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You are here: Home / Recipes / Side Dishes / Broccoli Salad with Bacon

Broccoli Salad with Bacon

May 21, 2023

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three image collage showing broccoli salad in large wood bowl. One image shows the dressing being drizzled on the salad. Center color block with text overlay.

This delicious Broccoli Salad recipe is so full of flavor and wonderfully easy to make! A tasty combination of fresh broccoli, savory bacon, juicy grapes and toasted almonds are tossed together with a creamy, slightly sweet and tangy dressing – every bite is delicious! The perfect addition to any BBQ, party, or potluck!

Looking for even more delicious salads to try? Make sure to check out my Chicken Salad, Pea Salad and this amazing Grape Salad!

top down view of broccoli salad with bacon in a large wood bowl. Red grapes and toasted almonds can be seen tossed in the salad.

Broccoli Salad Recipe

This Broccoli Salad recipe is a family favorite that I have made countless times for every occasion imaginable. It continues to be one of the most requested salads from friends and family and is a staple at every family gathering.

This recipe originates with my mom who put her on spin on the classic and added fresh grapes and toasted almonds. It’s truly the perfect balance of sweetness, saltiness and crunch in every bite. I have had so many different types of broccoli salads over the years but this one is by far my favorite.

This salad is perfect year round but is especially well received at summer gatherings, picnics, potlucks, barbecues and more. But it’s also a staple for us during the holidays. What can I say? We just LOVE this broccoli salad!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe for Broccoli Salad

There are several key components that make this easy broccoli salad so delicious and special:

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  • First, the fresh seedless grapes. I’ve heard this salad referred to as a broccoli grape salad because it’s such a unique twist on this classic recipe. The grapes provide a pop of sweetness and juiciness to the salad that other salads made with dried fruit just can’t compare with. The grapes are sliced in half and scattered throughout the salad so that every bite is accompanied with a pop of freshness.
  • Second, it’s the toasted slivered almonds that do it for me every time. I love the nutty, crunchiness the almonds add to the salad and I try to get one in every bite. Word to the wise: DO NOT LEAVE THE KITCHEN WHILE TOASTING ALMONDS. They will burn.
  • Thirdly, BACON. Bacon, bacon, and more bacon. I think it’s the bacon that converted my husband because for some reason “Broccoli Salad” didn’t sound that appealing to him all on it’s own. But then he found out about the bacon and became a broccoli bacon salad lover.
clear glass bowl filled with broccoli salad ingredients ready to be tossed together with the broccoli salad dressing.

What To Serve With Broccoli Salad

  1. Mac and Cheese – my 5 star homemade baked mac and cheese, you don’t want to miss this!
  2. Pot Roast and Gravy – the ultimate comfort food!
  3. The Ultimate Chicken Fried Steak with gravy!
  4. Stuffed Shells – easy, cheesy, delicious! A favorite with the kids!
  5. Easy Lazy Day Lasagna – serve with some garlic bread and this broccoli salad!

Ingredients

This delicious recipe combines a sweet and tangy dressing with a ton of fresh ingredients. It’s a tasty combination that will wow friends and family. As always, you can find the full printable recipe with complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post. Let’s take a look at what you’ll need…

Broccoli Salad Dressing

The dressing is super easy to make and can be made in advance. My mom used to mix the dressing up in advance and assemble the salad separately. When we arrived wherever we were going, she would quickly toss the salad with the dressing. It’s awesome to be able to get this step out of the way if you’ve got a busy cooking day ahead.

The dressing is just four simple ingredients:

  • mayonnaise – Just enough to make the broccoli salad dressing nice and creamy. I know a lot of people prefer the flavor of Miracle Whip and that works beautifully in this recipe as well.
  • sugar – this little sweetness really complements the acidity of the vinegar.
  • red wine vinegar – provides the tanginess in the dressing and adds a pop of flavor.
  • celery seeds – something extra that my mom always added. I love the added flavor and texture.

Broccoli Salad

  • broccoli – You can buy the bagged florets, you’ll need about 5 cups, or you can break down to small heads of broccoli.
  • bacon – Use your favorite brand, cooked and chopped. Two great options for cooking the bacon is making Air Fryer Bacon or Baked Bacon.
  • almonds – I think the almonds taste best toasted. I like to use slivered almonds but sliced almonds are also a good choice.
  • green onions – Thinly sliced green onions add another layer of flavor in this salad without being overpowering.
  • celery – I love the crunchiness the celery adds to the salad.
  • red seedless grapes – The grapes are the best part of the recipe! Make sure to buy seedless. I like to halve my grapes but if your grapes are small, you can put them in whole. If you can’t find grapes, raisins or craisins or even apples would work.
close up view of broccoli salad made with red grapes, bacon, celery and a tangy dressing.

How To Make Broccoli Salad Recipe

Broccoli Salad Dressing

  1. Combine. Whisk together mayonnaise, granulated sugar, red wine vinegar and celery seeds in a small bowl.
  2. Chill. Place the dressing in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to chill.

