Creamy Broccoli Bacon Salad with Almonds

Prep: 15 minutes
Chill: 30–60 minutes
Serves: 6–8

Ingredients

Salad

6 cups fresh broccoli florets, cut into bite-size pieces
6–8 slices bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled
½ cup red onion, finely diced
½ cup sliced almonds
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese, optional
¼ cup raisins or dried cranberries, optional

Creamy Dressing

½ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1–2 tbsp granulated sugar or honey
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
½ tsp garlic powder, optional

Method

Cook the bacon: Fry until crisp, drain on paper towels, cool, and crumble.
Prepare broccoli: Wash and dry thoroughly. Cut into small florets. For softer broccoli, blanch for 1 minute, then immediately place in ice water and drain well.
Prepare vegetables: Finely dice the red onion.
Make dressing: Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream/Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, sugar or honey, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until smooth.
Combine: Add broccoli, bacon, red onion, almonds, and optional cheese/fruit to a large bowl.
Dress: Pour the dressing over everything and gently toss until evenly coated.
Chill: Cover and refrigerate for 30–60 minutes before serving.
Finish: Toss once more before serving. Add a few extra bacon pieces and almonds on top for crunch.

Nut & Allergen Information

Contains: Tree nuts — almonds.
May contain: Milk if using sour cream, cheese, or dairy-based mayonnaise.
Egg: May be present in mayonnaise.
Gluten: Naturally gluten-free if all packaged ingredients are certified gluten-free.
Peanuts: Not traditionally included.
Other tree nuts: Not traditionally included.
Nut-free option: Replace almonds with sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds.

Quick Questions (Q&A)

Q: Can I make it ahead?
Yes. It can be refrigerated for several hours or overnight. For maximum crunch, add the almonds and some bacon shortly before serving.

Q: Can I use frozen broccoli?
Fresh broccoli is best for the crunchy texture. If using frozen, thaw and drain extremely well.

Q: Can I make it without bacon?
Yes. Use extra sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or roasted chickpeas for crunch.

Q: How long does it keep?
Store covered in the refrigerator and ideally eat within 2–3 days.

Q: Is it keto-friendly?
It can be, if you use a low-sugar dressing and skip raisins/dried cranberries and any added sugar.

Q: Is it gluten-free?
The basic ingredients are naturally gluten-free, but check mayonnaise, bacon, cheese, and seasonings for cross-contact or additives if strict gluten avoidance is needed.

Author
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Sara Mitchell

Sara Mitchell is an expert restaurant content creator who writes easy-to-read guides about CAVA and other Mediterranean fast-casual chains in the United States. She covers locations, menus, prices, and hours, making it simple for visitors to find nearby restaurants and what to order quickly.

With years of experience in restaurant research and local SEO, Sara creates accurate, user-friendly guides that work for both people and search engines. Her goal is to help users go from search results to their nearest restaurant or menu choice with as few clicks as possible.