Classic Bacon Broccoli Salad Recipe (2024)

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Everyone needs to know how to put together a classic bacon broccoli salad. It’s so easy to whip up and tends to be a hit with most people! This recipe can be made all year round and it’s the perfect option for potlucks!

Classic Bacon Broccoli Salad Recipe (1)

Once upon a time I worked in downtown Calgary at an oil and gas company. There was a woman that I worked with named Mary that was famous for her broccoli salad that she would bring to staff potluck suppers. To sum Mary up, she was a wonderful woman from Newfoundland who could cook like a boss, was hilarious beyond measure and her favourite saying was “Lord Lamp-lighting Jesus” when she was worked up about something. And her broccoli salad was the BEST I have ever tasted. Plus, we all know that any recipe that kicks off with “bacon” is going to go down pretty well, just like my Classic Caesar Salad.

Also once upon a time, I could actually eat broccoli. Oh, to be in my early 20’s again when I had a cast iron stomach. Now I can’t eat broccoli, but I DO have Mary’s recipe and technique for making the best broccoli salad ever.

Cut everything as small as you can. Tiny tiny TINY little broccoli trees. Mary said she would take her cutting board to the living room on a TV tray and watch the tube as she chopped and chopped and chopped to make a massive salad to feed the whole office. While you don’t have to watch TV or make a quadruple batch, if you make sure that the ingredients in this are small, you’ll understand how the way they blend together makes this an amazing broccoli salad!

Classic Bacon Broccoli Salad Recipe (2)

Ingredients in Broccoli Salad

  • Broccoli – florets, chopped very small
  • Red onion – finely diced
  • Raisins – I use dark Thompson raisins
  • Sunflower seeds– salted and hulled
  • Bacon – cooked and then crumbled into small pieces
  • Mayonnaise – you can use low fat but the texture of the dressing will change slightly
  • White sugar – use Splenda or your favorite no sugar sweetener to make it low carb
  • White vinegar – you can also try using cider vinegar for a unique taste

How to make Broccoli Salad

  • Place all of the salad ingredients into a medium-sized bowl.
  • Prepare the dressing by mixing the mayonnaise, sugar, and vinegar together until smooth. Stir into the salad ingredients.
  • Cover the bowl and let the salad chill – Mary would let it chill overnight and then bring it to the potluck and it was spectacular!
  • Serve cold.

Classic Bacon Broccoli Salad Recipe (3)

Try a different salad dressing

If you fancy spicing up your dressing, try it Jamie Oliver style! Start by peeling some ginger and grating it into a bowl, then stir in some sesame oil, along with olive oil, soy cause, and lime juice. Then add a drizzle of balsamic vinegar before whisking the dressing together. Easy!

How healthy is broccoli salad?

To make this healthy simply use LOW FAT mayo and watch the sugar! You can use as little as you want to make the dressing to your taste! Healthy food doesn’t have to be boring and this is the perfect example! The classic bacon broccoli salad is super healthy and completely customizable depending on your tastes. Why not add some grapes or cranberries too for an added boost of flavour?

Classic Bacon Broccoli Salad Recipe (4)
What should you serve broccoli salad with?

This salad is perfect on its own for a light lunch but it can also be a great accompaniment to some simple Porterhouse Steak or roast chicken. Maybe you could even try ham hocks? There really is no limit to the combinations available here! Oh, how about egg drop soup for a soup and salad combo that is seriously awesome?

I’d love to hear what you like to serve alongside your broccoli salad, so don’t forget to share it in the comments to give us all some extra inspiration! I’m super excited to see what you come up with!

More salad recipes for you to try

  • Winter Citrus Avocado Salad: who doesn’t love avocado?! This salad is full of fruit and greens and all sorts of Vitamin C!
  • Avocado Egg Salad: more avocado! I think I have avocado on the brain today.
  • Fast and Easy Greek Pasta Salad: an awesome combo of veg and pasta in one super tasty recipe.

Hope you love it! I have such fond food memories of this salad, I’m so sad that I can’t eat broccoli anymore. The family taste tested this over Christmas and it was deemed fantastic, so let me know what you think!

Love,

Karlynn

Classic Bacon Broccoli Salad Recipe (5)

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Classic Bacon Broccoli Salad Recipe (6)

Classic Bacon Broccoli Salad Recipe

This bacon broccoli salad is a classic! The secret that makes this the best broccoli salad ever is to chop the ingredients very small, then let the salad sit overnight for max flavor!

