freakin salad in the whole wide world!”. I guess that meant he really liked it. I must say it is undeniably tasty. Thanks for the wonderful recipe. I will keep it in my recipe log forever and ever! : )
This has all of my favorites in it- cranberries, almonds, red onions and definitely the bacon. Except I would sub in turkey bacon and blanch the broccoli. My hubby gags at raw broccoli! Making this tonight!
This was delicious! I made it as a side to pulled pork mustard bbq sandwiches.
You had me at bacon! This looks delicious.
Oh wow, I think that I’d love this just plain without the dressing (not a mayo fan). So many great ingredients!
Yum, all my favourite ingredients, I can just tell I would love this 🙂
I made this today – it’s quite tasty. I changed it a bit, though; I didn’t add the slivered almonds (I didn’t have any and my daughter doesn’t like almonds), I blanched the broccoli, as my partner doesn’t like raw broccoli or anything at all like cole slaw, and I made much less sauce than the recipe called for. Also, I used more vinegar and less mayo.
Regardless of what sounds like a long list of changes, it was delightfully delicious! I’ll be making it many more times.
Thank you so much!
SongBird
Alice, you always wow me with every recipe post you put on your lovely site! You put two of my favorite things together to make something amazing! YUmmm!
I’ve had my fair share of broccoli salads, but never one with bacon. This sounds delightful. I’m going to bring it to my family picnic next Sunday to my mom, lover of all broccoli salads.
“Lots of bacon”? I think we would be great dining partners. This looks like such a tasty take on a classic salad.
Alice, there’s something funny about this recipe: broccoli is not boiled! I have never tried it fresh! I wonder what it tastes like! The recipe looks really nice.
Thanks for sharing it!
Yolanda
Hi Chris,
No.. do not cook the broccoli. It is intended to be raw. Similar to a cabbage slaw.
Hi, that salad sounds really good.
But one stupid question: Do i have to
cook the broccoli?
Thx
Just printed this up. Yum! Happy 4th!
Oh yum! I love broccoli salads. The extra bacon and cranberries really make this recipe special. Happy 4th to you and yours!
We’ll be making it tomorrow for sure 🙂 Thank you!!!
This is a family favorite, and the only way my husband likes broccoli. I like the idea of dried cranberries, instead of raisins which I have used. Thanks for the idea!
great minds must think alike! i just made this today and it was yummy!
Love this recipe! Bacon is the only way I eat my veggies. 🙂
This salad looks amazing! I love the idea, and I can’t wait to make it this week!
Oh, I’m definitely putting this in the recipe box! It looks so yummy. Thanks for sharing!
I adore this salad, but I’ve never tried it with almonds & sunflower seeds! YUM! I am literally drooling and will be lamenting until I can make, eat & enjoy it!!