Crunchy broccoli salad with bacon is always a favorite side dish. Broccoli, red onion, crispy bacon, and a tangy dressing make this a crowd pleaser!

This post was originally published in May 2012. It has been updated with new photos, text, and an updated recipe. 

This crunchy broccoli salad with  bacon is my very favorite salad to make in the summer.  With fresh green broccoli florets, chopped red onion, and red craisins, it is a really pretty salad to serve at a party.

The combination of salty bacon, crunchy broccoli, craisins, and a sweet dressing make this salad irresistible.

The recipe for this broccoli salad was given to me by two people at my wedding shower, and I have never met anyone who didn’t like this salad. If you are vegan, you can make this salad – it’s just delicious even without the bacon. Or you could go ahead and add some homemade vegan bacon bits.

You can do some of the prep work ahead of time for this broccoli salad. Feel free to chop your broccoli the night before. I like to chop it up so that it’s quite small – bite sized pieces work well.

Another little tip – some people find red onion to be a very strong flavor, so I recommend chopping the red onion into very small pieces.

The dressing for this salad couldn’t be easier to make. It’s simply mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and sugar. I use egg free mayonnaise from Earth Balance, but feel free to use your favorite brand.

The sweet dressing becomes a little more flavorful if you mix it in advance, but if you don’t have time, it’s okay to mix it just before serving.

This was one of my mom’s favorite salads, and she preferred to keep the bacon to the side and then crumble the bacon on top just before serving. If you would like the bacon to stay really crisp, then that’s the way to do it.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

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Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Bacon.

A delicious broccoli salad with bacon that’s sure to be a big hit at your next party. 

Prep Time

15

minutes

Total Time

15

minutes

Servings

10

Calories

369

kcal

Author

Kelly Roenicke

Ingredients

• 3

  broccoli crowns

  chopped into small pieces, for about 5 cups broccoli florets

• ½

  cup

  red onion

  chopped fine

• 8

  slices

  bacon

  cooked and crumbled

• ⅔

  cup

  craisins

• ½

  cup

  sunflower seeds

  optional

For the dressing:

• 1

  cup

  mayonnaise

  We use Earth Balance vegan mayo

• 3

  Tablespoons

  organic cane sugar

• 2

  Tablespoons

  apple cider vinegar

Instructions

1. Place the chopped broccoli, chopped red onion, bacon, craisins, and sunflower seeds into a large bowl. 

2. Mix the salad dressing in a jar and stir well. Pour the dressing over the salad and mix together.

3. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve. Salad will keep for three days in the refrigerator. 

Recipe Notes

You can reduce the amount of sugar if you wish, or try maple syrup in the dressing. 

Nutrition Facts

Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Bacon.

Amount Per Serving

Calories 369

Calories from Fat 243

% Daily Value*

Fat 27g

42%

Saturated Fat 5g

31%

Cholesterol 21mg

7%

Sodium 320mg

14%

Potassium 670mg

19%

Carbohydrates 24g

8%

Fiber 5g

21%

Sugar 12g

13%

Protein 9g

18%

Vitamin A 1155IU

23%

Vitamin C 163.4mg

198%

Calcium 95mg

10%

Iron 1.9mg

11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This crunchy broccoli salad with bacon is:

• easy to make in advance
• a colorful addition to a picnic or party
• naturally gluten free, dairy free, and allergy friendly

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