Easy Broccoli and Bacon Salad
Everyone needs a recipe for the best Broccoli Salad! This one is stuffed with bacon, cranberry, cheese, sunflower seeds, and tangy homemade dressing. It is easy to make and is a huge crowd pleaser. The perfect side dish to bring to your summer barbecue, or even to serve at Thanksgiving! Originally published September 5, 2020.
I finally broke down and bought an electric toothbrush. Maybe this doesn’t sound like a big deal to you, but the sinister whir of an electric toothbrush gives me the heebie jeebies. (They sound EXACTLY like a dentist drill, doesn’t this give flashbacks to anyone else??) The idea of using it twice a day makes me want to die.
Here I am, on my maiden voyage with the blasted thing, trying not to cry about the fact that this is my life now. Eric thought I was being so ridiculous that he took a picture.
The toothbrush I bought came as a set of two, so Eric got the other one. You know, just one of those lovely gifts you get your spouse with a not-so-subtle message. “Clean your teeth, you filthy animal.”
I saw him using it a couple days later, and he was done in about 30 seconds. I was outraged. “You stopped it before the cycle was even over??”
“What cycle?”
“There’s a cycle. It beeps at you so that you can switch to the next quadrant of your mouth. Then it automatically turns off when you’re done.”
He shrugs. “Meh. I don’t need a toothbrush telling me what to do.”
Maybe I need to be a little more zen about the toothbrush situation.
(Also, I suppose this is the response I should expect after buying him the thing in the first place. Passive aggressive, much?)
Is everybody ready for Labor Day on Monday? It is forecasted to be 109 degrees, so I’m planning to eat copious amounts of this Broccoli Salad while sitting in my cool, air conditioned house.
You’ll love this Broccoli Salad recipe with Bacon
Who loves a good Broccoli Salad? Is it even a broccoli salad without the bacon? I added it to the title just so we’re all on the same page here about what this salad is all about.
Bacon Broccoli Salad Ingredients
The full recipe can be found in the recipe card down below!
- Bacon (cooked)
- Broccoli
- Dried cranberries
- Sunflower seeds
- Cheddar cheese
- Chopped red onion
- Miracle whip or mayonnaise
- Lemon zest and lemon juice
- White wine vinegar
- Sugar
- Seasonings (we’re spicing up our dressing with a combination of kosher salt, black pepper, dry mustard, and cayenne pepper)
How to make Broccoli Bacon Salad
It’s super easy to put together. First, fry up some bacon.
Except don’t actually fry it, that’s messy. Put it on a pan and bake your bacon in the oven. So much easier! No lava splatters!
While your bacon is cooking, chop up your broccoli. Now, I know you’ve chopped some broccoli in your lifetime, and you might be thinking I’m a total weirdo for including not one, not two, but SIX process shots (count em up) for how to cut broccoli.
But stay with me here: just like in my Macaroni Salad, I’m a firm believer that half the success of these types of salads comes from the size of the veggie chop. I like small florets of broccoli, so that I don’t ever have to take a bite of just big ol broccoli. I want a bite of broccoli AND bacon AND dried cranberries. Small florets are the way to go.
And don’t leave those stems behind! They are tasty…when they are chopped small. Nobody wants to gnaw on a big ol stem in the middle of their salad experience. Be kind to your guests. Small chop ftw.
Now that we’ve got all the chopping out of the way, mix up your dressing. It couldn’t be easier. I start with Miracle Whip. Miracle Whip?? Yep. I’ve never been a believer before this, guys. But recently Eric made us a special snack from his childhood:
I asked my Instagram followers if they had heard of it. It’s canned pear, topped with miracle whip and cheese, on a bed of lettuce. (SO. WEIRD. Have you had it before?)
Anyway. We had the Miracle Whip on hand and I decided to try it out in the broccoli bacon salad. I thought the only difference between Miracle Whip and mayo is that Miracle Whip had a lot more sugar. But it actually only has a little bit more sugar, and lots more spices. I’m A-ok with spices, so I decided to try it out. Delicious! I think I’m a convert. (A Miracle convert. NOT a Pear Cheese Salad convert.)
If you are not a believer, you can totally use mayo in place of Miracle Whip. I tried it both ways!
Anyway, back to the dressing for the broccoli bacon salad. Miracle OR mayo, with lemon, vinegar, sugar, and a little dry mustard and cayenne pepper.
