Tired of the same old green salads? Discover a vibrant and flavorful alternative with this irresistible Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Dried Cherries. It’s the ultimate side dish, perfect for any gathering, from casual backyard barbecues to festive holiday meals.
This isn’t just any broccoli salad; it’s a modern twist on the beloved classic. We’ve taken the traditional Broccoli Raisin Salad and elevated it with a symphony of textures and flavors. Imagine crisp, tender broccoli florets mingling with savory crumbled bacon, sweet-tart dried cherries (a delightful swap for raisins!), and a vibrant pop of color from finely diced red bell pepper. The addition of sharp shredded cheddar cheese and a satisfying crunch from toasted nuts and seeds transforms this into an extraordinary side dish that will have everyone asking for the recipe.
Why This Broccoli Salad Will Be Your New Favorite
This recipe for Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Dried Cherries stands out for numerous reasons, making it a staple for anyone looking for a delicious, crowd-pleasing side:
- Highly Adaptable: This isn’t a rigid recipe. It’s incredibly flexible, allowing you to easily customize it to your taste or what you have on hand. Whether you prefer a different type of cheese, another dried fruit, or a specific nut, this salad welcomes your personal touch.
- Irresistibly Crunchy and Creamy: The combination of fresh, crisp broccoli, crunchy nuts and seeds, and savory bacon provides a fantastic textural contrast. This is perfectly complemented by a luscious, sweet, mayonnaise-based dressing that coats every bite.
- A Delightful Flavor Profile: The genius of this salad lies in its balance of sweet and savory. Salty bacon and sharp cheddar cheese beautifully offset the sweetness of the dried cherries and the dressing. Diced red onion adds a subtle bite, while the fresh lemon juice in the dressing brightens the overall flavor.
- Perfect for Any Gathering: A long-standing favorite at summer potlucks, picnics, and pitch-in meals, its robust nature means it holds up wonderfully, even when prepared ahead of time. It’s equally suited for holiday tables as a refreshing counterpoint to richer dishes.
- Nutrient-Packed: Beyond its incredible taste, this salad offers a healthy dose of vitamins, fiber, and protein, making it a more substantial and satisfying side dish than typical leafy greens.
The Stars of Our Salad: Ingredient Deep Dive
Crafting a truly exceptional broccoli salad begins with selecting quality ingredients. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why each component plays a crucial role:
- Fresh Broccoli Florets: The foundation of our salad! Opt for firm, deep green broccoli heads. Cut them into small, bite-sized florets, ensuring a consistent size for even texture in every spoonful. While raw broccoli offers maximum crunch and nutrients, you can blanch it briefly if you prefer a slightly softer texture and a milder, less “raw” flavor.
- Thick-Cut Bacon: The savory backbone of the salad. Thick-cut bacon not only provides a richer flavor but also yields substantial, crispy bits when cooked and chopped. Cook it until perfectly crisp, then drain well to remove excess grease before crumbling.
- Dried Tart Cherries: Our signature swap for traditional raisins. Dried tart cherries, especially Montmorency varieties (often found at specialty grocers), bring a sophisticated sweet-tart tang that elevates the salad. Dried cranberries are another excellent alternative if cherries aren’t available.
- Diced Red Bell Pepper: Adds a beautiful splash of color and a mild, sweet crunch. Its vibrant hue makes the salad even more visually appealing and contributes to the fresh flavor profile.
- Red Onion: For a subtle bite and aromatic depth. Dicing it finely is key. If you find raw red onion too sharp, a quick soak in white vinegar (or champagne vinegar) for 5-10 minutes can significantly mellow its intensity without sacrificing flavor.
- Slivered Almonds & Sunflower Seeds: These provide essential crunch and a delightful nutty flavor. Toasting the slivered almonds lightly in a dry skillet beforehand will bring out their natural oils and enhance their flavor significantly.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Sharp cheddar adds a wonderful savory, tangy element that complements the other flavors. You can shred it yourself for maximum freshness or use pre-shredded. Monterey Jack or a mild white cheddar also work well. Cubed cheese can also be used for a different texture.
