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Crispy Broccoli Salad with Bacon: Best Easy Recipe

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This crispy broccoli salad with bacon and cranberries is a quick and easy side dish that’s perfect for potlucks, meal prep, or a healthy lunch. The finely chopped broccoli is tossed in a creamy, tangy dressing with crispy bacon, sweet-tart cranberries, and crunchy sunflower seeds.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 large heads fresh broccoli (about 1.5 lbs / 680g)
  • 8 slices cooked bacon, chopped
  • ½ cup (60g) dried cranberries
  • ½ small red onion, finely diced
  • ¼ cup (30g) sunflower seeds
  • ½ cup (120g) mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) honey or maple syrup
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon: Place bacon slices in a cold skillet. Cook over medium heat, flipping occasionally, until deeply golden and crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool. Once cool, chop or crumble into small pieces.
  2. Prep the broccoli: Wash and thoroughly dry the broccoli. Cut the florets away from the thick stems. Using a vegetable peeler, peel the tough outer skin from the stems. Finely chop both the florets and the peeled stems into very small, rice-sized pieces.
  3. Soften the onion: Finely dice the red onion. Place the diced onion in a small bowl and cover with cold water. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Drain well and pat dry.
  4. Make the dressing: In a small bowl or mason jar, combine the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, honey (or maple syrup), salt, and a generous crack of black pepper. Whisk or shake until completely smooth and emulsified.
  5. Combine everything: In a large mixing bowl, combine the finely chopped broccoli, chopped bacon, dried cranberries, drained red onion, and sunflower seeds. Pour the dressing over the top.
  6. Toss and chill: Toss everything together until every piece of broccoli is evenly coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

For the best texture, hand-chop the broccoli finely rather than using a food processor. Soaking the red onion in cold water mellows its sharp bite. The salad tastes even better after resting in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. Do not reheat; serve cold or at cool room temperature.

Nutrition

Keywords: broccoli salad, crispy broccoli salad, bacon, cranberries, easy side dish, potluck, meal prep, gluten-free, dairy-free

Find it online: https://chloeplate.com/crispy-broccoli-salad-with-bacon-best-easy-recipe/