Broccoli Salad with Bacon

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This is the best Broccoli Salad recipe ever! It’s sweet, creamy, and crunchy with fresh broccoli, homemade dressing, and lots of bacon! This salad pairs well with so many different meals. Make it at your next BBQ alongside some burgers and fries.

Broccoli Salad Basics

This tasty little broccoli salad recipe will blow your mind! What sets this one apart? Homemade dressing and all the bacon! The best part is you can adapt this salad to fit your liking and did I mention, all the bacon!?

While the original recipe posted here does not call for raisins, craisins or grapes, I know that many like to add those to a broccoli salad. I recently tried a friend’s version that had halved red seedless grapes…and wow! It was amazing. I highly recommend! Raisins, Craisins or grapes bring a chewy sweet flavor to the whole salad.

How to Make Broccoli Salad

It’s definitely one of the better fail-proof recipes I have in my custody that I am in LOVE with. It’s easy, has a good crunch factor, has the right broccoli to bacon ratio plus that sweet dressing turns otherwise unassuming broccoli into magic. Here is how to make it. For full recipe details, see the printable recipe card down below.

Cook Bacon + Prep Veggies

Chop all the vegetables making sure to cut the broccoli into bite-size pieces. Cook bacon according to your liking and cut up into small pieces, or you could buy bacon bits.

Combine in a Bowl

Place all salad ingredients into a large bowl and set aside.

Make the Dressing + Toss to Coat

In a smaller bowl, mix sugar, real mayonnaise, white vinegar and salt + pepper together to combine. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Serve or store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Make Ahead

The best part about this salad is you can chop all the veggies, store it in your refrigerator and add the dressing right before serving. It’s a definite crowd pleaser and is fabulous for holidays and potlucks.

Storing Leftovers

Store any leftovers in an airtight container, in the fridge for up to 5 days. Beyond this time, the broccoli will start to wilt.

Other salad recipes you might like:

• Fruit Salad Recipe
• Cucumber Salad Recipe
• Tuna Pasta Salad
• Chinese Chicken Salad
• Chicken Salad with Grapes

What others are saying about this Broccoli Salad Recipe:

“This is by far the best broccoli salad recipe I’ve seen!! Yumm” ~ Stacy

“Made this last weekend and it was delicious! Loved the sunflower seeds” ~ Bryn

“I made this on Saturday night for our Easter dinner. I couldn’t wait to eat it and it was worth the wait. It was delicious. I did add the raisins and some shredded carrot that I had after making your carrot cupcakes. This will be made again.” ~ Teresa

“My Mom would make this often. My three brothers’ Dad and I loved it. Made it for my Hubby, he loved it and said, “you can make this again, anytime”. I will.” ~ Mare

“This salad is a huge hit. I bring it to family parties and everyone loves it.” ~ Dorene

“Absolutely delicious. Has been requested from my family to be made again and again!! Thanks for sharing!!” ~ Karen

Below is the printable recipe card! Have a great day and enjoy, friends!

Print Pin It

5 from 25 votes

Broccoli Salad

This is the best Broccoli Salad recipe that will be devoured at your next barbecue! It's sweet, creamy and crunchy with fresh broccoli, homemade dressing and lots of bacon!

servings 8 servings

Prep Time 15 mins

Total Time 15 mins

Ingredients

• ▢ 8 cups fresh broccoli florets bite size
• ▢ 1/2 cup red onion finely diced
• ▢ 1/2 cup chopped celery
• ▢ 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• ▢ 1 cup crumbled bacon
• ▢ 1/2 cup raisins or craisins optional, but not used in my recipe

For the dressing:

• ▢ 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• ▢ 1 1/2 cups real mayonnaise
• ▢ 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• ▢ salt & pepper to taste

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Chop all the vegetables making sure to cut the broccoli into bite-size pieces. Cook bacon according to your liking and cut up into small pieces, or you could buy bacon bits.
• Place all salad ingredients into a large bowl and set aside.
• In a smaller bowl, mix dressing ingredients together to combine. Pour over salad and toss. Serve or store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 512kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 548mg | Potassium: 526mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 625IU | Vitamin C: 82.7mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 1.6mg

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: broccoli salad, broccoli salad recipe, broccoli salad with bacon, summer salad