Broccoli Salad with Bacon
Published 6/5/2023 • Updated 8/15/2024
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Tell me you grew up in the midwest without telling me you grew up in the midwest. INSERT: a good ol’ broccoli salad recipe!
This is our broccoli salad with bacon. It’s made with a very Fit Foodie twist all thanks to the sauce (no mayo involved), but is packed with classic broccoli salad ingredients such as fresh broccoli, red onion, cheddar cheese, raisins, and bacon. Oh, and you wont find any bacon bits in this recipe no, no! Only the best of the best — real, homemade bacon.
The three of us grew up in the midwest where broccoli salad was a must-have at any social gathering and to this day, almost every salad bar in Wisconsin and Minnesota will have their own version of a creamy broccoli salad.
Today we are sharing a healthier version of broccoli salad and we are kind of obsessed. You’d be surprised how delicious a broccoli salad can be without any mayonnaise 😉. Greek yogurt + olive oil + lemon is a pretty great substitute if you ask us.
Oh and, this is the PERFECT make-ahead recipe because the longer you let the salad soak up the sauce, the better!
What You Need for Bacon and Broccoli Salad
Creamy Broccoli Salad Sauce
- Greek yogurt
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice
- Maple syrup
- Salt
- Paprika
We made this broccoli salad sauce nice and simple. It’s made with a base of Greek yogurt and olive oil — no mayo involved! Don’t worry, she’s still super creamy and delicious. If you’re feeling sassy, you can always add a teaspoon or two of hot sauce or sriracha for a little extra spice. The ingredients for the salad sauce are:
Salad Ingredients
- Bacon (we recommend medium or thick-cut)
- Broccoli
- Red onion
- Sunflower seeds
- Raisins
- Cheddar cheese
- Pepper
- Salt
Obviously the base of this salad is made with raw broccoli — a must! The other star ingredient is cooked bacon. We prefer the oven method, but you can cook it however you want!
How to Make this Bacon and Broccoli Salad Recipe
- Make bacon: first make your bacon. You can follow any method you wish, but our favorite is oven bacon! Bake at 400ºF for around 15-20 minutes. Let the bacon cool and then chop into small pieces.
- Prep sauce: combine all of the ingredients for the sauce together and whisk until smooth.
- Prep salad ingredients: add all of the salad ingredients into a large bowl.
- Combine: Top with the sauce and mix thoroughly to combine.
- Let sit: for best results, let the salad sit overnight so that the broccoli and soak up all the sauce.
- Serve: serve your salad cold!
Substitutions
Don’t have all the ingredients you need for this broccoli salad at home? Or do you just want to add other ingredients? No problem. Below are some great options to add to your broccoli mixture.
Substitutions
- Raisins—> dried cranberries or cherries
- Greek yogurt—> mayonnaise or blended cottage cheese
- Sunflower seeds—> walnuts
Storage
Store this broccoli salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. When you are ready to eat your leftovers, try tossing your salad in a bit of additional Greek yogurt or mayo if you find that the salad has dried out a bit.
Serving Suggestions
- Caprese Stuffed Chicken Breasts
- Maple Ginger Baked Salmon
- Beer Can Chicken
- Super Simple Mac and Cheese
- Grilled Steak
Bacon and Broccoli Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1 cup nonfat, plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
Broccoli Salad
- 1/2 lb. medium-cut bacon
- 2.5 lbs. broccoli florets, chopped
- 1/2 medium red onion, finely diced
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- First, prepare your bacon. We recommend baking it. You can do so by covering a baking sheet with tin foil. Place a wire rack on top and then place the bacon strips on the wire rack so they are not overlapping. Bake at 400ºF for 15-20 minutes or until crispy. Let cool on a paper towel-lined plate and then chop into small pieces. Set aside.
- Next, make the dressing. Place all ingredients for the dressing into a medium bowl and whisk until all ingredients are combined. Set aside.
- Combine salad. Place all ingredients for the broccoli salad into a large bowl and then pour dressing on top. Mix well and be sure that all ingredients are coated in the dressing.
- Option to eat immediately or we recommend making this salad ahead of time so that the salad can sit in and soak up the sauce. Feel free to make tup to 24-hours in advance!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Don’t forget to tag your posts on social media with the hashtag #fitfoodiefinds, we’d love to see what you’re up to!
so yummy
Made this tonight…so good! You’d have thought there were mayo in it. Going to be a go-to to bring to BBQs this summer!
Hello, is the broccoli cooked or raw? Thank you!
Hello! The broccoli in this specific recipe is raw! However, it would be a delicious salad with roasted broccoli, too!