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    Broccoli Bacon Salad with Raisins and Cheddar Cheese

    Published: Mar 19, 2014 / 67 Comments

    244.0K shares
    • Facebook3.7K
    Recipe Print

    Classic Broccoli Bacon Salad with Raisins and Cheddar Cheese is an easy and simple side dish that everybody will love!  It's a perfect recipe for parties, picnics, potlucks, and barbecues!

    Broccoli Bacon Salad

    This broccoli bacon salad is a perfect combination of everything: sweet and savory flavors, crunchy veggies, and comfort food.   The salad is made with fresh broccoli and has a good amount of fiber.

    If you like bacon, you'll love this refreshing salad.   This recipe a great way to consume bacon in a healthier way, with some veggies. If you want to have more broccoli in your diet or just happen to have too much broccoli in your refrigerator, this is a delicious way to use it up and free up some space in your fridge!

    Broccoli Bacon Salad

    Cooking Tips

    • Use 1 head of broccoli.  Trim the leaves off. Optionally, you can quickly blanch the broccoli by dipping it into the pot of boiling water for about 3 minutes. Then, chop the broccoli into small bites.
    • In this recipe, I use a block of sharp Cheddar cheese, not the shredded kind. Chop up the Cheddar cheese into small cubes.  It makes a nice presentation.
    • Pre-cook the bacon in the oven, drain the fat, and chop it up into small bites.
    • I use both dried cranberries and raisins in this broccoli salad because raisins are usually too sweet for me, so I like to add some dried cranberries that have more tartness to them.
    • If you want to reduce the amount of mayo in the dressing, substitute half of mayo with sour cream.  Or, for the leaner version of this salad dressing, use Greek yogurt to replace half of the mayo.

    This broccoli salad with raisins and bacon is perfect for any time of the year: winter or summer, spring or fall. So easy to make - the recipe uses the most basic ingredients found in any pantry!

    Broccoli salad with bacon, raisins, and cheddar cheese, broccoli bacon salad, recipe for broccoli salad, broccoli salad dressing, broccoli raisin salad, vegetables

    You can add lots of salad dressing (all of what's indicated in the recipe below) or you can add just half - let your taste dictate whether you want the salad to be more or less creamy.

    Other delicious broccoli salad recipes

    • Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad
    • Broccoli, Cashew, Apple and Pear Salad
    • Broccoli Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
    Broccoli Bacon Salad
    4.87 from 50 votes

    Broccoli Bacon Salad with Raisins and Cheddar Cheese

    Classic Broccoli Bacon Salad with Raisins and Cheddar Cheese is an easy and simple side dish that everybody will love!  It's a perfect recipe for parties, picnics, potlucks, and barbecues!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10 servings
    Calories per serving 342 kcal

    Ingredients

    Broccoli Salad

    • 1 head broccoli , with leaves trimmed off
    • 8 slices bacon , cooked, crumbled
    • ½ cup red onion , chopped
    • ¼ cup raisins
    • ¼ cup dried cranberries
    • 8 ounces sharp Cheddar , cut into very small chunks

    Creamy Salad Dressing:

    • ¾ cup mayonnaise
    • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
    • ¼ cup sugar
    • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

    Instructions 

    How to make broccoli salad

    • Wash the broccoli head. Cut the broccoli head into flowerets and small bite-size pieces. Wash them thoroughly again. Dry on paper towels.
    • Add clean and dry broccoli pieces into a large mixing bowl. Add crumbled bacon, chopped onions, raisins, cranberries and sliced Cheddar cheese.

    How to make creamy salad dressing

    • In a separate small mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, white vinegar, and sugar and whisk until well-combined. Add the desired amount of this salad dressing to the salad and toss to combine.

    Notes

    Adapted from Food Network

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Information
    Broccoli Bacon Salad with Raisins and Cheddar Cheese
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    342
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    27
    g
    42
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    9
    g
    56
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    42
    mg
    14
    %
    Sodium
     
    385
    mg
    17
    %
    Potassium
     
    290
    mg
    8
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    15
    g
    5
    %
    Fiber
     
    2
    g
    8
    %
    Sugar
     
    8
    g
    9
    %
    Protein
     
    9
    g
    18
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    625
    IU
    13
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    55
    mg
    67
    %
    Calcium
     
    196
    mg
    20
    %
    Iron
     
    0.8
    mg
    4
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Nutrition Disclaimer:

    The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    Keyword broccoli bacon salad, broccoli salad, broccoli salad with bacon
    Tried this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment and provide a Star Rating below - I love your feedback and try to respond to every comment!
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    Please share your comment and Star Rating in the comments section below.

    I appreciate your feedback!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Hollie Meiser

      May 04, 2023 at 2:22 pm

      This is now one of our favorite family salads! I use green onions instead of the red onions and agave sweetener instead of sugar in the dressing….so delicious!

      Reply
      • Julia

        June 07, 2023 at 9:03 pm

        Hollie, I am so glad this is one of your favorites! I like to use agave sweetener sometimes, too - it dissolves so well!

