Everyone loves this easy Broccoli Salad made with bacon, almonds, raisins or craisins and onion in a delicious creamy and tangy dressing.
When it comes to quick and easy sides to bring to a BBQ, this easy broccoli salad is very high on my list (along with traditional potato salad and Italian pasta salad). Enjoy!
Your kids may just want to eat their broccoli first, if it’s in the form of this Broccoli Salad! It’s a CROWD PLEASER! The flavor combination is absolutely delicious, from the crunch of the broccoli and almonds, paired with salty bacon, onions, sweet Craisins and creamy dressing. It doesn’t matter the time of year, the occasion or the entree, this broccoli salad goes well with everything, anytime!
What You’ll Need:
- Broccoli florets: fresh broccoli will taste best in broccoli salad.
- Mayonnaise
- Sugar
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Red Onion
- Almonds: or you favorite nuts.
- Onion: chopped red or sweet onion.
- Bacon: cooked and chopped.
How to make Broccoli Salad:
1. Prep ingredients: chop and quickly blanch the broccoli , cook the bacon bits, chop the onion and almonds. You can prepare all of these ingredients in advance (or even make the entire salad up to 1 day in advance).
2. Whisk the dressing. Mix salad dressing ingredients including mayonnaise, sugar and apple cider vinegar. (I like to substitute half plain Greek yogurt for the mayo in the dressing because I like the flavor and creaminess it adds).
3. Toss and refrigerate! Toss the dressing and all of the ingredients in a large bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
Recipe Variations:
One of my favorite things about broccoli salad is that it’s so customizable. Make some adjustments based on your diet, mood, or what kind of ad-ins you have available. Some of my favorite things to add include:
- Vegan Broccoli Salad: sub vegan mayonnaise and leave out the bacon or use an alternative like coconut bacon.
- Add nuts or seeds: sunflower seeds, pine nuts, pecans.
- Add cheese: I like to add a handful of chopped cheddar cheese.
- Sub raisins for craisins.
More Healthy Side Dishes we LOVE:
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Recipe
Broccoli Salad
Ingredients
- 2 heads fresh broccoli , cut into florets
- 1 cup mayonnaise (I often use half plain Greek yogurt)
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 8 slices bacon , cooked and crumbled
- 1/4 cup red onion , chopped
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries (or raisins)
- 1/2 cup almonds , chopped (*see note below)
Instructions
- Blanch the broccoli in boiling water for 1 minute. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- In a large bowl mix together mayonnaise, vinegar and sugar. Stir well.
- Add broccoli, bacon, onion, cranberries or raisins and almonds to a large bowl. Drizzle with desired amount of sauce.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Toss again to coat before serving.
- Store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Notes
Recipe Variations:
- Vegan Broccoli Salad: sub vegan mayonnaise and leave out the bacon or use an alternative like coconut bacon.
- Add nuts or seeds: sunflower seeds, pine nuts, pecans.
- Add cheese:Â I like to add a handful of chopped cheddar cheese.
- Craisins: Substitute raisins or dried cherries.
Nutrition
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*I first shared this recipe in March 2015. Updated December 2020.
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Perfect. Waaaay better than store bought, and prep is quick. Made it for lunch with a friend, who also loved it. Later that day, I had to make more–for myself/not to share. It’s that good. I didn’t change a thing. Put the nuts in at serving time, lest they soften.
The broccoli salad was fantastic. I am going to make it again tonight
I did blanch the broccoli for 15-20 seconds. It give the broccoli a beautiful bright green color. Rinsed in ice water drained and chilled it before assembling. Also added a little bacon grease to dressing. Very good!
I did blanch the broccoli for 15-20 seconds. It give the broccoli a beautiful bright green color. Rinsed in ice water drained and chilled it before assembling. Very good!
Could you please add the approximate of chopped broccoli to the recipe? I think the sizes of bunches really vary. Thank you!
I have made this salad for many years but have never blanched the broccoli or used apple cider vinegar. I thought I would try this recipe. Blanching the broccoli seemed pointless and a waste of time. Apple cider vinegar has more of a tart flavor. I prefer the taste of the white vinegar or white wine vinegar. Won’t make this recipe again.
This salad was always a favorite when my mom did sides for our family get togethers. Never had an exact recipe for it though. I did 3 crowns of broccoli but didn’t blanch it as we never did that in the past. I always use just white vinegar for my coleslaw dressing so I used that, along with sugar and mayonaise. I am going to try yogurt as you mentioned next time, but didn’t have any this time. I also used, thinly sliced red onion, craisins, and chopped walnuts. Such a refreshing and beautiful salad and I win mother in law points when I make for my son in law.
My mother-in-law made this all the time and I loved it so she gave me the recipe and I have been making it for years. This time around for a family summer gathering I am going to try it with the craisins in it.
My mom made this for us, we
loved it.
Second helpings are “guilt free” since she used Equal instead of sugar – that makes it a “diet food”, right?