The Best Easy and Creamy Broccoli Salad with Bacon

Looking for the best easy creamy broccoli salad recipe? Look no further! Tossed with a sweet and simple homemade dressing and loaded with crispy bacon, raisins, and sunflower seeds, this simple side dish is always a favorite at any potluck or family get-together.

Shop The Post

All the items featured in this post are linked below for easy shopping.

*As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. My blog contains other affiliate links as well for your convenience. To learn more, you may read my Disclosure Policy. Thank you for supporting my blog!

The Best Easy and Creamy Broccoli Salad with Bacon

I’ll admit, broccoli has never been my favorite.

But when you add crispy bacon, sweet raisins, crunchy sunflower seeds, and toss it all in a creamy homemade dressing, it completely changes the game.

This creamy broccoli salad is a long-time family favorite and always a hit at parties. Especially during the spring and summer, when quick and easy side dishes are a must.

I may be biased, but after trying other variations, I’m fully convinced that this is the best broccoli salad recipe around. In our family, it’s a staple for Easter brunch and springtime celebrations.

It’s also the perfect summer side dish for the Fourth of July, casual backyard cookouts with friends, a Father’s Day BBQ, summer picnics, and potluck parties.

Whether you’re hosting a get-together or just need a make-ahead side dish to go with your favorite grilled foods, this easy creamy broccoli salad is one of those recipes you’ll come back to again and again.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Table of Contents

• The Best Easy and Creamy Broccoli Salad with Bacon
• Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Ingredients for Easy and Creamy Broccoli Salad with Bacon
• Equipment Needed
• How to Make Easy and Creamy Broccoli Salad with Bacon
• How to Store Your Leftover Creamy Broccoli Salad
• Frequently Asked Questions
• What to Serve with Your Bacon and Broccoli Salad
• More Summer Salads You’ll Love
• Bring this Easy Side Dish to Your Table
• Printable Recipe Card for the Best Easy and Creamy Broccoli Salad with Bacon
• Did You Enjoy This Recipe? PIN It for Later!

Ingredients for Easy and Creamy Broccoli Salad with Bacon

• Fresh Broccoli Florets: I recommend using fresh broccoli and chopping it into small, bite-sized pieces. This ensures that every floret gets a good coating of the creamy dressing.
• Bacon: For the best flavor, use crispy, crumbled bacon. It adds that perfect salty, savory crunch that makes this salad so addictive.
• Raisins or Dried Cranberries: These provide a little burst of sweetness in every bite. While raisins are the classic choice, dried cranberries (Craisins) work just as well if you prefer a bit of tartness.
• Red Onion: A little bit of chopped sweet red onion adds a mild “bite” and a beautiful pop of purple color to the bowl.
• Miracle Whip: This is the secret to my broccoli salad dressing. It provides a tangier and sweeter base than regular mayonnaise.
• White Vinegar: A splash of vinegar helps to brighten the dressing and cuts through the creaminess for a perfectly balanced flavor.
• Sugar: A small amount of granulated sugar is essential to balance the vinegar and bring out the sweetness of the raisins.
• Sunflower Kernels: Use the salted and shelled variety to save time. I always recommend adding these at the very end to maintain their signature crunch!

Equipment Needed

How to Make Easy and Creamy Broccoli Salad with Bacon

Ready to make this easy, creamy broccoli salad recipe? Here are the easy step-by-step directions. There’s also a full printable recipe card with all the ingredients and instructions at the bottom of the post.

Step 1: Prepare the Vegetables

First, wash and chop your broccoli into small, bite-sized florets. Then, finely dice the red onion and set both aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the broccoli, chopped onion, and raisins and stir everything together until well-mixed.

Step 2: Cook and Crumble the Bacon

Next, cook the bacon according to the directions on the package until it’s nice and crisp.

Once it has cooled slightly, crumble into small pieces. Then sprinkle the bacon over the broccoli mixture and set your bowl aside.

Step 3: Whisk the Dressing

In a separate small bowl, whisk together the Miracle Whip, white vinegar, and sugar.

Mix until the creamy broccoli salad dressing is smooth and the sugar is well-incorporated.

Step 4: Combine and Chill

Pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture and gently toss until everything is evenly coated. For the best flavor, cover the bowl and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours. This gives the dressing and the salad time to flavor.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy!

