Broccoli Salad Recipe with Bacon

5 from 1 vote

This broccoli bacon salad is creamy, crunchy, and loaded with bacon! A healthier version that tastes indulgent.

Prep Time20

Resting Time1

Total Time1 20

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: Servings

Calories: 342kcal

1 pound broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces (from about 2 medium heads of broccoli)
1 Cup dried cranberries (aka craisins)
⅓ Cup roasted and salted sunflower seeds
10 strips crispy cooked bacon, chopped into bite-sized pieces
⅓ Cup finely chopped red onion
1 Cup shredded cheddar cheese

Make the dressing. In a large bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients until smooth and well combined.
¾ Cup plain yogurt, ½ Cup mayonnaise , 2 Tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice, 2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar, ¼ Cup granulated sugar, 1 + ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, ¼ teaspoon dry, ground mustard, ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Combine everything. Add all the salad ingredients to the bowl with the dressing and stir everything together until all of the ingredients are well coated with the creamy dressing.
1 pound broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces, 1 Cup dried cranberries, ⅓ Cup roasted and salted sunflower seeds, 10 strips crispy cooked bacon, chopped into bite-sized pieces, ⅓ Cup finely chopped red onion, 1 Cup shredded cheddar cheese
Chill and serve. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to let the flavors meld together. The salad tastes even better after sitting for a few hours! Give it a stir before serving and enjoy!

Storage: Store any leftover broccoli salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Variation Ideas:

Adjust the mayo to yogurt ratio. If you want a more indulgent version, switch the ratio to use more mayo and less yogurt, or use all mayo for the most traditional version.
Swap the dried fruit. Use dried cherries instead of cranberries for a slightly different sweet and tart flavor.
Add more bacon. Let's be honest, no one will be sad if you slip in another couple strips of bacon.
Amp up the tang with apple cider vinegar. We tested this with apple cider vinegar instead of white wine vinegar and it got REALLY tangy. Not necessarily in a bad way, but more in your face. If you like that apple cider vinegar punch, you can try it, but white wine vinegar is our preferred choice.
Add lemon zest for extra brightness and lemon flavor.