Description
Summer-friendly Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Cheddar brings crisp vegetables and smoky bacon together in one delightful dish. Creamy dressing and sharp cheddar create a perfect balance for picnics, potlucks, and backyard gatherings you’ll definitely enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (960 ml / 32 fl oz) broccoli florets, fresh
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- ½ cup (120 ml / 4 fl oz) cheddar cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup (60 ml / 2 fl oz) red onion, finely diced
- ⅓ cup (80 ml / 2.7 fl oz) cranberries, dried
- ¼ cup (60 ml / 2 fl oz) sunflower seeds
- ¼ cup (60 ml / 2 fl oz) almonds, chopped
- ½ cup (120 ml / 4 fl oz) mayonnaise
- 2 tbsps (30 ml / 1 fl oz) sour cream
- 1 tbsp (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz) apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz) honey
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml / 0.08 fl oz) salt
- ¼ tsp (1.25 ml / 0.04 fl oz) black pepper
Instructions
- Dressing Preparation: Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl until smooth and well-blended.
- Salad Assembly: Chop broccoli florets, crumble bacon, dice red onion, and shred cheddar cheese into uniform, bite-sized pieces to ensure balanced flavor and texture distribution.
- Texture Enhancement: Sprinkle sunflower seeds and dried cranberries across the vegetable mixture, introducing nutty and sweet dimensions to the salad.
- Dressing Integration: Drizzle prepared dressing over the ingredients, gently folding to coat each component evenly and create a cohesive flavor profile.
- Flavor Melding: Let the salad rest for 10-15 minutes at room temperature, allowing ingredients to marinate and intensify their collective taste experience.
- Serving Suggestion: Present the salad chilled or at ambient temperature as a vibrant side dish that complements various main courses with its dynamic flavor and textural complexity.
Notes
- Maximize Broccoli Freshness: Select crisp, bright green broccoli with tight florets to ensure peak flavor and nutritional value.
- Bacon Preparation Technique: Pat bacon dry before cooking to achieve maximum crispiness and prevent soggy texture in the salad.
- Dressing Balance Hack: Adjust dressing consistency by adding small amounts of milk or buttermilk if too thick, ensuring smooth coating without overwhelming ingredients.
- Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare components separately and combine just before serving to maintain crunchiness of seeds and bacon, preventing soggy salad syndrome.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg