Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheese
This creamy Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheese is the perfect side dish for summer. An easy keto broccoli salad recipe that also features sweet apples and crunchy almonds.
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I’ve been using broccoli everywhere these days. I challenged myself to keep our food budget down and discovered that broccoli is dirt cheap, you guys! It’s super healthy, full of fiber and protein along with a bunch of beneficial vitamins. Try this Creamy Broccoli recipe if you are looking for a warmer side dish using this fantastic veggie.
Eating a rainbow means the color green, and this green veggie is a good one! Another plus for this broccoli salad – keto. Boom!
Now, yes this is a classic broccoli salad with bacon, but there are ways to make this healthy!
I use homemade mayo, Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, and turkey bacon, chicken bacon, or even coconut bacon is a healthier substitute for the pork.
INGREDIENTS FOR THIS RECIPE
There are a ton of fun ingredients to make this flavorful salad.
- broccoli
- cheddar cheese – I like to shred my own!
- bacon
- apples – sweet Honeycrisps are my fave 🙂
- onion – red onions work great in salads
- almonds
- and a dressing of mayo, plain yogurt, vinegar, maple syrup, salt, and pepper
HOW TO PREPARE BROCCOLI SALAD
It could not be easier to assemble this simple broccoli salad.
First, cut your broccoli into bite-sized florets and add them to your mixing bowl.
Second, chop half of an apple into little pieces.
I LOVE Honeycrisp apples and happily munch away on the other half while I prep this salad.
Next, stir together the homemade dressing ingredients.
I use a little maple syrup to balance out the acidity from the vinegar.
My personal favorite part of this salad is the CHEESE! If you know me, you know that cheese is my weakness. In this salad, I use sharp cheddar or old cheddar.
I enjoy the pronounced taste.
HOW LONG IS BROCCOLI SALAD GOOD IN THE FRIDGE
- The leftovers of this creamy broccoli salad with cheese will last in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- TIP! Keep it in a sealed container and give it a good stir before serving.
- If you plan on making this salad ahead of time, consider keeping the dressing on the side until about an hour before serving. The salad can be served right away, but we like it best after it has been in the fridge for about an hour.
WHAT DOES BROCCOLI SALAD GO WITH
What do you serve with broccoli salad? Easy!
- Chicken is always a good idea. This Baked Honey Mustard Chicken is a good choice. The sauce with the chicken has that punch of sweet heat and the broccoli salad creamy.
- Anything off the grill! Chili Lime Chicken is always popular when BBQ’d. If you eat red meat, a rich, buttery grilled steak is delicious with this creamy broccoli salad and makes a great keto meal.
- Add this healthy broccoli salad recipe to your charcuterie board in a bowl. It goes really well with cured meats.
DO YOU STEAM BROCCOLI FOR SALAD?
Personally, I don’t steam or blanch my broccoli before having it as a salad. I like to get my roughage from time to time and leave it raw. 😉
But, if you prefer to steam it first, here is how to quickly steam broccoli for salad – toss your broccoli into a pot with about 2 inches of boiling water in it, and cook it for about a minute. Strain it, rinse with cold water, and pat it dry.
Good to go!
I hope you enjoy this salad. I figure you really can’t go wrong with creamy broccoli. 🙂
MORE HEALTHY SALAD RECIPES
- Trail Mix Salad
- Vegan Power Bowl
- Lemon Basil Chicken Salad
- Tomato Cucumber Salad with Feta Cheese
- Cowboy Brown Rice Salad
- Healthy Taco Salad
**This recipe was originally posted on July 31, 2020. Updated on June 21, 2021, and again on March 7, 2023, with recipe notes, writing, and photos.**
If you’ve tried my Broccoli Salad, please rate the recipe and let me know how it turned out by leaving me a comment below. I’m always interested in feedback!
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As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Broccoli Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups bite sized broccoli florets
- 1/2 cup grated old/sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped apple
- 4 slices cooked bacon chopped
- 1/4 cup almond slices
- 1/4 cup diced onion
FOR THE DRESSING
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 2 tbsp Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/8 tsp each of sea salt + fresh pepper
Instructions
- Add all of the salad ingredients to a medium mixing bowl and give it all a good stir.
- In a small bowl combine all of the dressing ingredients and stir well until it is smooth and creamy.
- Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and stir it all well to combine.
- You can serve this salad right away but it is best after an hour in the fridge for the flavors to develop and the broccoli to soften slightly. Store any leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge and stir well before serving again. This will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Notes
- if you prefer to steam it first, here is how to quickly steam broccoli for salad – toss your broccoli into a pot with about 2 inches of boiling water in it, and cook it for about a minute. Strain it, rinse with cold water and pat it dry.
- The leftovers of this creamy broccoli salad with cheese will last in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- TIP! Keep it in a sealed container and give it a good stir before serving.
- If you plan on making this salad ahead of time, consider keeping the dressing on the side until about an hour before serving. The salad can be served right away, but we like it best after it has been in the fridge for about an hour.