The BEST Broccoli Salad
The BEST Broccoli Salad Recipe! Loaded with crispy bacon, red onion and shredded cheddar cheese. Tossed in a creamy, tangy dressing. All you need to make this recipe is 9 ingredients and 15 minutes! This easy broccoli salad makes a great low carb side dish for Summer parties and barbecues!
Cold broccoli salad has been a staple in our house ever since I was a little girl. We often made this as a side dish for burgers or grilled chicken and it was always the dish we brought to potlucks! Needless to say we have had a lot of time in the past to PERFECT this easy broccoli salad.
This broccoli and bacon salad gets dressed with a sweet, tangy and creamy homemade dressing. It’s the perfect ratio of dressing to salad. I hate when a broccoli salad recipe is too dry or too soggy with dressing. This is the perfect amount! I opted to omit the usual cranberries or raisins and added lot’s of bacon, cheese and red onion. This truly is the BEST Broccoli Salad.
Quick Navigation
How to make broccoli salad
- Make the salad: In a large bowl combine broccoli florets, diced red onion, cooked bacon and shredded cheddar cheese.
- Combine the broccoli salad dressing: In a small bowl whisk together mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, garlic powder and onion powder. Pour the dressing on top of the salad mixture and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving or until cold.
- Store: Leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days!
Can this be made ahead of time?
Yes! I actually like making it a day or two before a party to let the flavors develop! I like to hold off on adding my chopped bacon until right before serving if I plan on making this salad ahead of time. This helps to keep it crispy!
What to serve with this Broccoli Salad
- Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken
- Grilled Steak Kabobs
- The BEST Grilled Chicken
- Grilled Maple Dijon Salmon
- Easy Grilled Asian Chicken
- BLT Pasta Salad
Variations
- Optional add in’s: Raisins, sunflower seeds, chopped celery, sliced almonds, diced or shredded apples, dried cranberries or grapes.
- Make it vegetarian: Leave out the bacon and substitute it for extra veggies. Add cauliflower, shredded carrots or any of the optional add in’s above!
- Use your favorite type of cheese: I used shredded mild cheddar. However sharp cheddar, Colby jack or pepper jack would all be really good in this!
- Broccoli cauliflower salad: Substitute half of the broccoli for cauliflower florets.
- Use greek yogurt: In place of some of the mayonnaise to save on some calories!
Here are more Easy Side Dish Recipes to try!
- The BEST Macaroni and Cheese
- Easy Baked Beans
- BLT Pasta Salad
- Creamy Confetti Corn
- Avocado Black Bean and Corn Salad
- Easy Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges
The BEST Broccoli Salad
The BEST Broccoli Salad Recipe! Loaded with crispy bacon, red onion and shredded cheddar cheese. Tossed in a creamy, tangy dressing. All you need to make this recipe is 9 ingredients and 15 minutes! This easy broccoli salad makes a great low carb side dish for Summer parties and barbecues!
Ingredients
- 2 medium heads of broccoli, cut into bite-size pieces (about 4 cups)
- 1 cup red onion, diced
- 4 slices bacon, diced
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine broccoli florets, diced red onion, cooked bacon and shredded cheddar cheese.
- In a small bowl whisk together mayonnaise, sugar, red wine vinegar, garlic powder and onion powder.
- Pour the dressing on top of the salad mixture and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
