Broccoli Bacon Salad

This content material initially appeared right here. Republished with permission.

That is the finest ever wholesome Broccoli and Bacon Salad recipe! Tiny bite-sized items of broccoli are tossed with bacon, dates, sunflower seeds, purple onion, and creamy home made lemon garlic dressing. Better of all, it’s utterly Whole30 and Paleo appropriate, and might simply be made Keto and low carb.

Why We Love It

The best recipes are normally probably the most spectacular to me, really easy, wholesome, and scrumptious salads are all the time on the menu at my home!

And this broccoli bacon salad is a complete crowd-pleaser. It really works simply as properly for yard bbqs and cookouts (it travels nice!) because it does for weeknight dinners!

The broccoli is minimize into tiny items and tossed with sharp purple onions, candy dates, crispy bacon, and crunchy sunflower seeds, then combined with a creamy home made lemon garlic dressing.

As an added bonus, the steps to creating this recipe are tremendous easy. When you’re finished prepping the components, you simply must toss them collectively and let your loved ones and company dig in!

Better of all, this recipe is Whole30, Paleo, Gluten Free, and will be simply made Keto and Low Carb, too.

🥦 Components

Broccoli Bacon Salad

• Broccoli
• Bacon. I like to make use of sugar-free bacon.
• Dates. This provides a sweetness to the salad that completely balances the salty bacon and savory dressing. You may substitute dried cranberries or apricots when you favor them.
• Sunflower Seeds. Sunflower seeds add crunch and a beautiful nutty taste! I take advantage of roasted and unsalted sunflower seeds so I’ve extra management over the saltiness of the salad.
• Purple Onion. Purple onion provides slightly sharp taste and extra crunch.
  👉 Tip: In case you favor rather less harshness to your onions, pour the salad dressing over the sliced onions and wait an hour, then mix with the remainder of the salad components. The vinegar within the dressing will start to mellow the flavour of the onions over time.

🍋 Lemon Garlic Dressing

• Mayo
• Mustard. I favor to make use of common dijon mustard, however any kind you get pleasure from or have readily available will work.
• Garlic
• Lemon Juice
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Salt & Pepper

Dietary Restrictions / Variations

👉 Whole30: Use Whole30 appropriate mayo and nitrate-free, sugar-free bacon.

👉 Keto / Low Carb: Use sugar-free bacon and omit the dates. You may substitute recent or dried blueberries when you’d like or simply depart them off the salad utterly. Optionally, add 1 cup cubed cheddar cheese.

👉 Vegetarian: Omit the bacon and substitute vegetarian mayo. You may embrace mushroom or coconut bacon, when you’d like, or simply depart it out utterly. Both method shall be completely delish!

👩‍🍳 Step by Step Directions

Step 1: Do the prep work.

Cook dinner the bacon in a big skillet over medium warmth. As soon as the bacon is crispy, set it apart on a paper towel lined plate to chill.

Subsequent, seize your reducing board! Chop the broccoli into bite-sized items, then cube the onion, minimize the dates into quarters, and roughly chop the cooked, cooled bacon.

Step 2: Make the lemon garlic dressing.

Add the mayo, lemon juice, garlic, mustard, and apple cider vinegar to a small bowl. Add a pinch of salt and pepper.

Whisk collectively the salad dressing components till it’s a easy and creamy consistency.

If you wish to skinny out the dressing a bit extra as soon as it’s whisked collectively, stir in 1/2-1 teaspoon of lemon juice at a time.

Step 3: Assemble and serve.

Add the broccoli, bacon, dates, sunflower seeds, and onion to a big bowl.

Drizzle all of the dressing on prime of the salad, then toss all of the components collectively till it’s absolutely and evenly mixed.

FAQ & Suggestions

Easy methods to retailer leftover broccoli salad?

Switch leftovers to an hermetic container and retailer within the fridge for 3-4 days, per USDA.

What predominant dish goes properly with broccoli salad?

Serve broccoli salad with burgers, sizzling canines, bbq hen thighs, hen drumsticks, meatloaf, grilled hen, or salmon.

Do I take advantage of uncooked or cooked broccoli in broccoli salad?

I favor to make use of uncooked broccoli, nevertheless, you may resolve whether or not you want blanched or uncooked broccoli, based mostly in your preferences. Blanching refers to briefly submerging the vegetable in boiling water after which stopping the cooking course of shortly, which permits for only a tiny quantity of cooking and softening of the vegetable.