Broccoli Salad

  1. Combine. Add broccoli, bacon, toasted almonds, green onions, celery and grapes to a large serving dish or bowl.
  2. Add Dressing. Toss the dressing with the salad until evenly distributed.
  3. Chill. Refrigerate broccoli salad until ready to serve.

Toasted Almonds

To toast almonds, place on a large baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 3 to 5 minutes stirring in between. Do not walk away! They will burn easily. The almonds are toasted when they turn light brown.

square image showing broccoli salad dressing being drizzled onto the rest of the ingredients in a large glass bowl.

Storage Information

Leftover Broccoli Salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. After that, the broccoli starts breaking down and the texture is all wrong. I do not recommend freezing this salad.

The dressing can be made up to 3 days in advance. Simply whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl, transfer to an airtight container and chill until ready to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can It Be Made In Advance?

This broccoli salad recipe can be made in advance and is a wonderful addition to holiday festivities.

  • Mix the salad dressing separately and store in the refrigerator.
  • Combine the rest of the salad ingredients in a large bowl.
  • Toss everything together and refrigerate for up to 4 hours if not serving immediately.

Does The Broccoli Need To Be Cooked?

I never cook the broccoli before making this broccoli salad recipe. If you want to, it’s really easy and only adds a few minutes to the prep time.

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  2. Add the broccoli to the water and cook for 1 minute.
  3. Immediately drain the broccoli florets and place in an ice bath for 5 minutes.
  4. Transfer the broccoli to a salad spinner and spin the broccoli dry.
  5. Place broccoli on a kitchen towel and continue to let dry and drain while you prep the rest of the salad.

Trish’s Tips and Tricks

  • Don’t forget to toast the slivered almonds before adding to the broccoli salad. Watch them carefully when toasting, they burn easily!
  • The salad can be made in advance. Just prep the dressing separately and toss together when ready to serve.
  • Make sure the broccoli pieces are bite-sized – keeping kids in mind as well.
  • You can’t go wrong with more bacon. Feel free to add in more if you want.
dark brown wood bowl filled with freshly prepare broccoli salad recipe made with grapes and bacon.

More Delicious Salads To Try

  1. Ambrosia Salad
  2. Strawberry Spinach Salad
  3. Watergate Salad
  4. Italian Pasta Salad
  5. Pineapple Cucumber Salad

How To Make Broccoli Salad

dark brown wood bowl filled with freshly prepare broccoli salad recipe made with grapes and bacon.
Print Pin
4.97 from 30 votes

Broccoli Salad Recipe

This delicious Broccoli Salad recipe is full of flavor and wonderfully easy to make! A tasty combination of fresh broccoli, savory bacon, juicy grapes and toasted almonds are tossed together with a creamy, slightly sweet and tangy dressing – every bite is delicious! The perfect addition to any BBQ, party, or potluck!
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Keyword broccoli bacon salad, broccoli salad, broccoli salad recipe, recipe for broccoli salad
Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
Total Time 5 minutes minutes
Servings 12 servings
Calories 269kcal
Author Trish – Mom On Timeout

Ingredients

Broccoli Salad Dressing

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon celery seed

Broccoli Salad

  • 2 heads broccoli broken down into small florets, about 5 cups
  • 12 ounces bacon cooked and chopped
  • ½ cup almonds toasted, slivered
  • 2 green onions thinly sliced
  • 1 cup celery chopped
  • 1 ½ cups red seedless grapes halved

Instructions

Prepare Broccoli Salad Dressing

  • Whisk together mayonnaise, granulated sugar, red wine vinegar and celery seeds in a small bowl. Place in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to chill.
    1 cup mayonnaise, ⅓ cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon celery seed

Assemble Broccoli Salad

  • Combine broccoli, bacon, toasted almonds, green onions, celery and grapes in a large serving dish. (To toast almonds, place on a large baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 3-5 minutes stirring in between. Do not walk away! They will burn easily. The almonds are toasted when they turn light brown.)
    2 heads broccoli, 12 ounces bacon, ½ cup almonds, 2 green onions, 1 cup celery, 1 ½ cups red seedless grapes
  • Toss the dressing with the rest of the salad until evenly distributed. Refrigerate salad until ready to serve. (Dressing can be added at the last minute if desired.)

Video

Notes

Storage Information
Leftover Broccoli Salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. After that, the broccoli starts breaking down and the texture is all wrong. I do not recommend freezing this salad.
The dressing can be made up to 3 days in advance. Simply whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl, transfer to an airtight container and chill until ready to use.
To toast almonds, place on a large baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 3-5 minutes stirring in between. Do not walk away! They will burn easily. The almonds are toasted when they turn light brown.

Nutrition

Calories: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 368mg | Potassium: 488mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 725IU | Vitamin C: 92mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 1mg

Originally published July 14, 2015.

