Easy Bacon Broccoli Salad

This bacon broccoli salad recipe has the perfect sweet and sour dressing.  The mix of crunchy broccoli,  salty bacon, sweet raisins, pungent onions, and sour dressing makes this a flavorful side dish.  It also lasts for several days which is a bonus for leftover or pre-packing lunches.

Not only is this recipe simple to make, it also pairs well with a variety of main dishes. Serve your bacon broccoli salad alongside a helping of marinated chicken, Baja Fish Tacos, or Slow Cooker Ham. Find more of our main dish recipes here.

This recipe came into my life when I was 12 years old.  I actually still remember the meal.

I had just moved from California to Utah and got the pleasure of becoming an aunt and living near my brand-new niece. My sister (the mother of said niece) brought this salad to a family meal where my father had made roast chicken with a lemon garlic marinade we used to dip the chicken in and pour over my mom’s rice pilaf.

It’s such a simple salad but the flavors and textures all just work together so well. Crisp bacon, fresh broccoli florets, crunchy seeds, and flavorful onions mingle beautifully with a mayonnaise and plain Greek yogurt dressing balanced by the acidity of vinegar and sweetness of sugar — every bite is the perfect bite.

This meal in its entirety is now a family staple. It’s something we honestly eat at least once a month and I have carried it on to my busy growing family.

A great fast trick is buying a rotisserie chicken, and just making rice. I will have to share our favorite garlic dip and another hilarious story that goes along with it.

There’s no reason you need to head to your local deli to satisfy your bacon broccoli salad craving. You can make this delicious broccoli bacon salad recipe right in your own kitchen!

All it takes are five main ingredients and then a few more ingredients to make your own salad dressing. Toss everything together and your bacon broccoli salad is ready to enjoy!

I rarely make changes to this recipe because it is so good on its own. However, I recently discovered roasted pepitas and I’ve been using them in the place of sunflower seeds, so give those a try if you happen to see them the next time you are at the store.

This traditional broccoli salad is also full of nutrition. There’s a healthy dose of fiber and vitamin C from the broccoli and protein from the bacon — and if you’re looking for a gluten-free recipe, you’ve found it!

You can also make it a low carbohydrate keto broccoli salad recipe by eliminating the sugar or using a sugar alternative – the net carbs without the sugar are incredibly low.

Another nice thing about this salad is that it keeps well in the fridge for at least a day or two. You can serve it chilled or not–it’s completely up to you and the amount of time you have to prepare it.

You may also find you like the dressing on other salads as well.

In our photos here the bacon broccoli salad is served alongside roasted chicken. To make our roasted chicken, simply insert two lemon halves inside a whole chicken, rub kosher salt on the outside of the chicken, place in a roasting pan, and cook for 2 hours at 375 degrees. How simple is that?

But you can also serve this low carb broccoli salad with whatever you like — it’s perfect for potlucks and at cookouts alongside pork chops or burgers, and it works for busy weeknight meals, too. It even makes for an easy light lunch.

We love to know what you think about our recipes. Share your experience crafting this yummy salad in the comments section below!

Variations

We happen to think this is the best broccoli salad recipe, but we might be a little biased! There are a few swaps or add-ins you can try to make it your own.

• Vinegar: Instead of white vinegar, whisk in some white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
• Cheese: Fold in shredded sharp cheddar cheese, mozzarella, or your own favorite.
• Nuts: Add chopped pecans, almonds, or walnuts for crunch.
• Pepper: For a subtle amount of spice, shake in some freshly ground black pepper.
•  Mayo: For the broccoli salad dressing, try swapping out the mayo for more Greek yogurt or for sour cream for tangier flavor.
• Lemon juice: Add a splash of lemon juice for bright flavor.
• Cranberries: Replace some or all of the raisins with dried cranberries for a twist on the fruity taste in the salad.

More delicious recipes to try:

• Texas Caviar
• Lemon Baked Chicken
• Crispy Chicken Tacos