To Blanche Broccoli:
1. Boil a big pot of salted water.
2. Gently place the items of bite-sized broccoli into the boiling water.
3. Cook dinner for about 1 minute, or simply till shiny inexperienced.
4. Take away the broccoli and switch it to an ice tub (a big bowl of ice and water) till absolutely cool.
5. Drain the water and pat the broccoli dry.

Easy methods to make broccoli salad prematurely?

Broccoli salad is a wonderful make-ahead dish. I like to recommend following the recipe as-written, however preserve the bacon separate on the aspect to maintain it from getting tender and soggy. Retailer the salad coated within the fridge for as much as a day, then add the bacon simply earlier than serving.

What to do with leftover broccoli stems?

Toss diced broccoli stems into this salad for additional crunch and texture, or make broccoli ranch slaw. You too can add them to your stir fry or salads.

Extra Scrumptious Salads

Are you making this recipe?
Please share your expertise by leaving a remark under or tagging me on Instagram @cookathomemom!

Broccoli Bacon Salad

This broccoli bacon salad is a scrumptious, balanced recipe for events and cookouts. It is tossed with a home made lemon garlic dressing and is good and crunchy and hits all of the salty, candy taste factors!

Energy 324 kcal per serving

Components

Broccoli & Bacon Salad

• 5
  cups
  broccoli florets
  about 3 crowns
• 8
  ounces
  bacon,
  cooked, about 8 slices
• ½
  cup
  diced dates,
  or use any mixture of dried cranberries or apricots.⠀
• ½
  cup
  roasted unsalted sunflower seeds⠀
• 1/2
  purple onion

Lemon Garlic Dressing

• 1/2
  cup
  mayo⠀
• 1
  clove
  garlic
  minced
• 1
  teaspoon
  mustard⠀
• 2
  teaspoons
  apple cider vinegar,
  ideally uncooked
• 2
  Tablespoons
  lemon juice
  about 1/2 lemon
• salt and pepper
  to style

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Directions

Do the Prep Work

1. Cook dinner the bacon in a skillet over medium warmth till crispy. Set the items on a paper towel lined plate to chill.

   In the meantime, take away the stems from the broccoli and chop them into chunk sized items.

   Thinly slice the purple onion. Cube the dates. As soon as the bacon is cooled, roughly chop it into chunk sized items.

Make the Dressing

1. Grate or finely mince the garlic, then whisk collectively all of the salad dressing components in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper to style.

   If wanted, add 1/2 – 1 teaspoon extra lemon juice to skinny to desired consistency.

Broccoli & Bacon Salad

1. Add the broccoli, bacon, sunflower seeds, dates, and onion to a bowl.

   Drizzle all of the salad dressing on prime. Toss all of the components collectively till absolutely coated and serve.

Recipe Notes

To retailer leftovers: Cowl the bowl tightly or switch leftovers to an hermetic container. Retailer within the fridge for 3-4 days, per USDA.

To make prematurely: Comply with the recipe as written, however preserve the bacon separate and on the aspect to maintain it from getting tender and soggy. Retailer the ready salad coated within the fridge for as much as a day, then add the bacon simply earlier than serving.

Some folks could favor blanched (frivolously cooked) broccoli over uncooked broccoli on this recipe.

To blanche the broccoli:

1. Boil a big pot of salted water
2. Gently place the items of bite-sized broccoli into the boiling water
3. Cook dinner for about 1 minute, or simply till shiny inexperienced.
4. Take away the broccoli and set in an ice tub till cooled
5. Drain the water and pat the broccoli dry

Diet Details

Broccoli Bacon Salad

Quantity Per Serving

Energy 324
Energy from Fats 225

% Every day Worth*

Fats 25g38%

Saturated Fats 6g38%

Ldl cholesterol 28mg9%

Sodium 417mg18%

Potassium 352mg10%

Carbohydrates 18g6%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 9g10%

Protein 9g18%

Calcium 41mg4%

Vitamin C 55mg67%

Vitamin A 405IU8%

Iron 1mg6%

* % Every day Values are based mostly on a 2000 calorie eating regimen.

Please word that the dietary info could differ relying
on the precise manufacturers of merchandise used. We encourage everybody to verify particular
product labels in calculating the precise dietary info.