Just before serving, sprinkle the sunflower kernels on top for an added crunch. Then serve and enjoy!

Note: The sunflower seeds are optional, but highly recommended. They add a bit of saltiness and the perfect crunch to balance the sweetness of the dressing.

How to Store Your Leftover Creamy Broccoli Salad

Leftovers? No problem!

Just place your salad in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge. It will stay fresh for up to two days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I make this broccoli salad ahead of time?

A: Yes! This broccoli salad is the perfect make-ahead side dish. In fact, it’s even better when it’s had a little time to chill. I recommend making it at least two hours before serving. You can even prep it the night before; just be sure to wait and sprinkle the sunflower seeds ontop right before serving.

Q: Can I use mayonnaise instead of Miracle Whip?

A: Absolutely! You can swap Miracle Whip for mayonnaise at a 1:1 ratio. Since Miracle Whip is a bit sweeter, just add an extra pinch of sugar to your dressing to maintain that classic, tangy-sweet flavor

What to Serve with Your Bacon and Broccoli Salad

If you’re planning a spring brunch, backyard BBQ, picnic, or a summer dinner on the patio, this creamy broccoli salad is the perfect side dish to add to your menu.

Here are a few other ideas for what to serve with it to round out your meal.

More Summer Salads You’ll Love

If you love this easy creamy broccoli salad recipe, you’ll love these other summer salads.

Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

Cucumber Pasta Salad

Bowtie Chicken Caesar Salad

Bring this Easy Side Dish to Your Table

Whether you’re hosting a spring party, backyard cookout, packing a picnic, or just looking for a delicious side to go with dinner, this simple creamy broccoli salad is a tried-and-true favorite.

It’s easy to make, full of flavor, and always gets rave reviews from kids and adults alike!

Prep it a few hours ahead, toss everything together, and you’re good to go.

I hope it becomes a staple at your spring and summer gatherings just like it is at ours.

Enjoy!

Printable Recipe Card for the Best Easy and Creamy Broccoli Salad with Bacon

5

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

The Best Easy and Creamy Broccoli Salad with Bacon

Tossed with a sweet dressing and loaded with crispy bacon, raisins, and sunflower seeds, this easy creamy broccoli salad is the best! It's the perfect make-ahead side dish for family gatherings, potluck parties, and summer BBQs.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time0 minutes mins

Chill Time2 hours hrs

Total Time2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Broccoli Salad with Bacon, Creamy Broccoli Salad, Easy Side Dish, Potluck Salad, Summer BBQ Side

Servings: 4

Equipment

• Glass mixing bowl
• Rubber Spatula
• Cutting Board
• Paring Knife
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons

Ingredients

• 4 cups fresh broccoli florets (1 medium bunch)
• 3 ounces raisins or dried cranberries
• ¼ cup sweet red onion, chopped
• 1 cup Miracle Whip
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
• sunflower kernels (salted and shelled), to taste

Instructions

• Wash and chop broccoli into bite-size florets.
• Chop the onion and combine in a large bowl with the broccoli and raisins.
• Cook the bacon according to the directions on the package until crispy. Let it cool and then crumble into pieces. Sprinkle over the broccoli mixture and set aside.
• In a small bowl, combine the Miracle Whip, vinegar, and sugar. Pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture and toss to coat.
• Let the salad chill and flavor for at least two hours. Sprinkle with the sunflower seeds right before serving and enjoy!

Notes

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Cooking for a crowd? This recipe is easy to double! 

If you aren’t a fan of Miracle Whip, you can swap it 1:1 with mayonnaise. Since Miracle Whip is a bit sweeter, I recommend adding an extra pinch of sugar to the dressing to maintain that classic tangy-sweet flavor.

This salad is best when made at least 2 hours in advance to let the flavors meld. You can even prep it the night before! For the best texture, wait to stir in the sunflower seeds until right before serving so they stay perfectly crunchy.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Note: The broccoli may release some moisture as it sits, so give it a quick stir before serving leftovers.

Nutrition

Serving: 4g | Calories: 181kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 584mg | Potassium: 509mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 611IU | Vitamin C: 83mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 1mg

Did You Enjoy This Recipe? PIN It for Later!