This broccoli salad with bacon is dressed up with cranberries, sunflower kernels and a creamy homemade dressing. It is super easy to make and always a crowd pleaser. It’s the perfect recipe to bring to a BBQ!
Table of Contents
Favorite Potluck Salad
I don’t know about you, but I am SO excited that summer is almost here. One of my favorite parts about summer is having outdoor BBQ’s and getting together with friends and family. And who can forget all of the delicious potluck salads.
This broccoli salad with bacon is always a crowd pleaser and is super easy to make. It’s filled with fresh crunchy broccoli, sweet dried cranberries, salty sunflower kernels, diced red onion and crispy bacon pieces. Then it’s topped off with a creamy and tangy dressing that adds the best flavor. All of the ingredients marinate together in the dressing and make this broccoli salad with bacon super delicious.
Recipe Ingredients
This super easy broccoli salad with bacon requires few but really good ingredients to make it shine.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Broccoli: I cut fresh broccoli florets into bite-sized pieces to make this broccoli salad with bacon super easy to eat.
- Bacon: Use bacon that is cooked crispy, cooled and then crumbled to give this salad a nice bit of salty goodness.
- Sunflower seeds: I like to use roasted and salted kernels for the additional flavor.
- Dried cranberries: The sweet and tangy berry adds the perfect balance to the fat from the bacon and the zest of citrus in the dressing.
- Red onion: I finely chop the onion so you always get just the right amount of onion in every bite.
- Dressing: The super simple yet delicious dressing is made with mayonnaise, honey, and lemon.
Substitutions
- Fruit. Feel free to swap dried cranberries with raisins or 1/4 cup sliced grapes.
- Nuts. You can also use slivered almonds or walnuts in place of sunflower kernels.
- Cheese. Shredded sharp cheddar cheese is a delicious addition. You want the cheese to be thickly shredded, so that it remains sturdy in the salad.
- Vegetarian. Swap the bacon for plant-based bacon or leave it out altogether.
- Dressing. If you want to make this dish lighter, use Greek yogurt instead of mayo. You can also try it with sour cream for a bit more tang, if you like.
- Meat. Try turkey bacon instead of regular bacon.
- Acid. I like to use lemon juice, but you can always swap it with apple cider vinegar in a pinch.
How to Make Broccoli Salad with Bacon
Aside from a little bit of chopping, this broccoli salad with bacon recipe is as easy as 1, 2, 3.
- Stir. In a large bowl, add the broccoli, bacon, sunflower kernels, dried cranberries, and red onion.
- Dress. Pour dressing evenly over the broccoli and toss until well coated.
- Marinate. Chill the salad at least 15 minutes to let the flavors marinate together. Toss well before serving.
Broccoli Salad Dressing
The dressing is what makes this broccoli salad with bacon taste so good. It is so simple and has great flavor! I made it a little different than the classic dressing with sugar and vinegar and it tastes so much better! You have to try it. It’s made with 3 simple ingredients:
- Mayo or greek yogurt
- Lemon juice
- Honey
I like to make my dressing first and let the flavors marinate together for a few minutes. Then I toss all the ingredients in a large bowl and make sure the broccoli is evenly coated with the dressing. Then just refrigerate the salad for at least 15 minutes prior to serving!
Expert Tips
- Bacon in the oven. I love to cook my bacon in the oven. It’s by far the easiest method in my opinion and way less messy. Give it a shot if you haven’t tried it!
- Chop, chop chop. Make sure to chop the broccoli florets into small, evenly sized pieces. They’re easier to eat this way and will soak up more of the dressing.
- Let marinate. Chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes prior to serving. It enhances the flavor and allows the dressing to soak into the broccoli to soften it up a bit.
- Convenience. If you’re in a hurry, you can buy pre-chopped broccoli and pre-cooked bacon. It makes this side dish come together super quickly.
Recipe FAQs
I can eat this salad as a meal, but it also an amazing potluck salad because it goes with almost anything. I like to serve it with baked BBQ chicken, BBQ pork sandwich or turkey burgers.
Of course! Broccoli has so many amazing nutrients that you can benefit from by eating it raw, including fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants.
My broccoli salad with bacon consists of broccoli, bacon, dried cranberries, sunflower kernels, red onion and a dressing made from mayo, honey, and lemon. Super simple.
Making in Advance
This dish can easily be prepped ahead of time if preferred. Assemble as directed, except leave out the bacon pieces so that they don’t get soggy. Then right before serving, mix them in. This helps keep the bacon nice and crispy.
Storing
If there are any leftovers, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge up to 5 days.
Want even more recipes where broccoli shines? Try Parmesan Roasted Broccoli, Easy Broccoli and Cheese Soup, and Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole.
More Potluck Salad Recipes
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the newest recipes!
Broccoli Salad Recipe
Video
Ingredients
Dressing
- ¾ cup mayonnaise or plain Greek yogurt
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- Kosher salt , to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper , to taste
Broccoli Salad
- 5-6 cups broccoli florets , cut into bite-sized pieces
- 6 pieces bacon , cooked crisp, cooled and crumbled
- ¼ cup salted sunflower kernels
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup red onion , finely chopped
Instructions
Dressing
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, and honey. Season with salt and pepper.
Broccoli Salad
- In a large bowl, add the broccoli, bacon, sunflower kernels, dried cranberries, and red onion.
- Pour dressing evenly over the broccoli and toss until well coated.
- Chill the salad at least 15 minutes to let the flavors marinate together. Toss well before serving.
Notes
- Cheese. Shredded cheddar cheese is a delicious addition. You want the cheese to be thickly shredded, so that it remains sturdy in the salad.
- Convenience. If you’re in a hurry, you can buy pre-chopped broccoli and pre-cooked bacon. It makes this side dish come together super quickly.
- Lighten it up. If you want to make this dish lighter, use Greek yogurt for the dressing and turkey bacon instead of regular.
- Bacon in the oven. I love to cook my bacon in the oven. It’s by far the easiest method in my opinion and way less messy. Give it a shot if you haven’t tried it!
- Chop, chop chop. Make sure to chop the broccoli florets into small, evenly sized pieces. They’re easier to eat this way and will soak up more of the dressing.
- Let marinate. Chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes prior to serving. It enhances the flavor and allows the dressing to soak into the broccoli to soften it up a bit.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 4th of July, American, Gluten-Free, Low Carb, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegetables
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
Huge hit with my family. I will make this all summer long! So easy and yummy.
This salad was a delicious mix of flavors and so simple to make, I can’t wait to have it again!
I added extra bacon to my broccoli salad. So filling and satisfying! New go-to lunch recipe!