        Reply
    2. Marie Sutton

      July 17, 2022 at 9:54 am

      This salad is delicious! Thank you so much!

      Reply
      • Julia

        August 22, 2022 at 5:53 pm

        Marie, I am glad you tried this salad and liked it! Thank you for the 5-star rating! 🙂

        Reply
        • TxSun

          December 01, 2022 at 12:35 pm

          My family calls this “Funeral Salad” because this is what I take to funerals or anybody in need of food. I use lemon juice instead of vinegar and sometimes add in chopped apple or jicama. The recipe is always requested.

          Reply
          • Julia

            December 05, 2022 at 10:39 pm

            TxSun, I am so happy everyone loves this recipe! Love the use of lemon juice and the addition of chopped apple - sounds delish!

            Reply
    3. Trena

      July 02, 2022 at 2:30 pm

      Thank you so much for this great recipe, I made it for a family get to gather and it was a big hit, I'm making it for 4th of July party.

      Reply
      • Julia

        August 22, 2022 at 7:22 pm

        Trena, I am glad this recipe was a success! And, thank you for the 5-star review! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Heather

      May 11, 2021 at 6:57 pm

      Great recipe. The only thing missing is sunflower seeds

      Reply
    5. Shirley

      May 01, 2020 at 7:39 pm

      Loved it so muc,so did my friends.

      Reply
    6. Debbie

      March 22, 2020 at 3:39 pm

      I put some sunflower seeds in mine for a crunch.

      Reply
    7. Shelley McCrory Martines

      January 29, 2018 at 11:33 pm

      This is my go-to recipe for Broccoli salad. I substitute Craisens for the raisins. They give it just a little bit more tartness while retaining the sweetness of the raisin. I also Add Pecans. Everyone Loves this and has asked for the recipe several times. It's A Winner Every time. Thank you Julia for sharing this.

      Reply
      • Julia

        February 25, 2018 at 1:37 pm

        You're very welcome! So glad you've been enjoying this salad! 🙂

        Reply
        • Nina Mannino

          May 03, 2018 at 2:39 pm

          I added pecans and shredded the cheese! It was yummy was

          Reply
          • Julia

            May 03, 2018 at 3:58 pm

            Great additions! I am glad you liked the salad! 🙂

            Reply
    8. Jessica Furse

      July 28, 2017 at 12:59 am

      Can I make this the night before? Or should do it the morning of?

      Reply
      • Venissa

        January 29, 2018 at 9:27 pm

        I think it’s better the day after.

        Reply
    9. Trisha

      December 02, 2016 at 9:03 am

      Good morning Julia. I discovered your recipe for Broccoli & Raisin Salad. What a pretty picture:) I have one question. A friend says she always blanches her broccoli & lets it drain, cool, & then she pats it dry. I know your recipe does not state doing that, but just
      wanted to check with you if perhaps you do. If so, what is your procedure? Thank you in advance for addresssing my question. Have a great Friday!!
      December 2, 2016

      Reply
      • Julia

        December 17, 2016 at 7:54 pm

        Trisha, blanching is always a great idea for broccoli! I don't think I did it in this recipe, but in all my recent recipes I do blanch broccoli before adding it. Great suggestion!

        Reply
    10. Candy

      October 06, 2016 at 1:43 am

      Trying this for Thanksgiving looks scrumptious!!!!!! 🙂

      Reply
      • Julia

        February 26, 2018 at 3:55 pm

        I hope you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    11. Vickie Davis

      September 07, 2016 at 8:13 pm

      Add pecans! ADD PECANS!!!

      Reply
      • Julia

        February 26, 2018 at 3:54 pm

        Great idea!

        Reply
    12. Judy

      June 21, 2016 at 3:20 pm

      Darling Julia, I am making this at the cabin for the millionth time for Cline and I and Susan and John (next door in LP). Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Julia

        July 01, 2016 at 10:17 pm

        Judy, thank you so much! I am glad you like this salad. 🙂

        Reply
    13. Nicole

      March 24, 2016 at 8:00 pm

      Is this salad quite sweet with the sugar, mayonnaise and raisins?

      Reply
      • Christina

        June 04, 2016 at 8:38 pm

        It has a sweetness, but it's not overwhelming because the bacon and cheese are salty, and the vinegar is tart--I skip the raisins and double the craisins which I think adds extra tartness and is perfect.

        Reply
      • Venissa

        January 29, 2018 at 9:32 pm

        I cut the sugar in half and use cranberries in place of the raisins.

        Reply
        • Julia

          February 26, 2018 at 3:53 pm

          Yes, you can definitely cut the sugar in half, it's up to your taste buds. And, yes, cranberries work great in place of the raisins.

          Reply
    14. Natalie Muoio

      March 15, 2016 at 12:07 am

      Did you use regular mayo or mircle whip? I would think it would be regular? Thank you for sharing this yummy recipe...

      Reply
      • Julia

        July 01, 2016 at 10:20 pm

        I used regular mayo.

        Reply
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