Broccoli, bacon and cheese salad is one of the few salads I'd occasionally pick up at the deli, but it's amazing how much better it tastes when you make it at home with really fresh ingredients. I served some of this up for my extended family at Easter, and my brother said it was so good he wanted to eat the whole batch.
With simple dish like broccoli salad, ingredient quality is key. Make sure your broccoli is fresh and crisp. We like our bacon responsibly raised and naturally cured. If you have “crispy style” soaked and dehydrated sunflower seeds (like these walnuts), they enhance the flavor. Homemade mayo works great if you have it available.
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Broccoli, Bacon and Cheese Salad Recipe
This homemade broccoli, bacon and cheese salad recipe with sunflower seeds tastes so much better than the deli. It's a quick and easy summertime recipe.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 9 servings 1x
- Category: salad
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 3–4 cups broccoli florets
- 2 ounces (1/2 cup) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red or sweet onion
- 8 slices bacon, cooked & crumbled
- 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sugar or honey
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
Instructions
In a large bowl, combine broccoli, cheese, onion, bacon and sunflower seeds. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sugar (or honey), lemon juice and vinegar.
Pour dressing over salad ingredients. Toss to coat. Chill before serving.
Makes 9 (1/2 cup) servings.
Notes
If you like things a little sweeter, throw in some dried cranberries or cherries and use less lemon.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
Keywords: broccoli, bacon, cheese
More Made from Scratch Recipes
Our Common Sense Home Recipe and Kitchen Tips page lists over 100 recipes from appetizers to desserts, including:
- Homemade Broccoli Soup
- Zucchini Gummy Candies sweetened with fruit juice
- Honey-Sweetened Lemonade with Honey-Lemon Ice Cubes
Originally posted in 2012, last updated in 2019.
Heidi @Adventures of a Thrifty Mom says
I love, love, love broccoli salad. It’s one of my addictions! I switch it up. Sometimes I make it with cheese and bacon and other times I make it with raisins and sunflower seeds.
Jen says
One of my favorite salads. So yummy.
Designer Rob Russo says
This is one of the BEST salads ever. It would even make George H. W. Bush reconsider.
My mother-in-law makes it and I think she won me over with it. I’m going to match this up with her recipe and compare! Thanks for sharing with the world.
More people will embrace broccoli with this salad. I’m sure of it! 🙂
Ashleigh Langhein says
Wow, this absolutely delicious. I’m definitely putting it on my menu plan for the coming week!
Vicki says
Do you use the broccoli raw or steamed?
CommonSenseIdea says
I use it raw for this recipe.
Alex @ Modern homestead says
Thats quite a nice recipe, i dont lie broccoli , because i prefer fresh cabbage much more, but still great salad.
★★★★★