Put it all together…
and voila. The easiest, tastiest Broccoli salad situation of your life!
This would be so fun to bring to a Labor Day BBQ on Monday, if you’re going to one! If you are still in quarantine, then make this salad and eat it as a side dish with your lunches all week. The perfect healthy side dish for any meal!
What to Serve with Broccoli and Bacon Salad
Broccoli salad with bacon is the perfect addition to your next BBQ or potluck, but it also makes an excellent side dish to along with dinner.
A few of my favorites are BBQ smoked pulled pork, saucy pork chops, grilled flank steak, and lemon tarragon grilled chicken.
Storing Broccoli Salad with Bacon
Broccoli bacon salad is best after the flavors have had a chance to mingle, so it’s excellent stored in the fridge. Leftovers will last in an airtight container in the fridge for about 5 days. Keeping the bacon separate and stirring it in right before serving means it won’t get soggy in the fridge.
It can’t be frozen, because the textures of the broccoli and mayo won’t hold up when thawed.
Broccoli Bacon Salad FAQs
Do bacon and broccoli go together?
Heck yes they do! The crunchy umami flavor of the bacon paired with the crispness of the broccoli is so good smothered in the creamy, tangy dressing. Bacon and broccoli make an excellent pairing!
Is broccoli salad served cold or at room temperature?
Either way! Broccoli salad is great cold from the fridge, but also tastes delicious at room temperature when freshly made. Don’t let it sit out for too long, 2-3 hours is okay, but any longer than that and your mayo might start getting funky on you. (Don’t tell the food safety police but I’m actually pretty lax about this sort of thing…keeps immunity up, right?? Or something?)As usual, follow your nose and don’t be dumb. 😉
Does the bacon stay crispy?
Once the bacon is added to the broccoli bacon salad recipe, it will start to lose its crispiness. I recommend keeping it separate and adding it just before you’re ready to serve!
More delicious summer salads you are going to love!
- The Only Macaroni Salad Recipe You Need << So creamy. Perfect for a summer BBQ!
- Greek Salad Recipe with Feta Cheese << I could eat this salad every day forever!
- Cilantro Lime Cucumber Salad << this was my first viral recipe ever. It’s a good one!
- The Best Potato Salad Recipe << everyone will ask you for this recipe. I love it so much.
- My Favorite Coleslaw with Lemon and Herbs << I love coleslaw, and I love it even more with tons of herbs and lemon!
- Apple Gorgonzola Salad << just like the one from Buca di Beppo!
- Literally the Best Mac and Cheese I’ve Ever Had << still true to this day.
- Roasted Vegetable Salad with Garbanzos from Kalyn’s Kitchen
- Strawberry Panzanella Salad with Balsamic Glaze from Jessica in the Kitchen
- Marinated Vegetable Salad from Mom Endeavors
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Broccoli Salad with Bacon
Ingredients
For the salad
- 10-11 strips bacon, cooked
- 2 heads broccoli, about 1 and 1/2 pounds or 5-6 cups
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup sunflower seeds, roasted and salted
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/3 cup chopped red onion, or more to taste
For the dressing
- 1 & 1/4 cups Miracle Whip OR mayonnaise
- 1 lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 & 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Start by making the bacon. I highly recommend baking it in the oven! So mush easier, and no splatter. However you want to do it, cook 10-11 slices of bacon to your desired level of crispness, then set aside on paper towels to cool. Once cool, chop into bite size pieces.
- While the bacon cooks, mix together the ingredients for the dressing. In a large bowl add 1 and 1/4 cups Miracle Whip OR Mayonnaise, the zest from 1 lemon, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 and 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard, and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper. (the cayenne adds flavor but not heat. Don’t be scared of it! Just careful :) Whisk all the dressing ingredients together.
- Add the ingredients for the salad to the bowl with the dressing. Start by chopping your broccoli using a chef’s knife. I like really small florets, so you don’t get any bites that are just giant broccoli. See photos. I also like to save the stems, chop them up, and add them into the salad, but you can leave them out if you prefer.
- Add all the broccoli to the large bowl. Add 1 cup dried cranberries, 1/3 cup sunflower seeds, 1 cup cheddar cheese, and 1/3 cup chopped red onion. Add in most of the bacon, reserving some to sprinkle on top for serving.* (Actually, any of the ingredients besides broccoli would look pretty sprinkled on top right before serving.)
