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Easy Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheese

This Easy Broccoli Salad is made with real bacon bits and cheese. This classic and old fashioned dish is served cold and is definitely a crowd pleaser for the summer months. Feel free to toss in cauliflower! 

broccoli salad with cheese, bacon, and cranberries in a white bowl
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I often enjoy this broccoli salad year round! I don’t have to wait until the summer months because it’s just that good. I also love to add a little more protein to make it a full meal, usually cooked shrimp! So good.

fresh broccoli, red onions, sunflower kernels, apple cider vinegar, shredded cheddar, cranberries, and cooked bacon in separate glass bowls

Do You Use Raw Broccoli? Do You Have to Cook Broccoli?

Yes, raw broccoli is used in broccoli salad. The combination of mayo and apple cider vinegar in this recipe will soften the broccoli and add tons of flavor. Chilling the ingredients also assists in the ending texture. You can cook it if you want.

How to Make Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheese

Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  1. Slice broccoli florets into thin slices.
  2. Combine mayo, sweetener, apple cider, vinegar, salt, and pepper to taste and then combine it with the remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl. Stir to mix well.
  3. Cover and chill the salad.
broccoli salad with cheese, bacon, and cranberries in a glass bowl

Additional Toppings/Substitution Ideas

  • Raisins
  • Olives
  • Cauliflower
  • Cucumbers
  • Spinach
  • Croutons
  • Grape Tomatoes
  • Peanuts
  • Artichokes
  • Chicken
  • Shrimp
  • Cubed Ham
broccoli salad with cheese, bacon, and cranberries in a glass bowl

How to Substitute Mayo

Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing, plain Greek yogurt, or sour cream can be used as a substitute for mayo in this recipe.

mayo in a glass bowl

How to Use Frozen Broccoli

Boil a large pot of water on the stove. Add the broccoli for about 20 seconds. Place the broccoli in ice water to prevent it from continuing to cook. You can read more about How to Cook Frozen Broccoli here.

How to Store the Salad

Store broccoli salad in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. I do not recommend freezing this dish, as it will not maintain its crunch after defrosting.

broccoli salad with cheese, bacon, and cranberries in a white bowl

Can The Salad Be Made Ahead of Time?

Yes, if you plan to serve the dish within 3-4 days of making it.

Can You Freeze It

Dishes made with mayo or dairy don’t typically freeze well.

Pair With These Main Dish Recipes

Air Fryer Ribs
Traeger Smoked Ribs (3-2-1 Method)
Traeger Smoked Salmon
Grilled Baby Back Ribs
Homemade BBQ Seasoning
Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs
How to Grill the Best Burgers
Grilled Cedar Plank Shrimp
Mushroom Swiss Burgers

Traeger Smoked Whole Chicken
Queso Burgers
Air Fryer Frozen Burgers

Twisted Bacon Recipe

broccoli salad with cheese, bacon, and cranberries in a white bowl

More Salad Recipes

Southern Coleslaw
Mango Fruit Salad
Watermelon Salad with Feta

Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
Bow Tie Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
Spaghetti Salad Recipe
Classic Southern Potato Salad

Creamy Cucumber Salad
Southwest Salad Recipe
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Grilled Asparagus in Foil

broccoli salad with cheese, bacon, and cranberries in a white bowl
Print Pin
5 from 4 votes

Easy Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheese

This Easy Broccoli Salad is made with real bacon bits and cheese. This classic and old fashioned dish is served cold and is definitely a crowd pleaser for the summer months. Feel free to toss in cauliflower! 
Save this recipe here.
Course lunch, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword broccoli salad, broccoli salad with bacon, broccoli salad with bacon and cheese
Prep Time 10 minutes
chill 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 7 servings
Calories 391kcal

Ingredients

  • 6 cups chopped, raw broccoli florets
  • 1 cup mayo
  • 1/4 cup sunflower seed kernels or slivered almonds
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sweetener or sugar
  • 4 slices cooked and crumbled bacon
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/3 cup chopped red onion
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Slice the broccoli florets into thin slices.
  • Combine the mayo, sweetener, apple cider, vinegar, salt, and pepper to taste and then combine it with the remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl. Stir to mix well.
  • Cover and chill the salad for at least one hour.

Video

Notes

  • If you prefer a less sweet broccoli salad, start with 1 tablespoon of sweetener. Taste repeatedly and add more as needed. 2 tablespoons of sweetener along with the apple cider vinegar will produce a sweet and savory salad.
  • 1 cup of mayo will make this a creamy salad. If you prefer less creamy, start with 1/2 – 3/4 cup of mayo. Add additional mayo as necessary.
  • You can substitute mayo for plain Greek yogurt or sour cream.
  • Broccoli salad will last covered in the fridge for 3-4 days.
  • Makes 6-7 cups
Recipe Tools Used in this RecipeAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition (displayed with net carbs)

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 391kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 37g
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Nutrition DataMacros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
5 from 4 votes
Recipe Rating




Kasey

Friday 4th of November 2022

I wanted to try this recipe because I was intrigued by the ingredients. If you have any doubts, try it now! It was so good! Even the picky family members liked it.

staysnatched

Saturday 5th of November 2022

I’m glad you enjoyed it!

Saturday 27th of August 2022

I loved this salad! I substituted turkey bacon instead of bacon and added cauliflower. I'll be making this every week to get more veggies in!

staysnatched

Sunday 28th of August 2022

I’m glad you enjoyed it!

Kymberly Miller

Tuesday 5th of July 2022

Delicious and easy to make! I doubled the recipe to enjoy it for all 3 meals!

staysnatched

Tuesday 5th of July 2022

I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

Sue

Saturday 14th of May 2022

This recipe looks so delicious. I love broccoli. Is the vinegar necessary? I cannot eat acidic foods or vinegar.

staysnatched

Tuesday 24th of May 2022

You can omit it if you wish.

carole gilberg

Saturday 2nd of April 2022

another substitute for the mayo and vinegar is to just use marzetti slaw dressing. it blends perfectly with the broccoli.

staysnatched

Monday 11th of April 2022

Thanks for sharing.