Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Bacon.

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.

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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. 

Course Salad

Cuisine Dairy Free, gluten free

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
• 1/2 cup red onion chopped fine
• 8 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
• 2/3 cup craisins
• 1/2 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*

Total Fat 27g 42%

Saturated Fat 5g 25%

Cholesterol 21mg 7%

Sodium 320mg 13%

Potassium 670mg 19%

Total Carbohydrates 24g 8%

Dietary Fiber 5g 20%

Sugars 12g

Protein 9g 18%

Vitamin A 23.1%

Vitamin C 198%

Calcium 9.5%

Iron 10.3%

* 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