- Stir it all together. This salad can be served room temperature or chilled. If you chill it first, let it sit on the counter for about 20 minutes before serving.
- Store leftovers covered in the fridge! This salad will keep for about 5 days.
Notes
Nutrition
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First time I’ve made a broccoli salad and I have to say this was delicious. I had company for dinner and the guy said I don’t even like broccoli but this is really good. For sure this will be added to my favorites.
Great! The dressing turned out 👌🏻 and looks just like it. Yummy salad. 😋
Awesome! I love the kick of lemon zest!
This is hands down the best broccoli salad recipe I have ever made. The white wine vinegar really makes the dressing. First time I made this my husband couldn’t get enough of it. Wanted what was left in his lunch the next day. I have passed this recipe around to others who asked for it.
Second time making this salad. It does not disappoint!! Dressing is delicious and agree the smaller florets really help. I used thick cut cheddar this time and added extra. Also had tart cherries cause no cranberries were in the house.
Excellent and gets better as it sits. U gotta give it a go!
This salad is so-o good. I’m serving it this afternoon if there is any left. Had a taste to make sure everything was okay and can’t stop eating it.
I did leave the vinegar out of the dressing so my husband would eat it and left the onions out, too.
Delish!!!
I made this for the first time for a family picnic. The only thing I had to change was to make a second dressing recipe because it was to dry with a single recipe. Other than that it was easy to make and super tasty. I will definitely make this again.
Absolutely delicious! Thank you for this recipe, it’s the best I’ve ever tasted. ❤️
The best dressing by far!! I substituted turkey bacon, yellow onion, walnuts. Because that’s what I had and is is awesome
Sounds so good, can’t wait to try it! Which is the best to use miracle whip or mayo? Also, has anyone used different seed/nuts? I’m thinking slivered or sliced almonds. Thanks in advance for your inup!
Hi Audrey! I prefer miracle whip but either one is delicious! and I think slivered or sliced almonds would be fabulous! Slivered would be my first choice. Enjoy!
Love this, my new favorite !!!
Will it be OK if no lemon zest ?
Hi Teresa, it won’t have quite the same pop of flavor, but it will still be good! Enjoy!
This is incredibly easy and yummy!!
My Mom has made broccoli salad for years and we all loved it. Hers is very basic. I talked her into letting me make the broccoli salad this time and she’s raving about it! Seriously, best broccoli salad EVER
Isn’t it immensely satisfying when you can win someone over like that?? haha! So glad you loved it Stacey! Thanks for coming back to rate, you are awesome.
Hello I was getting ready to make this and was going to have for co worker’s at lunch tomorrow! Would you wait till in the morning to add dressing?
Hi Frances! You could add the dressing last minute, or add it ahead of time to let the broccoli marinate and soften a bit. Either way will be great! Wait until the last minute to add the bacon and sunflower seeds though. enjoy!
I made this for Sunday Dinner yesterday! And they ate it all. It was delicious. I use blue plate mayonnaise and red wine vinegar qnd pink Himalayan salt. I will be making it again.
Thanks for sharing!
This broc salad is good but I recommend DO NOT put in the salt that it calls for .. ruined a whole bowl of it because of this reason !!!
ROTFL – this pear salad was a side dish a lot when I was a kid, but ours also had a maraschino cherry on top. My brother didn’t like cheese, so mom just put the maraschino cherry on his (yes, in the middle of the mayo.) And to this day, I will still sometimes put a glop of mayo on my diced (canned) pears. It actually tastes really good!
(I think the original recipe may have been in McCalls magazine – I seem to remember a “Pear Beauty Salad” page in her recipe folder. I love this version of broccoli salad – you are so right about chopping the broccoli small – makes all the difference! And I do like the bit of extra salt in it – my family does have a heavy salt palate but without it, we agreed it’s kind of bland, so, while I tried it with out, I ultimately added it in.
Pear Beauty Salad!!! Ahahaha!!! We haven’t tried the maraschino cherries, will have to add that in next time we need a walk down memory lane 😉 So glad you enjoyed the broccoli salad Meredith, thanks for coming back to rate and comment! You are awesome.
