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Easy Broccoli Salad with bacon, cheese, tomatoes and a creamy homemade dressing is the perfect summer side dish! Make it ahead of time to bring to the barbecue or potluck!
EASY BROCCOLI SALAD WITH BACON – THE PERFECT SUMMER SIDE!

I was born and raised in the Midwest, and ever since I was a kid, every summer barbecue and potluck has included the same classic sides. It just isn’t summer without them on the table:
- An easy macaroni salad (like the deli at my local Jewel grocery store)
- Classic Potato Salad .. or a German Potato salad variation!
- Creamy Coleslaw
- Broccoli Salad with bacon…and cheese!
While I love all the classic summer sides, this Easy Broccoli Salad with crispy bacon is my favorite. It’s the perfect mix of savory and slightly sweet, and it’s always the one everyone goes back to for seconds.
What Makes This The Best Easy Broccoli Salad
This broccoli salad is simply the best and here’s why:
- Ultra easy and quick to prep: from chopping to chilling in under 20 minutes. The flavors meld together perfectly!
- Crunch + flavor: this recipe balances crisp broccoli with cheddar cheese, savory bacon, and summer fresh tomatoes with a slightly sweet dressing making it the perfect crunch and flavor combo!
- Make ahead: make this ahead of time for your next summer barbecue or potluck! It tastes even better after it has had time to chill in the fridge.
- Versatile: I make mine with bacon, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, and onion but you can add any of your favorites: raisins or craisins are a popular choice, as are sunflower seeds.
โค๏ธ Ashley
broccoli salad ingredients
If you are looking for the perfect side dish that checks all of the boxes – easy, fresh, flavorful, and super simple, this broccoli salad is it! Only a few ingredients are needed to make this recipe.
- Fresh broccoli florets – flip the broccoli crown upside down and slice where the florets branch off from the step. This keeps the broccoli florets intact and avoids the mess of those tiny green bits everywhere! I like small little bite sized pieces of broccoli for this recipe.
- Bacon – I like to make my bacon in the oven, but if you are short on time, you can use bacon bits instead. Fresh bacon tastes best, but bacon bits are a great shortcut when you need to keep things simple.
- Cheddar Cheese – cut a hunk of cheddar cheese into cubes, shred it, or buy pre-shredded cheese from the store.
- Red Onion – the trick with the onion in this recipe is to very finely dice it. You do not want the onion to be overpowering.
- Optional add-ins: dried cranberries or craisins, sunflower seeds, chopped nuts
For the creamy homemade dressing you’ll need:
- mayonnaise
- apple cider vinegar
- granulated sugar
- salt and black pepper
how to make broccoli salad
Making this summer salad is as simple as chopping a few fresh ingredients, tossing them together and letting the flavors meld in a creamy, tangy dressing.
- Prepare the ingredients: cut the broccoli into small pieces, chop the tomatoes, cube or shred the cheese, make the bacon and chop it up, finely dice an onion.
- Make the dressing: combine the mayo, vinegar, salt and black pepper in a bowl mix well.
- Combine the dressing with the ingredients, stir to combine, then cover.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours before serving.
make ahead
Broccoli salad is the ultimate make-ahead side dish for barbecues and potlucks because it actually tastes better after a few hours in the fridge. Prepping it ahead of time gives the flavors time to blend together and the dressing helps soften the broccoli just a bit while still keeping the crunch.
If you are planning this ahead of time for a summer side dish for your family or for a potluck, make it up to 24 hours ahead of time. Cover it, and store it in the fridge. Just before serving, give it a stir and it’s ready to go!
Easy Broccoli Salad
Ingredients
- 6 cups broccoli florets about 1 large head of broccoli
- 6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- ยผ cup red onion finely chopped
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese shredded or cut into bite-sized cubes
- 6 ounces cherry tomatoes cut into halves
- ยฝ cup raisins or craisins *optional
- ยผ cup sunflower seeds *optional
DRESSING INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ยพ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the ingredients: chop about 1 head of broccoli into bite-sized florets. You should have around 6 cups of broccoli. Cook and crumble the bacon, finely chop ยผ cup red onion, cube or shred 8 ounces of cheddar cheese, and halve 6 ounces of cherry tomatoes. Add all of these ingredients to a large bowl.
- Make the dressing: in a medium-sized bowl, stir together 1 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper.
- Combine the dressing with the broccoli, bacon, cheese, and onion. Stir well. Add in raisins and sunflower seeds if you wish.
- Chill: cover the broccoli salad and chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours before serving.
Broccoli Salad FAQ
Yes, you can make broccoli salad ahead of time. In fact, it’s best to make it ahead of time! Allow it to chill in the fridge for at least two hours before serving or up to 24 hours ahead of time.
Yes, you can make broccoli salad keto or low carb. Substitute the sugar with your favorite keto friendly sweetener. Omit the cherry tomatoes. Be sure to use full-fat mayo.
Broccoli salad will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Store in an airtight container.
No, fresh broccoli is best for this recipe because it stays crunchy. Frozen broccoli will be soft, watery and mushy once thawed.
More Summer Sides
Are you planning a summer cookout, backyard barbecue or have a neighborhood potluck? Summer sides are all about the fresh flavors and minimal prep. Here are some of our favorite summer side dishes:
- Grilled Corn on the Cob
- Summer Corn Salad
- Creamy Cheddar Pasta Salad
- Coleslaw – try my version without mayo!
- Grilled Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers
Broccoli salad is one of those classic, timeless recipes that is made year after year. It’s easy to make, packed with flavor, and always a hit! If you make this recipe, please let me know what you think. I love to hear from you! Enjoy!