Broccoli Salad With Bacon And Cheese Recipe

This delicious broccoli salad with bacon and cheese recipe is packed full of crunchy ingredients and topped with a creamy sweet and tangy dressing.

As much as I love baking tasty desserts or sitting down to a juicy steak, I have to admit I really do love my veggies, too. While it may not be the first thing I think to reach for I actually do enjoy a large salad full of mixed greens and piled high with veggies.

If greens really aren't your thing but you love bacon and broccoli, this is the salad for you.  I love that a salad full of veggies doesn't have to always be about greens and lettuces. 

I really enjoy broccoli salads because they can have similar flavors to a traditional pasta salad but can be low carb. In fact, you can easily turn this into a keto broccoli salad by substituting the sugar with your favorite keto-friendly sweetener.

What's In Broccoli Salad?

Broccoli salad can easily be made with your favorite ingredients. This particular broccoli salad recipe includes:

• Broccoli
• Bacon
• Red onion
• Cheese
• Sunflower seeds
• Mayonnaise
• White sugar
• Apple cider vinegar
• Salt and pepper

Some other tasty items you could include are:

• Nuts such as sliced almonds or chopped pecans or walnuts
• Other roasted seeds such as pumpkin
• Dried fruit such as cranberries, cherries or raisins
• Leftover cooked ham instead of bacon
• Shredded carrots
• Thinly sliced radishes

When To Make Broccoli Salad

The thing I really love about this recipe for broccoli salad is that it can be made ahead. In fact, it's actually so much better when you do!

I like to make it at least a couple of hours before serving but preferably the night before. This really gives the flavors time to marry and be extra awesomely tasty together.

Just store the salad tightly covered in the fridge. I like using these Rubbermaid Brilliance containers that are really clear and easily stackable so you can see what's what in your refrigerator without having to open the containers.

How long will broccoli salad last in the fridge? It should be good for 3 - 4 days as long as you don't leave it out on the counter too long. We love it so much it only lasts a couple of days around here.

Can broccoli salad be frozen? I've never tried freezing broccoli salad but I don't think it would turn out well. Since the salad is never heated and there's a creamy dressing, I think it would turn out way too watery when thawed and the dressing may separate.

The Secret To The Best Bacon Broccoli Salad Dressing Ever

Since you need bacon for this cold broccoli salad odds are you're going to be cooking the bacon right before you make it. This means you'll have some of the best liquid gold ever, aka bacon fat.

We usually have bacon for breakfast one day a week. I like to bake it on an oven-safe cooling rack on a half sheet pan lined in foil or parchment so the fat easily drips off.

I take all the bacon fat and pour it into a container that I keep in the fridge.

Then I use it as an extra flavor boost for things you'd cook in oil, like scrambled eggs, pan-fried chicken or sauteed or roasted veggies.

It's also a great little secret ingredient in salads like potato salad and this broccoli salad. If you're concerned about the extra fat for whatever reason, just use the exact amount less of mayo.

There you go. This is why this is definitely the best broccoli salad recipe, ever.

What Main Dish Goes With Broccoli Salad?

This broccoli salad is perfect to serve at a potluck or cookout. It goes with just about anything grilled or that you'd like something chilled and creamy as a side to, like fried chicken. 

Some of our favorite recipes to serve this broccoli bacon salad with include:

• Hot dogs topped with our Hot Dog Chili Sauce Recipe
• Ribs made with our Best Dry Rub for Pork Recipe
• Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Balsamic Apple Butter Glaze Recipe
• Cranberry BBQ Turkey
• Easy Oven-Baked Barbeque Chicken Recipe