This recipe is so good! My husband and I love it and it’s a “go to” for me to bring to parties as a side dish. I do agree with one of the comments below about leaving out any additional salt due to the bacon proving more than enough.
I don’t have white wine vinegar – just white vinegar and apple cider vinegar. Can I use one of those?
Hi Leah, yes any vinegar will do!
I love broccoli salad and just made this receipe. It was very good but I also added some chopped pepperoni. It gives it a little different but delicious flavor.
Ooh great addition Donna, can’t go wrong with pepperoni! Thanks for your input!
A new favorite side! I think the bacon gives enough salt that I don’t add any extra anymore. Still fantastic even though I usually forget to add the sunflower seeds 😅
Oh my goodness! I’ve had broccoli bacon salad before, but never like this. This is the best! That lemon does amazing things for broccoli. Thanks for sharing the recipe
This was definitely not a Pintrest fail. That empty dish you carry home from a picnic/pot luck/party says it all. This recipe produced an empty dish for me and lots of compliments and questions. One of the main comments was…”wow, what caused the spicy kick?” I was happy to share the link and the secret ingredient (cayenne).
There are a lot of similar broccoli salads but this one is the bomb!!!!! Lemon zest and cayenne pepper makes this salad pop!!!!
One of my favorite salads! Easy to make and oh so delicious!
I have made this several times and taken to parties/events and everyone loves it and I’m always asked for the recipe. I do omit the bacon though.
I went looking for some cold salads to have with lunch and skip the chips. With my husband and myself working from home everyday, lunches were getting a bit repetitive. Besides green salad, potato salad and a pasta salad, I had no other options. I remembered liking the broccoli salad in salad bars, but this one is 100% better. I will make it again and again.
I used your recipe as a base your recipe. It was very good. I love dried cranberries and couple of the other things but my family does not. So I used everything bagel seasoning and garlic and red pepper flakes as a substitute. I had qualifier and homegrown cherry tomatoes.My family has not eaten it yet as as it is not time for supper. But if they do not like it I’m in trouble because I will eat the whole thing. Delicious!
Just made this for a potluck today…my husband and I can’t stay out of it! The lemon in the dressing adds such a bright, fresh flavor. So much more flavorful than any broccoli salad I’ve made before. Can’t wait to share this with family today, but secretly hoping we have some leftover to bring home!!
I made this the other night. It was delicious! Tastes even better when you let it sit overnight before eating!
Amazing salad! My family loves it! A fantastic change! Do you happen to have the nutrition facts? I am sure I can make a reduced fat and sugar version but I’d rather not if this recipe is pretty healthy on it’s own.
I don’t Sonya, but nutrition facts will be available on all recipes on the blog starting soon. Check back in a few weeks!
This looks so yummy, I may be making it twice for a couple of potlucks.
I’m so glad I discovered your site. I’m going to try your broccoli salad as soon as I get to the store and purchase the ingredients. I use a method for cooking bacon I learned from America’s Test Kitchen. Chop the bacon before cooking. Put the chopped bacon and 1/2 cup water in a skillet over medium heat. As the water boils, it renders some of the fat from the bacon. By the time the water is gone, there is plenty of fat in the skillet to finish cooking the bacon by just stirring occasionally. I can cook an entire pound using this method and it comes out perfectly every time. I drain the bacon in a strainer, then put it on paper towels. Also, I love the pear salad. It used to be served at a nice restaurant in Evansville Indiana as a side dish at lunch. I still make it!
That sounds like a great way to cook bacon Cathy, I will have yo give it a try! And I’m so glad you reported about the pear salad being served in a restaurant. That is so Midwest and I LOVE IT! Never die, midcentury America!!
About to make this for a family reunion, can I prep it the day before with dressing and can I put the bacon in it over night or wait
Hi Neota! I think it would work great to make the day before! I would prep the bacon but store it separately, then stir it in last minute so it doesn’t get soggy.
Can you make this the night before?
Hands down the best banana bread! Thank you for your recipe!
How long do you cook the bacon in the oven? I am curious about this. I hate cooking bacon!
Thanks!
Hi Wendy! I have a post all about it! Here is the recipe: How to bake bacon. Enjoy!
I love this salad and make it all the time! I was recently diagnosed as diabetic so now I sub out the sugar for 2 Tbs of confectioners swerve and swap the craisins out for a small handful of red grapes sliced in half. Oh, I also like to throw in some broccoli slaw with the florets. It is still amazing! Thanks for sharing!
