With bite-sized broccoli florets, sweet raisins, bits of bacon and a mayonnaise based dressing, this broccoli raisin salad with bacon is fresh, flavorful, sweet, and savory! It's the perfect quick barbecue or holiday side with only 7 ingredients and 10 minutes.
Make it your own by swapping sweetened dried cranberries for raisins for the holidays, use egg-free mayonnaise to fit dietary needs, or trade bacon for sunflower seeds.
This broccoli raisin salad with bacon is most popular in the summer for picnics, potlucks, or barbecues. It's also a popular side dish for Easter or Thanksgiving (using dried cranberries instead of raisins).
For more easy vegetable side dish recipes, check out my Sautéed Garlic Spinach , Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Sautéed Peppers and Onions, Zesty Arugula Quinoa Salad, Dairy-Free Spinach Artichoke Dip, and Greek Tahini Pasta Salad.
For more side and meal pairings, check out my Baked Salmon Cakes, Quinoa Stuffed Peppers (vegetarian), Mashed Potatoes without milk or butter, Dairy-Free Mashed Potatoes, Crispy Roasted Parsley New Potatoes, and Shrimp Salad Sandwiches.
How to make it (with photos)
Whip together this broccoli raisin salad with bacon in just 10 minutes!
Ingredient Notes + Substitutions
This broccoli raisin salad with bacon recipe needs just 7 ingredients.
Broccoli Florets
Use fresh broccoli florets cut into bite-sized pieces. I use 2 large heads for this recipe. When serving for others, I use just the florets. When eating it in my own home, I peel and chop the stalks too. When including the stalk, I use about 1 ½ heads of broccoli.
Raisins
Raisins add a delightful sweetness to this recipe. For Fall and Winter holidays like Thanksgiving, I swap the raisins for sweetened dried cranberries (Craisins).
Bacon
Bacon adds the salt to this sweet and salty dish. Six crispy bacon strips (about ½ cup chopped) is the perfect amount.
For a vegetarian or vegan version, swap the bacon for half a cup of roasted and salted sunflower seeds.
Red Onion
I recommend sticking with red onion or shallots for this recipe. Other onion varieties are less sweet and sharper. If you use white onion or yellow onion as a substitute, use less than the listed amount.
Dressing
The dressing is a combination of mayonnaise, vinegar, and maple syrup. For an alternative salad dressing without mayonnaise, check out my Tahini Dressing with Lemon + Garlic.
- Mayonnaise - vegan mayonnaise works perfectly as a substitution.
- Vinegar - I prefer white wine vinegar for this recipe. Apple cider vinegar is also nice and red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar can be used too.
- Maple Syrup - Agave syrup and honey can be used a substitute.
See the recipe card for a full list of ingredients with quantities.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Learn how to make broccoli raisin salad with bacon in two easy steps.
- Dressing: In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup, combine the mayonnaise, vinegar, and maple syrup. Whisk together until smooth.
- Broccoli Salad: To a large mixing bowl, add the broccoli florets, crumbled bacon, raisins, and chopped red onion. Drizzle with dressing and toss thoroughly to combine.
Expert Tips
Make amazing broccoli raisin salad with bacon on the first try with these expert tips.
Make sure the broccoli is truly bite-sized.
Since there is no cooking in this recipe, the broccoli is crisp and raw. It is most pleasant to eat when the broccoli florets are about the size of a large marble. The ingredients also mix best when the broccoli pieces are on the smaller side.
Use crisp bacon.
Crisp bacon crumbles best and gives the best texture. If using a thicker cut of bacon or it isn't fully crisp, chop into a mince or small dice with a sharp knife.
Assemble just before eating.
If everything is mixed together and left sitting overnight, the ingredients in the dressing can lightly separate or the salad can become a bit soggy.
I recommend assembling everything just before serving. For individual servings and meal prep, you can store the dressing separately and combine when you're ready eat it.
Recipe FAQs
Here I answered some frequently asked questions about this broccoli raisin salad with bacon recipe. Don't see your question? Leave it in the comments at the end of this post and I'll answer within two business days.
Store leftover broccoli raisin salad with bacon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For best texture, assemble just before serving. For individual servings and meal prep, store the dressing separately and combine when you're ready eat.
Typically, broccoli is not cooked before adding to salad or making broccoli salad. The exceptions are warm salads or grain-based salads, or if the recipe calls for it.
Want to try a warm salad? Check out my Salmon Quinoa Salad that uses roasted veggies (you can include broccoli florets if you like!).
Broccoli salad shines with a creamy dressing! Think ranch dressing or coleslaw dressing. Vinegar and oil based dressings like balsamic, poppyseed, or vinaigrettes will work well too, though you will want to drizzle on and toss in increments to get the amount right. The dressing is also more likely to slide off the broccoli mixture so it's best to add when serving.
The dressing in this recipe is mayonnaise based with only 3 ingredients and is the perfect pairing. I also have a Tahini Dressing with Lemon + Garlic that makes a unique variation of this recipe.
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📖 Recipe
Broccoli Raisin Salad with Bacon
Ingredients
- 6 cups broccoli florets cut into bite-sized pieces (2-3 heads)
- 6 strips bacon fully cooked, cooled, and crumbled or chopped
- ⅔ cups raisins or sweetened dried cranberries
- ⅓ cup red onion finely chopped
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
Instructions
- Dressing: In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup, combine the mayonnaise, vinegar, and maple syrup. Whisk together until smooth.
- Broccoli Salad: To a large mixing bowl, add the broccoli florets, crumbled bacon, raisins, and chopped red onion. Drizzle with dressing and toss thoroughly to combine.
Nora says
A delightfully simple broccoli salad! I love that there are no "extra" ingredients. It's simpler than the one I used to make but just as good, maybe better!