Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Cheddar | Best Broccoli Salad Recipe (2024)

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posted by Crissy Pageon Apr 9, 2017 (updated Jan 19, 2024) 29 comments »

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This broccoli salad with bacon and cheddar has it all, folks. Every bite is packed with flavor, and the combination of sweet, tangy, crunchy and creamy gives makes this broccoli salad recipe so very delicious.

I mean, come on. Look at this big bowl of yum!

Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Cheddar | Best Broccoli Salad Recipe (1)

Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Cheddar

One of my main gripes with most broccoli salad recipes is the inclusion of raisins.

I don’t want to offend any of you raisin fans out there, but raisins just aren’t really my favorite dried fruit, which is weird, because I actually really adore grapes. It’s just one of those funny food aversions that I carried with me from childhood and can’t seem to shake.

It’s funny, because any time I see a bowl of broccoli salad at a carry-in I sort of steer clear of it due to the raisins.

RELATED: Don’t miss my incredible sweet coleslaw recipe and my over-the-top loaded potato salad.

While you can certainly use raisins in this broccoli salad with bacon and cheddar, I strongly prefer dried cranberries. In fact, I kind of LOVE dried cranberries in salads, so it just made so much sense to use them in this fantastic broccoli salad with bacon and cheddar recipe.

Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Cheddar | Best Broccoli Salad Recipe (2)

Every single ingredient in this recipe is doing a job. There are no fillers in this broccoli salad, and the ingredients list is really just a big list of my all-tim favorite foods, all perfectly mixed-up in one bowl.

Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Cheddar | Best Broccoli Salad Recipe (3)

I really like making this broccoli salad with bacon and cheddar as a potluck dish because it’s so pretty and colorful.

It’s also great for carry-ins because it’s not prone to get soggy in a hurry. When I’m transporting this dish, I sometimes put my crumbled bacon in a plastic bag and them mix it in right before serving so it’s as crispy as possible.

Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Cheddar | Best Broccoli Salad Recipe (4)

Oh, and that bacon! I don’t want to skip discussing the fact that the bacon really takes this broccoli salad to a whole new level. Everything is better with bacon, and it really makes this recipe quite special.

I hope you enjoy my tasty broccoli salad with bacon and cheddar recipe!

More Summer Salads

  • Classic Potato Salad
  • Loaded Potato Salad
  • Sweet Coleslaw
  • Cucumber Tomato Salad
  • German Cucumber Salad
  • Mexican Quinoa Salad
Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Cheddar | Best Broccoli Salad Recipe (5)
Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Cheddar | Best Broccoli Salad Recipe (6)

Yield: 6-8 servings

Additional Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

This sweet and delicious broccoli saladis easy to make and loaded with flavor and crunch.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. broccoli about 4 cups, cut into florets
  • 6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
  • 1/4 cup chopped red onion, diced
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 4 ounces sharp cheddar, cut into small cubes
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 cup real mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl mix together the broccoli, crumbled bacon, onion, cranberries, cheese and the walnuts.
  2. In a small bowl stir together the mayonnaise, vinegar and the sugar. Add to the broccoli mixture and gently stir. Chill and serve.

originally published on Apr 9, 2017 (last updated Jan 19, 2024)

29 comments Leave a comment »

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29 comments on “Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Cheddar”

  1. Kim Reply

    Just curious if a person could use frozen broccoli (thawed) in place of fresh? Or would that change the crispness of the salad?

    I live in a remote northern community and access to fresh QUALITY produce is limited so I often have to use frozen. I miss having fresh salads more often.

    • Crissy Page Reply

      Hi, Kim, I would not recommend frozen broccoli for this recipe. I would really only use frozen in dishes that will be cooked.

  2. Judy Reply

    Hello, do you lightly cook the broccoli?

    • Crissy Page Reply

      No, it’s raw! :)

  3. Dorothy Reply

    I made this recipe exactly as posted. Everyone loved it! It’s definitely a keeper. Thank you!

  4. Randi Reply

    We love this recipe sooo much. I used 1/8 cup of Splenda instead of sugar. I used 3/4 cup of low fat mayo and skipped the walnuts. I added 1 1/2 tsp extra of the vinegar. It was perfect for our taste buds. Thanks for a great recipe.

  5. Lanie Reply

    U guess it would be good with turkey bacon or chicken? What is your opinion? We can not eat pork. If I double the recipe would it feed 16-18 people?

  6. Bonnie Reply

    Can I add Colby & Sharp Cheddar cheese together in the broccoli salad?

  7. Darla Reply

    Is there something I can substitute for the Mayo? A dressing? Yogurt?
    Every recipe I’ve come across has it and, because of my own childhood aversion, I can’t stomach the stuff…unless it’s hidden really, really well.

    • Terri Reply

      You might try a poppyseed dressing

      Rating: 5

  8. Kay Bruce Reply

    I add chopped roasted chicken and this becomes a meal, easy to pack for tailgates and lunches too! Now a frequently used recipe.?

    Rating: 5

    • Crissy Page Reply

      Kay what a GREAT IDEA!!

  9. Annemarie Reply

    This is amazing! My entire family loved it!

    Rating: 5

  10. Pete, female Reply

    You could always sub craisins for the raisins, same thing but craisins have a different taste altogether. The salad sounds very good.

  11. Janelle Reply

    This salad is so good!!!

    Rating: 5

  12. Amanda Reply

    I love this salad and so does everyone else, always. Even my mom who doesn’t like broccoli! My sister in law has been making it for 20+years but since she moved to Australia and I needed the recipe at short notice, I was very happy to find exactly the right one. I put a bit of apple cider vinegar in to give it more zing. Delicious, thanks for sharing.

