This simple Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cranberries makes the perfect side dish or main meal and best of all it can be ready to enjoy in just 15 minutes! With a light and creamy homemade dressing that takes just a few minutes to prepare, you can also enjoy this salad as a delicious midweek meal!
Why you will love this recipe:
- Quick to prepare – you can be enjoying this Broccoli Salad in just 15 minutes!
- Simple ingredients – you will not need any fancy ingredients to make this recipe.
- Easy to adapt – need to make this salad nut free? Simply omit the pine nuts. You can also omit the bacon for a vegetarian salad.
- Prepare in advance – this salad can be prepared up to two days in advance, simply add the dressing just before ready to serve.
Broccoli Salad Ingredients:
Please note you will find the full recipe ingredients and instructions in the recipe card below.
- Broccoli – I find fresh Broccoli is best for this recipe. You will need 2 heads of Broccoli for this recipe.
- Bacon – I prefer to use shortcut bacon for this recipe. You can also omit the bacon for a vegetarian dish.
- Flaked Almonds – these can be substituted with pine nuts or sunflower seeds if you wish.
How to Make Broccoli Salad
- Finely chop the broccoli and place into a large bowl. Cover with boiling water for 1 -2 minutes to lightly cook the broccoli pieces before draining.
- Cook the bacon pieces and flaked almonds until just golden.
- Combine the dressing ingredients.
- Transfer the salad ingredients to a large serving bowl and add the dressing. Gently mix to combine and serve.
Tips for Making Broccoli Salad
- You can use raw Broccoli if you would prefer, it will soften if left in the dressing for an hour or so. Our preference is to slightly cook it in boiling water for a minute.
- To make this salad nut free, simply omit the flaked almonds.
- Alternatively, to make this salad vegetarian, omit the bacon.
- You can also add other add ins to this salad, homemade garlic croutons or sun dried tomatoes are also delicious.
- The salad can be prepared up to two days in advance, add the dressing half an hour before ready to serve.
- Keep any leftovers in the fridge and enjoy within 2 – 3 days.
More Easy Salad Recipes:
- The BEST Potato Salad Recipe | Easy Six Ingredients
- Chicken Caesar Salad
- The BEST Creamy Pasta Salad
- Crunchy Noodle Salad with Toasted Almonds
- Prawn Cocktail Salad | Homemade Cocktail Sauce Recipe Included
- Light Pasta Salad Recipe
- Mexican Chicken Salad
Broccoli Salad
This easy Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cranberries takes no time to prepare and is the perfect side dish or meal on its own. With a light and creamy dressing, this salad will become your new favourite recipe.
Equipment
- Serving Bowl
Ingredients
- 500 grams broccoli chopped into small florets
- 8 slices shortcut bacon
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 1 red onion finely chopped
- ⅓ cup flaked almonds
- ½ cup dried cranberries craisins
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbs wholegrain mustard
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Chop the broccoli into small florets and place into a bowl.
- Pour boiling water over the broccoli and leave for 1 minute.
- Drain the broccoli thoroughly so that there is no excess moisture.
- Chop the shortcut bacon into small pieces and fry in a pan over medium heat with the olive oil.
- When the bacon is crispy remove it and add the flaked almonds to the pan.
- Cook for one minute or until the pine nuts have just started to turn golden.
- Finely chop the red onion and set aside.
- Place the broccoli, bacon, flaked almonds seeds, dried cranberries and red onion into a large serving bowl.
- Mix the mayonnaise, wholegrain mustard, honey and lemon juice in a bowl.
- When ready to serve, pour the dressing over the salad and mix well to combine.
Notes
- You can use raw Broccoli if you would prefer, it will soften if left in the dressing for an hour or so. Our preference is to slightly cook it in boiling water for a minute.
- To make this salad nut free, simply omit the flaked almonds.
- Alternatively, to make this salad vegetarian, omit the bacon.
- You can also add other add ins to this salad, homemade garlic croutons or sun dried tomatoes are also delicious.
- The salad can be prepared up to two days in advance, add the dressing half an hour before ready to serve.
- Keep any leftovers in the fridge and enjoy within 2 – 3 days.
Nutrition
Serving: 0gCalories: 539kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 8gFat: 45gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 20gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 512mgPotassium: 366mgFiber: 4gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 455IUVitamin C: 62mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe? Please leave a rating and tag me on Instagram! Mention @createbakemake or tag #createbakemake!
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Grace
I love how you’ve grabbed a kinda naughty ingredient like bacon and showered it with nutritional goodness! Will have to try this one this one out! x
Bec @ The Plumbette
Yum, This salad is definitely on my list of salads to make next year as I try to lose my baby weight. I rarely buy bacon, but I will definitely need to for this recipe.
Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me
I’m so slack I haven’t written any Xmas cards yet, I’m thinking I should thought as I bought some lovely Rafiki ones – right you have just inspired me! xx
laurenm83
I hope you got them all out x
Sammie @ The Annoyed Thyroid
I am all over the shops, but unfortunately, not all over the shops which is where the problem lies! I’m trying to adopt the “less is more” approach this Christmas but I’m definitely going to give some of these a whirl!
laurenm83
I’m all for less is more when it comes to gifts – food on the other hand….
I hope yourself and David are both ok after the events of this week, you have both been in my thoughts xx
Tania @My Kitchen stories
Lucy’s salad looks like the perfect thing for this time of the year. How lovely that you have shared my Pizza dip. It will be a hit on NYears eve.
laurenm83
I can’t wait to make it Tania 🙂
Kim @Landofzonkt
I agree, I feel on top of it all one minute & then the next I can’t remember why I entered a room or what I was doing… Very frustrating but I do love this time of year.
Thanks for featuring my Malay noodle salad… Lots fresh flavours in there, as you said balance out all that sweet… Lol xx
laurenm83
At least the end is in sight now Kim. Thanks for linking up with us and for all of your support this year x
Malinda @mybrownpaperpackages
How did I miss cookie pie?!!! ohmergerd!
laurenm83
I know! Isn’t it amazing!?!
Leanne - Lime & Mortar
Thanks for sharing. I’m glad your family loved the satay chicken xx
laurenm83
They sure did! Thanks for linking up with us. I hope you are having a great week.