5 from 141 votes

Review

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Prep Time
25 minutes
Total Time
25 minutes
Course
Salad
Cuisine
American
Servings
6
Calories
783
Author
Karlynn Johnston

Ingredients

Broccoli Salad

  • 8 cups broccoli florets, chopped very small
  • 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1/3 cup salted sunflower seeds, hulled
  • 1/2 pound bacon, cooked and then crumbled into small pieces

Sweet Mayonnaise Dressing

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4-1/3 cup white sugar
  • 1-2 tablespoons white vinegar

Instructions

  • Place all of the salad ingredients into a medium sized bowl.

  • Prepare the dressing by mixing the mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar together until smooth. Stir into the salad ingredients.

  • Cover the bowl and let the salad chill - Mary would let it chill overnight and then bring it to the potluck and it was spectacular!

  • Serve cold.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 783kcal, Carbohydrates: 37g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 68g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 50mg, Sodium: 713mg, Potassium: 595mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 21g, Vitamin A: 815IU, Vitamin C: 110.9mg, Calcium: 73mg, Iron: 1.5mg

All calories and info are based on a third party calculator and are only an estimate. Actual nutritional info will vary with brands used, your measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

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Karlynn Johnston

I’m a busy mom of two, wife & cookbook author who loves creating fast, fresh meals for my little family on the Canadian prairies. Karlynn Facts: I'm allergic to broccoli. I've never met a co*cktail that I didn't like. I would rather burn down my house than clean it. Most of all, I love helping YOU get dinner ready because there's nothing more important than connecting with our loved ones around the dinner table!

Learn more about me

Site Index Bacon Broccoli Salad Vintage recipe

Reader Interactions

Comments & Recipe Tips Share a tip or comment!

  1. Karen says

    Reply

    I rated this a 5.
    I did make changes but if you don’t it still is so good.
    I added Hot Dave’s pickle juice1/8 cup. No sugar but instead maple syrup and a table heaping of Thousand Island dressing to the dressing.
    I also added cranberries and roasted chopped pecans and Gouda cheese diced small.
    Thanks for the all time vintage recipe for Broccoli Salad. Family loves it at every function I attend. God bless ya!Classic Bacon Broccoli Salad Recipe (12)

    • Karlynn Johnston says

      Reply

      LOVE the changes, thanks for letting us know! It’s okay to change it up and give other people ideas for a delicious new twist!

  2. Eric says

    Reply

    this was so good. We used dried cranberries rather than rasins. will make again.Classic Bacon Broccoli Salad Recipe (13)

    • Karlynn Johnston says

      Reply

      Yes, cranberries are so good in this as well!

  3. Carol Govier says

    Reply

    This salad is awesome. Great for summer barbeques. Goes with hot dogs, burgers, heck it goes with everything.Classic Bacon Broccoli Salad Recipe (14)

  4. Ruby says

    Reply

    Love this recipe. My go to side dish. Thank you.Classic Bacon Broccoli Salad Recipe (15)

  5. Sabrina says

    Reply

    Made this with pecans (didn’t have sunflower seeds), honey instead of sugar (3-4 tbsp) and added some small-cubed cheddar cheese. It was soooo delicious.

  6. Sandra Prsa says

    Reply

    thanks for the great recipe. made it for our First BBQ of the summer and it was a big hit! Followed the directions as instructed.

  7. Cassi Petersen says

    Reply

    Refreshing summer (or anytime;)
    side! I skipped the sugar in the dressing, doesn’t seem to be missed flavor wise, used dried cranberries instead of raisins…and used bacon bits as I was short on time. Yummy 😋Classic Bacon Broccoli Salad Recipe (16)

  8. Bell says

    Reply

    I wanted to make this salad while on the yatch. the only broccoli on board was frozen broccoli. there was some trail mix with cranberries and sunflower seeds. I had ranch dressing and string cheese and an onion. I diced up the string cheese, onion and broccoli and mixed it all together it was delicious!Classic Bacon Broccoli Salad Recipe (17)

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Classic Bacon Broccoli Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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.

How to make brocoli salad? ›

Whisk together mayonnaise, cider vinegar and honey. Toss salad ingredients with dressing: Combine broccoli florets, almonds, crumbled bacon, chopped onion, and peas in a large serving bowl. Add dressing to the salad and toss to mix well.

