Broccoli Salad with Bacon

Broccoli salad with bacon might be the ideal potluck salad, with its riot of textures and flavors. Crunchy broccoli is paired with a zippy dressing, creamy cheddar cheese and umami-packed bacon for a salad that has a little something for everyone.

Make it ahead of time and this salad holds up well to travel too, so it definitely belongs in the canon of potluck salads to feed a crowd.

Ingredients for Broccoli Salad with Bacon

• Broccoli florets: Your guests will be happy if you chop the broccoli florets small enough that they’re bite-sized.
• Cheddar cheese: A sharp cheddar will add more flavor to your finished salad.
• Bacon: You’ll want to cook and drain the bacon, then crumble it.
• Onion: Red onion is a great choice when it will be eaten raw, as in a salad. Finely chop it for the best texture.
• Mayonnaise, vinegar and sugar: These three ingredients are whisked together to make the dressing for the broccoli salad with bacon and cheese.

Directions

Step 1: Combine the salad ingredients

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In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, cheese, bacon and onion.

Step 2: Make the dressing

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In small bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, vinegar and sugar. Pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

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Broccoli Salad with Bacon Variations

• Make it even crunchier: In addition to the broccoli and crumbled bacon, you can add even more crispy bits by including toasted seeds or nuts. Try sunflower seeds, pepitas or pecans.
• Add some fruity sweetness: Dried raisins, cranberries or cherries are a popular addition to this salad, and if you prefer something fresh, halved crunchy grapes work too.
• Bulk up the veggies: In addition to broccoli, shredded cabbage and carrots are other vegetables you could add for more color and crunch.

How to Store Broccoli Salad with Bacon

Store your broccoli salad, covered, in the refrigerator for four to five days.

Can I make broccoli salad ahead of time?

It’s actually a good idea to make this broccoli salad recipe with bacon a day in advance, because it tastes best when it’s had some time to chill in the refrigerator. If you want to make it further ahead, it’s simple to prepare the components in advance (chop the broccoli and onion, cook the bacon), then mix them together the day before serving.

Broccoli Salad with Bacon Tips

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How can I make sure my salad has the best texture?

Broccoli is the feature of this salad, and there are a few ways to make it shine. First, be sure to chop the florets into small pieces. Second, you have the option of blanching the broccoli in boiling water until it turns bright green (30 seconds to a minute), then plunging it into cold water, for broccoli that is toothsome and crunchy, but a little easier to chew.

But the most important tip, whether you’re blanching the broccoli or just washing it, is to do both of these steps ahead of time so the broccoli can fully drain and dry a bit. This prevents the dressing from getting watery.

What are some ways to lighten up this salad?

Although the texture and flavor of the dressing will be slightly different, you can use low-fat mayonnaise or swap half the mayo for thick Greek yogurt when you make broccoli salad recipes with bacon. You can also omit the sugar or use a low-calorie sweetener instead. Turkey bacon is another lower-fat swap.

Which kind of cheese works best?

If you don’t love cheddar, another cheese will work. The easiest way to make the most of your shredded cheese is to find a thicker shred. Grocery stores often have a range of shred types, or you can shred the cheese yourself using the larger holes on a box grater.