    Rating: 5

  13. Kris Cooper Reply

    I made this but with my own Keto twist, it was amazing…

    Rating: 5

  14. Marian Lakin Reply

    I made this with stevia instead of sugar. It was delicious!

    Rating: 5

  15. Kimberly Mate Reply

    Super easy and delicious!

    Rating: 5

  16. Hcollver Reply

    Can I substitute white wine vinegar for the white vinegar?

  17. Lauren Reply

    Making this for a party this weekend! Can I make it a day ahead?

    • Crissy Reply

      yes!

  18. Pam Reply

    Made this Alan tonight and it was wonderful. Everyone loved it. I did use shredded cheese and add a teaspoon of celery seed. Will definitely use this again.

  19. Lauren Reply

    Could I make this a day ahead of time without everything getting soggy?

  20. Linda Lou Reply

    I’ve made this salad without the cheese — Why hadn’t I thought of putting cheddar cheese in there ?? LOLAnd I let my lazy bone kick in and use Marie’s salad dressing. But I agree with you … prefer cranberries and love taking this to a pot luck !

    Rating: 5

  21. Tracy Reply

    This was very good. Everyone enjoyed it

    Rating: 5

  22. Caroline Reply

    I never thought of making salad with broccoli. Looks delicious.

  23. Helen Wilson Reply

    The salads look delicious and I can’t wait to try them. Like you, I do not care for raisins so this will be perfect with the dried cranberries.

  24. Carla Jo Peterson Reply

    Thank you so very much for these salad recipes. We love them.

Leave a comment »

Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Cheddar | Best Broccoli Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make broccoli slaw with cheese and bacon? ›

Combine broccoli florets, cheddar cheese, dried cranberries, bacon, sunflower seeds, and onion in a large bowl. In a separate, small bowl, whisk together mayo, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper until smooth and well-combined. Pour dressing over broccoli combination and toss or stir well.

Why does my broccoli salad get watery? ›

Extra water on the broccoli can make for a runny mixture. The same goes for rinsing your broccoli! Make sure you give your broccoli adequate time to dry after rinsing. You get enough moisture from the dressing mixture that any extra water will make your salad too watery.

Why do you blanch broccoli for salad? ›

👉 PRO TIP: You'll find lots of broccoli salad recipes that use raw broccoli florets, but I think this recipe is much better if you take just a little time to blanch the florets. Blanching keeps the broccoli firm but the taste will be a little less “raw” and it also sets the pretty green color.

How to make broccoli taste good without making it unhealthy? ›

Healthiest Way to Cook Broccoli

Lightly sauteed with garlic and a splash of water. It's that simple. Cooking broccoli in this way retains most of its colour, nutritional value along with that crunch that results in a delicious side dish that even my youngest and pickiest eater enjoys.

How do you make broccoli not watery? ›

To avoid soggy broccolis try steaming it for 2 minutes and check the texture, if required cook for a minute more but not more than that. After this, you put the boiled broccoli into ice water, the constant shock will make them crispy.

What does it mean if broccoli is mushy? ›

It might look limp, discolored or wrinkled, all signs that broccoli is going bad. You don't want to see off colors, either. Broccoli should be green, so it's a bad sign if the florets turn yellow or brown. If there are any visible mold spots, or if the broccoli looks mushy, it's definitely time to toss the bunch.

Can you eat broccoli raw in a salad? ›

Moreover, too much exposure to high temperatures destroys the enzyme that converts the inactive glucosinolates to active compounds. Serving broccoli raw is an excellent option, since it retains these nutrients and the enzyme that forms isothiocyanate compounds.

How long should broccoli be boiled? ›

To boil, place in a pan of boiling water and cook the florets for 6-8 minutes. To steam, place in a steamer over boiling water and cook for 6-8 minutes. Broccoli to be stir-fried should be separated into bite-sized florets, heat 1 tbsp of oil in a frying pan and add the florets, cook for 4-5 minutes or until tender.

Do you add salt to water when blanching broccoli? ›

Recipe Instructions

Photo #1: Bring 4 quarts of water and 2 teaspoons of salt to a boil. Fill a large bowl with ice water too and set to the side. Put the broccoli florets in the boiling water and cook for 2-3 minutes until you have tender florets. The broccoli should be bright green and just barely tender.

What do you soak broccoli in before cooking? ›

Fill a large bowl with 2 ⅔ cups cold or warm water and ⅓ cup white vinegar. Allow it to soak for 2 minutes, then dump the broccoli into a colander. Rinse the vinegar-treated broccoli very well under running water.

What's the difference between coleslaw and slaw? ›

The real difference is that the raw, chopped vegetables in coleslaw are primarily cabbage: Napa, red, savoy, or bok choy. Slaw without the cole can feature any crunchy veggie in place of cabbage, including chopped or shredded broccoli, carrots, snow peas, jicama, and more.

Is broccoli slaw made from broccoli stems? ›

The next time you cut into a head of fresh broccoli, don't toss the stems—use them to make this crunchy broccoli slaw. Broccoli stems are not only edible, they're healthy too—they offer essential nutrients, like fiber and vitamin C, just like the rest of the head.

How long does broccoli slaw last in the fridge? ›

How long does broccoli slaw last in the fridge? Broccoli salad is the perfect side to make the night before a get-together, but you'll want to eat it within 3 days of making it so that the vegetables stay nice and fresh.

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