Broccoli Bacon Salad

Broccoli Bacon Salad is a wonderfully easy side dish recipe. It is a family favorite that is on our holiday table whether it’s Easter, Christmas or 4th of July. 

Most of the ingredients are raw, except for the bacon- which can be made ahead, so it really lightens your workload on holidays when you are preparing more labor intensive dishes.

It is also a great side dish to have with anything grilled on a non-holiday night.

Raw Onion Tip

You know how when you eat raw onions the flavor can stick around a lot longer than you would like? It doesn’t have to be that way!

Before you dice the onion give it a generous rinse (or you can soak it for 5 minutes) under cool water, slightly separating the layers of the onion. This will wash away the enzyme that keeps the onion flavor around long after you have eaten it!

How to Make Broccoli Bacon Salad

This veggie side dish is so easy to prepare and makes the perfect fresh salad to add to any dinner.

You simply assemble the chopped broccoli, raisins, sunflower seeds and diced red onions in a large bowl.

Cook and crumble the bacon, then add to the broccoli mixture.

Make the dressing by whisking together the mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar. Pour over the broccoli bacon mixture. Stir to coat everything.

Let the salad sit for 15-30 minutes before serving.

To Make Ahead

Prep the broccoli, sunflower seeds, raisins and onions together in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate.

Prepare the dressing and refrigerate seperate from the salad.

Cook and crumble the bacon- I store my cooked bacon in an airtight container at room temp.

About 10 minutes before it is time to eat assemble the salad!

Broccoli Bacon Salad Recipe

Broccoli Bacon Salad

A classic Broccoli Bacon Salad recipe that has raisins and sunflower seeds with a sweet and tangy dressing. Makes a great side dish for any holiday or barbecue.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 15 minutes

cooking bacon: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 150kcal

Author: Susie – momsdinner.net

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 – 2 heads broccoli about 4-5 cups, chopped into bite sized florets
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/4 cup red onion diced, see kitchen tip in notes about onion
• 8-10 slices bacon cooked and crumbled

Dressing

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar

Instructions

• In a mixing bowl add the 1 cup mayo, 1/3 cup sugar, and 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar. Whisk or stir together until completely smooth.
• In a separate large bowl combine the cut broccoli florets, 1/2 cup raisins, 1/2 cup sunflower seeds, 1/4 cup diced red onion, crumbled bacon and the dressing mixture.
• Stir to combine ingredients and coat completely with the mayo dressing.
• Let rest for 15-30 minutes before serving.

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Notes

TO MAKE AHEAD: Make up to 2 days ahead. Cook the bacon, crumble, and set aside. Prepare the dressing and keep separate in the refrigerator. In your serving bowl add the broccoli, sunflower seeds, onions and raisins- cover and refrigerate. About 30 minutes before serve time add the bacon and the dressing to the broccoli mixture and stir to combine.

 

RED ONION TIP: Rinse the raw red onion slices under cool water before chopping. This will rinse away the enzyme that makes raw onion flavor stick around for too long!

 

Calories are estimated.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cups | Calories: 150kcal

Originally posted April 2017 – Photos & copy updated March 2020