Why do you blanch broccoli for salad? ›

🥄 How to Make Broccoli Salad

Blanching keeps the broccoli firm but the taste will be a little less “raw” and it also sets the pretty green color. This is an optional step, but I think it's really worth doing. To blanch the florets, bring a large pan of water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook for 1 minute.

Can broccoli be eaten raw as in a salad? ›

Broccoli can be prepared in numerous ways, including sautéed, steamed, boiled, or roasted, but it can also be served raw in salads or with dips.

What is the active ingredient in broccoli? ›

Broccoli and its active ingredient, sulforaphane were reported to possess tremendous pharmacological activities such as anticancer, antimicrobial, antidepressant, antihypertensive and antidiabetic to mention but few.

How long is broccoli good for in the refrigerator? ›

Fresh broccoli lasts between 3 to 5 days in the fridge when properly stored. “For cut-up broccoli, I would say no more than 4 days for optimal use,” Amidor says. “But it's best to cut from the whole head right before cooking or eating to maintain nutrients.”

How do you make broccoli soft but not mushy? ›

Add 1 Tbsp of water and sprinkle with salt. Cover with a lid or wet paper towel and microwave for 2 to 3 minutes. Cook until broccoli is tender but still crunchy. You can either sauté it or steam it.

How do you make broccoli not mushy? ›

Make sure you don't use more water, otherwise the broccoli will boil rather than steam, making for soggy results. Add your broccoli to the skillet and cover it with a lid. Cook until the broccoli reaches your desired level of tenderness, about 3 to 5 minutes.

How do restaurants make broccoli taste so good? ›

How do restaurants make broccoli taste so good? As with everything made by chefs, they have unexpected (read: unhealthy) additions to their meals — mostly butter, oil and heaps of salt. An excellent tip for the perfect broccoli is the blanching step.

When not to use broccoli? ›

Look for any patches or mold or little black dots; this is a sure sign it's time to throw your broccoli out. Also, keep an eye out for any yellowing or sprouting. If the tiny bunds on your broccoli look like they're about to bloom, that's a key indicator that it's past its prime.

Can dogs eat broccoli? ›

Yes, dogs can eat broccoli. Dogs can eat the vegetable both cooked and raw, as long as there are no seasonings or oils added. However, this vegetable should always be given in very small quantities, especially because the florets contain isothiocyanates, which can cause gastric irritation in dogs.

What happens if you don't blanch broccoli? ›

If you don't blanch your broccoli, it will turn color and acquire a bitter taste. You can either stick it in boiling water for three minutes to blanch, or steam it for five minutes, whichever you choose.

How many minutes do you blanch broccoli? ›

Fill a large bowl with cold water and ice. Carefully lower the broccoli florets into the boiling water and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. The broccoli should be bright green and just barely tender. With a slotted spoon, remove the broccoli and immediately plunge into the ice water.

Should I cut broccoli before blanching? ›

Once you have separated the broccoli into florets and peeled and chopped the stems, drop the broccoli pieces into the pot of rapidly boiling water. Let them cook for 2 minutes. Alternatively, steam the broccoli for 2 minutes in a vegetable steamer rather than boiling it. Drain the broccoli in a colander.

What does a bowl of salad contain? ›

Most leafy vegetables that can be eaten raw are used: all varieties of lettuce, garden cress and watercress, endives, cabbage, spinach, escarole, romaine (cos), arugula, and fresh herbs. Other vegetables, raw or cooked—tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, peppers, beets, and so on—may garnish the green salad.

What does a vegetable salad contain? ›

Vegetable salads may be marinated or sauced mixtures of raw or cooked vegetables. They are commonly based on tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, beets, and mushrooms. Cole slaw (from the Dutch kool, “cabbage”) is made of shredded or chopped cabbage with a mayonnaise or vinegar-based dressing.

What goes well with broccoli? ›

Beef, butter, cheddar cheese, chicken, curry, duck, egg, feta cheese, goat cheese, oyster sauce, parmesan cheese, pasta, pesto, pork, prawns, rice, salami, soy sauce, tahini, tofu, turkey, yoghurt.

What does broccoli and spinach have? ›

Salad greens, kale and spinach are rich in vitamins A, C, E and K, and broccoli, bok choy and mustard are also rich in many of the B-vitamins. These vegetables also contain an abundance of carotenoids-antioxidants that protect cells and play roles in blocking the early stages of cancer.

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