You lost me at Miracle Whip. 😲
Made this today, it was good, but next time we’ll leave out the lemon. I love lemon, but we didn’t care for it in this.
My favorite broccoli salad! Thanks for sharing 😊
What are the calories in you’re awesome version of this?
I subbed half the Mayo with plain Greek Fat free yogurt and half the sugar with honey. I used brown sugar in the raw and flash cooked the broccoli before adding it to the sauce to melt my granules. Added a tad more fresh lemon juice and it came out mind blowing! I
I will definitely be making this for many more occasions to come!
By far the best broccoli salad recipe I’ve ever tried.
ooo thanks for the healthy substitution for the mayo to greek yogurt. Did it make it a bit more tangy?
Made it last night. My husband and I both loved it! It will be a regular for us. Thank you!
Just saw this…yes!? I’ve heard of the fancy pear salad, maybe it’s a southern thing🤷🏼♀️ So yummy 😋
This recipe was easy, tasty, and fun to make. It is a keeper!
So happy you enjoyed it Debbie! Hard to beat a good broccoli salad :) Thanks for taking the time to review!
This is the BEST broccoli salad I have ever had!! I’ve tried many over the years and this is the best. I don’t like Miracle Whip so I used mayo. I doubled the sugar, for my taste and added a few more cranberries as the bag was almost empty. My sunflower seeds were bad so I used pumpkin seeds instead and used a little more than the recipes called for. My husband and I couldn’t stop eating it and it was even dinner time yet. This is my new favorites recipe. Thanks!!
Hooray, so glad it was a hit Regina! I love all your subs. Pumpkin seeds sounds delicious and who can say no to a little extra cranberry? Thanks so much for reviewing!
I have eaten the pears and miracle whip. My mom served it over cottage cheese. Adding a little pear juice in the miracle whip is a must! I’ve always loved it. And I’m going to make this salad! It looks amazing!
Love the pear juice in the miracle whip idea Laura! I’ll have to tell Eric. Enjoy the broccoli salad!
What would be a good substitute for the onion? Not sure if red bell pepper or carrots would be good with the cranberries?
Hi Nik! Can you handle green onions or shallots? If not I would just omit it. You could also try adding dried minced onion.
We loved this recipe! I substituted cauliflower for the broccoli and golden raisins for the cranberries and it was just as delicious. Of course, I only use Duke’s mayo and it was great in my opinion!! I do not like miracle whip! I always love trying your recipes!!
Ooh Duke’s mayo, I’ve never heard of that brand! Golden raisins and cauliflower would be delicious in this salad. I should totally try it out! I’m so glad you loved it Denise, thank you for commenting!
Dukes Mayo is a staple in the south. It’s our upbringing that Dukes is sacred…..giggling. You must try…I bet Amazon carries it!!
You know what Carla, with that kind of recommendation, how could I say no?? I have to try it now! Anything that is sacred level must be experienced!!
This is like Souplantation’s Joan Broccoli Madness, only with dried cranberries and sunflower seeds instead. Hmmmm.
We didn’t have the canned pears/miracle whip salad, but did have canned pears with cream cheese balls rolled in pecans, drizzled with homemade French dressing made with canned tomato soup!!!! Actually, this was one of my favorites growing up :)
Thanks for the BACON broccoli salad recipe!
What is it with the canned pears?? Was there a fresh pear shortage in the 50s? ;) And I love the tomato soup dressing, Kris. CLASSIC!! Enjoy the broccoli salad!!
My mother did the part salad but she did a pear on a bed of lettuce. Than topped it with cottage cheese and a maraschino cherry. I loved it. She served it as dessert.
okay that actually sounds pretty legit Audey!! I just described it to Eric and he is pretty excited about this idea, haha. I guess I will have to make it for him! Ah, old recipes. Good times!
Cottage cheese and fruit is amazing. I love grapefruit especially. But my new go to is cottage cheese, blueberries, and some chocolate chips all mixed together. SO good! I should try my various fruits & cottage cheese on a bed of lettuce though, I’ve never done that.
cottage cheese and blueberries and chocolate chips!!! Okay now we’re just going crazy. haha! If you say it’s good though I believe you Laura!! PS I’m totally on board with cottage cheese and grapefruit.