  • 8726

By Trish - Mom On Timeout May 21, 2023 Bacon, Favorites, Fruit, Nuts, Recipes, Salad, Side Dishes, vegetables

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Comments

  1. Laura S. says

    October 9, 2023 at 10:47 AM

    Whenever I’m looking for something new I Google “best ever….recipe” and then check reviews. That’s how I found this recipe. I’ve been making this now for a few years because it’s ALWAYS a hit. In fact, a friend of mine had some while she was going through chemo treatments. Apparently everything tastes off or just plain bad when you’re in the middle of treatments. But this broccoli salad tasted so good to her it was about all she could eat during that time. Her husband just kept making batch after batch so she could eat and keep food down. I have never taken credit for this but have always shared this recipe with others when they ask for it….and they always do! FYI, if you are sensitive to dairy, the vegan mayo works just fine as a substitution.

    Reply
  2. Angela says

    July 14, 2021 at 6:45 AM

    It’s SO good! I’ve made this several times, & have sometimes also added a few thinly sliced radishes. I’m wondering – IF I don’t have fresh broccoli on hand, can i use good quality frozen broccoli, thawed & dried – or do you think the florets would be kind of wilted? (I don’t always plan ahead 😴).

    Reply
  3. Pat says

    May 1, 2021 at 6:48 AM

    Do I have to use light Mayo in the salad

    Reply
    • Trish - Mom On Timeout says

      May 6, 2021 at 8:53 AM

      Not at all, use whatever mayo you like!

      Reply
  4. Lin collins says

    August 30, 2020 at 7:15 AM

    Grated carrots and chopped cucumber added in makes it even more delicious 😋

    Reply
  5. Dixie Flood Vert says

    September 9, 2019 at 10:52 AM

    I watched this over and over… tried numerous times to spin the broccoli to get it to that bite size!!!!! Never worked for me!! Had to cut it.

    Reply
    • Trish - Mom On Timeout says

      September 9, 2019 at 5:00 PM

      ??? You just have to spin it harder…

      Reply
  6. Alta Smutz says

    September 9, 2019 at 10:51 AM

    I make this salad haven’t used celery or celery seed though and I use cashews and red onions I actually like bacos instead of bacon because it doesn’t get as soggy in the dressing and I’ve used cauliflower too

    Reply
    • Trish - Mom On Timeout says

      September 9, 2019 at 5:01 PM

      I’ve often thought of trying cauliflower in this salad! Totally going to give it a try!

      Reply
      • Gabriel Johnson says

        May 13, 2020 at 9:54 PM

        I think the mixture of both with red onion would work like the St.Louis, Salad… if using a red onion soak it n cold water for 10 mins before putting n a salad so it… want be so strong.

        Reply
        • Trish - Mom On Timeout says

          May 14, 2020 at 7:24 AM

          Sure, red onions would be a nice addition and soaking them is a great way to mellow them out. Great idea!

          Reply
  7. Jerry Hooper says

    September 9, 2019 at 10:49 AM

    I’ve made it hundreds of times. It’s my “please bring to our church dinners”. Requested all the time. A lot of times I don’t do the sunflower seeds and just do the p-nuts.

    Reply
    • Trish - Mom On Timeout says

      September 9, 2019 at 5:00 PM

      So good! Thanks Jerry!

      Reply
  8. Laura R. says

    August 11, 2019 at 9:26 AM

    I absolutely HATE mayo, so I used Greek yogurt! Fabulous!

    Reply
  9. Anita says

    June 19, 2019 at 12:17 PM

    Sounds so delicious thank you

    Reply
    • Lawanda says

      May 3, 2021 at 1:08 AM

      I loved the broccoli salad! I have used red onions according to other recipes, but green onions was more to my liking. I hate the after taste in my mouth from onions! I used less sugar because I don’t like sweet salads. My mistake was not drying the broccoli better! The broccoli salad was watery, but good. I will correct this next time.

      Reply
  10. Linea says

    June 19, 2019 at 1:03 AM

    I love broccoli, thanks for the recipe

    Reply
  11. Andrea says

    June 18, 2019 at 6:53 AM

    A super easy way to toast almonds (or other nuts for that matter) is in the microwave. Lay slivered almonds out flat on a glass pie plate, try not to overlap, leaving the centre of the plate open (they will burn to a crisp in the centre). Using 1 – 2 minute increments, toast your almonds. It usually takes 4 – 5 minutes, it all depends how toasted you want them. When nearing the end, toast them 30 seconds at a time.

    Reply
  12. Macy Brown From MakeTheBread says

    June 17, 2019 at 3:32 AM

    This is fabulous Trish, and it looks was an awesome & sounds soo delicious with more beautiful colored…i will try to making this for my kid..Thanks for sharing….!

    Reply
    • Trish - Mom On Timeout says

      June 19, 2019 at 6:47 PM

      Thanks so much!

      Reply
  13. Grace says

    December 19, 2018 at 12:55 AM

    This salad is also really good with baby peas and finely chopped red onion. I never put the celery in because I’m not a fan but I’m sure it would be great for those who do like it.

    Reply
    • Trish - Mom On Timeout says

      December 21, 2018 at 2:03 PM

      Great additions for sure Grace! Thank you!

      Reply
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