The Best Creamy Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheddar
Make this classic, crowd-pleasing broccoli salad. It features crunchy vegetables, crispy bacon, sharp cheddar, and a sweet and tangy creamy dressing. This recipe is perfect for potlucks, BBQs, and holiday side dishes.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 min
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large head of fresh broccoli, cut into bite-sized florets
- 1/2 cup cooked, crumbled bacon
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds (for crunch)
- 1/2 cup raisins (optional, for sweetness)
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the raw broccoli florets, cooked bacon, cheddar cheese, red onion, and sunflower seeds. If using, add the raisins now.
- Pour the prepared dressing over the vegetable and bacon mixture.
- Gently toss all ingredients until the broccoli and additions are evenly coated with the creamy dressing.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour before serving. This allows the flavors to blend and the broccoli to slightly soften while retaining crunch.
- Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.
Notes
- This broccoli salad recipe stays crunchy for up to 2 days when stored in the refrigerator.
- For a low-carb option, substitute the sugar in the dressing with a zero-calorie sweetener.
- You can use turkey bacon or pre-cooked bacon pieces to save time on prep.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Unsaturated Fat: 23
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 8
- Cholesterol: 30