Creamy Broccoli Salad With Bacon

Name: Creamy Broccoli Salad With Bacon
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 medium heads of broccoli ((1 very large or 3 very small)); 100 g slivered almonds (or sunflower seeds or pine nuts); 400 g bacon (streaky, diced); 100 g dried cranberries; 1/2 red onion (finely diced); 1 cup (230g) whole egg mayonnaise; 2 tbs (25g) caster sugar; 3 tbs (40g) apple cider vinegar; salt and pepper (to taste)

Published: Nov 7, 2022 by Lucy · This post may contain affiliate links · 7 Comments

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Looking for a delicious and easy side dish? Look no further than my Creamy Broccoli Salad with Bacon. This salad is perfect for any occasion and is always a hit with everyone!

Made with just a few simple ingredients, this broccoli bacon salad is incredibly easy to make.

Just whisk together the dressing ingredients, toss everything together, and you're done... ready to serve in just 20 minutes!

Creamy broccoli salad with crispy bacon in a round bowl.

This salad is perfect for summer BBQs, weeknight dinners, picnics or any time you need an easy side dish. It's also great for meal prep as you can make it ahead of time and store it in the fridge for later.

Serve this broccoli salad along with potato salad, creamy pasta salad, or crispy potato wedges at your next family BBQ!

Why You're Going To Love This Recipe

Easy to make - this broccoli salad recipe is so easy to make, I'm sure it will become a favourite and you'll wonder why you didn't make it sooner!
Healthy & delicious - this crunchy salad is packed with flavour and healthy goodness!
Great for meal prep - make it ahead of time and store broccoli salad in the fridge for an easy and healthy meal later. Great for lunches too.
Perfect side dish - no matter what you're serving (grilled meats, roasts or seafood) this salad is the perfect side dish paired with any meal.

Toasted slivered almonds and dried cranberries scattered through a healthy salad.

What You Need

My broccoli salad is made using just 5 ingredients (plus the salad dressing ingredients).

Note: Please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for ingredient quantities and the full detailed method.

4 ingredients for making a crunchy salad in individual bowls.

For The Salad

Medium heads of broccoli - use two medium heads of broccoli.
Slivered almonds - these are small slices of almonds. Alternatively, you can use sunflower seeds or toasted pine nuts.
Bacon - streaky bacon, diced and cooked until crispy.
Cranberries - dried cranberries (also known as craisins).
Red onion - one medium sized, finely diced.

For The Creamy Dressing

Mayonnaise - for best results, be sure to use a whole egg mayonnaise.
Caster sugar - also known as superfine sugar as it dissolves easily when mixed.
Apple cider vinegar - known for its health benefits and readily available in all major supermarkes or health food stores.
Salt and pepper - season to taste.

Equipment Required

There's no special equipment required for this creamy broccoli salad with bacon.

You will just need a chopping board and knife, plus a small mixing bowl or jar for the dressing and a large mixing/serving bowl for the salad.

You will also need a frying pan for crisping the bacon.

Step By Step Instructions

1.2.3.4... that's all the steps it takes to make this classic broccoli salad!

Note: Please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for ingredient quantities and the full detailed method.

Step 1 - Prep The Broccoli

Chop the broccoli heads into very small pieces (0.5-1cm). Set aside in a large bowl.

TIP: When assembling the salad, reserve a small amount of almonds, bacon and cranberries for sprinkling over the top (optional - purely for decoration).

Step 2 - Prep The Other Ingredients

Meanwhile, lightly toast the slivered almonds in a frying pan (no oil) over low heat on the stovetop. Stir regularly until just toasted. Add to the bowl with the broccoli.

Fry the diced bacon over medium-high heat until crispy. Place onto a paper towel to drain the excess fat. Add to the broccoli bowl.

Crispy bacon added to a clear glass bowl.

Add the dried cranberries and diced red onion.

Crispy bacon, broccoli, dried cranberries, slivered almonds and diced red onions in a glass bowl.

Step 3 - Make The Dressing

Ingredients for a creamy dressing in small bowls.

Make the dressing by mixing all of the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl or jar.

Dressing poured over ingredients in a clear glass bowl.

Pour over the salad and mix until well combined.

Dressing mixed with fresh crunchy salad ingredients.

Step 4 - Assemble And Garnish

Just before serving, sprinkle the reserved extra almonds, bacon, and cranberries over the top for decoration (optional).

Creamy broccoli salad with bacon mixed together in a glass bowl.

Expert Tips

Preparing this salad a couple of hours ahead of time is best to allow the flavors to develop. However, if you're running short on time, you can make it and serve it immediately.
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. The leftovers the next day for lunch are delicious!
If you want to make this creamy broccoli salad with bacon ahead of time, you can prepare everything except for the dressing. The dressing can be made closer to serving.
Don't like bacon? You can substitute it with diced ham, or leave it out for a vegetarian option.
Not a fan of mayo? Use plain yogurt in place of the mayo for a lighter option.
Try adding in some shredded cheese for extra healthy deliciousness!

Two wooden salad servers in a bowl of crunchy broccoli salad with slivered almonds and cranberries.

FAQ'S

Do you put eggs in broccoli salad?

You certainly can add egg to your broccoli salad if you like! You can really make this bacon broccoli salad your own by adding whatever extra's you want.

What do you serve broccoli salad with?

This salad is usually served as a side dish, but you can also enjoy it as a main meal. For example, try pairing it with some grilled chicken or fish. You could also enjoy it on its own as a light lunch.

How do you keep broccoli salad from getting soggy?

This broccoli salad doesn't go 'soggy' as it's made from small pieces of raw uncooked broccoli. And the slivered almonds keep the crunch factor happening as well. In fact, the flavour and texture of this broccoli salad develops and gets even better over time!

An overhead shot of wooden servers in a bowl of fresh salad sprinkled with slivered almonds.

Related Recipes

This delicious broccoli salad can be served as an appetizer, snack, or even as part of your main meal.

Here are a few of my other most popular salad recipes:

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