Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheese is bursting with color and nutrients. Ten cups of broccoli, with handfuls of carrots, red onion, cheddar cheese, Craisins, bacon, and slivered almonds - all mixed together and topped with a delicious and tangy honey dijon dressing. YES please!
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Keyword broccoli salad, honey dijon dressing
Prep Time 25 minutesminutes
Total Time 25 minutesminutes
Servings 8servings
Calories 372kcal
Author Sue Ringsdorf
Ingredients
For the salad:
10cupsbroccoli - from about three large heads, cut into small florets
2cupsmatchstick carrots
1/2cupred onion- sliced thinly
1/2cuplow-sugar Craisins
1/2cupshredded cheddar cheese- freshly shredded is best
6slicesbacon- cooked and crumbled
1/2cupslivered almonds- toasted
For the dressing:
10Tablespoonsolive oil
5Tablespoonsapple cider vinegar
2Tablespoonshoney
1 ½Tablespoonsdijon mustard
1/2teaspoonred pepper flakes
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper - to taste
Instructions
Prep the broccoli by washing and cutting the broccoli heads into little florets. Discard the tough part and use only the tops of the broccoli heads.
Cook the bacon. Toast the almonds. Slice the onion.
Add all the salad ingredients in a large bowl and toss.10 cups broccoli , 2 cups matchstick carrots, 1/2 cup red onion, 1/2 cup low-sugar Craisins, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 6 slices bacon, 1/2 cup slivered almonds
Make the dressing by combining all ingredients in a mason jar - the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, dijon mustard, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Shake well.10 Tablespoons olive oil, 5 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 Tablespoons honey, 1 ½ Tablespoons dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Pour the honey dijon dressing over the broccoli salad an hour or two before serving. Or add to individual salads (if wanting the salad to last all week long).
Notes
I recommend cutting the broccoli into little florets, so the dressing really absorbs well.
Shredded carrots are a great short-cut, or you can slice your own.
Make sure you shred your own sharp cheddar for best results. OR go with a good quality pre=shredded cheese like Tillamook.
Toasting the slivered almonds brings adds extra nuttiness! Don't skip it.
I often cook my bacon in the oven, but you can buy the microwave-ready bacon too.
I recommend adding the dressing to the salad an hour or two in advance of eating for maximum flavor. If you are trying to make it last all week, then add the dressing to individual salads.