- Creamy Mayonnaise: The base of our irresistible dressing. High-quality mayonnaise (like Hellmann’s or Duke’s) makes all the difference in achieving a rich, smooth, and balanced dressing. For an extra wholesome touch, consider making your own homemade mayonnaise.
- Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice: Do not skip this! Fresh lemon juice provides a bright acidity that cuts through the richness of the mayonnaise and bacon, lifting all the flavors. Bottled lemon juice simply doesn’t compare in terms of freshness and vibrancy.
- Granulated Sugar: A touch of sugar balances the tartness of the cherries and lemon juice, creating that signature sweet-savory dressing. Honey or your preferred sugar substitute can also be used.
Expert Tips for Broccoli Salad Perfection
While this broccoli salad recipe is straightforward, a few expert tips can elevate it from delicious to absolutely unforgettable:
- The “Make-Ahead” Advantage: One of the greatest secrets to this salad’s success is planning. While tasty immediately after tossing, it transforms overnight in the refrigerator. The flavors meld, deepen, and the dressing slightly loosens, coating everything beautifully. Unlike many lettuce-based salads that get soggy, this sturdy broccoli salad thrives with a good chill. Aim for at least 2-3 hours of refrigeration, but overnight is truly optimal. Just give it a good toss before serving.
- Customization is Key: This recipe is a fantastic canvas for creativity.
- Nuts & Seeds: Not a fan of almonds or sunflower seeds? Omit them entirely or swap them for pecans, walnuts, pepitas, or even crispy fried onions for a different crunch.
- Dried Fruit: While dried cherries are our star, classic raisins or even dried cranberries (especially tart varieties) are delicious alternatives.
- Cheese Choices: Sharp cheddar is excellent, but feel free to experiment with Monterey Jack, Colby, or even a smoked gouda for an interesting twist. Cubing the cheese can add another textural dimension.
- Sweeteners: Granulated sugar is standard, but honey or maple syrup can offer a different subtle sweetness. For a sugar-free option, use a sugar substitute.
- Onion Mellowing: If you’re sensitive to raw onion, the quick pickling trick (soaking diced red onion in a bit of vinegar for 5-10 minutes, then draining) is a game-changer. Alternatively, thinly sliced scallions offer a milder onion flavor.
- Blanching Broccoli: If you find raw broccoli too firm or its flavor too intense, blanching is a simple solution. Drop the florets into boiling water for just 1-2 minutes until their color brightens, then immediately transfer them to an ice bath to stop the cooking. This softens them slightly and mellows the flavor without making them mushy. Pat them completely dry before adding to the salad.
- Dress it Right: Ensure your dressing is thoroughly whisked until smooth before adding it to the salad. This guarantees an even distribution of flavor.
- Food Safety First: Since this salad contains a mayonnaise-based dressing, it’s crucial not to leave it at room temperature for more than two hours. Always store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator and consume within 3-4 days.
Crafting the Perfect Broccoli Salad: Step-by-Step Guide
Making this delightful broccoli salad is incredibly easy and comes together quickly. Follow these simple steps for a fresh, flavorful side dish:
In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and granulated sugar. Whisk thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Set aside.
Cook the thick-cut bacon until crispy, then drain and chop into small pieces. Wash and chop fresh broccoli florets into bite-sized pieces. Dice the red bell pepper and, if desired, soak the diced red onion in vinegar for a few minutes to mellow its sharpness, then drain well. Gather your dried tart cherries, slivered almonds, sunflower seeds, and shredded cheddar cheese.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all the prepared salad ingredients: chopped bacon, broccoli florets, diced red bell pepper, diced red onion, dried cherries, slivered almonds, sunflower seeds, and shredded cheddar cheese. Pour the prepared dressing over the mixture and toss gently but thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated.
For best flavor, cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 1-2 hours to allow the flavors to meld and deepen. An overnight chill is even better! Before serving, give the salad another good toss. Transfer to a beautiful serving bowl and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions About Broccoli Salad
The ingredients for broccoli salad can vary, but the most common components include raw, bite-sized broccoli florets, crispy bacon, red onion, sunflower seeds, and a creamy, often sweet, mayonnaise-based dressing. This particular recipe enhances the classic by substituting dried tart cherries for raisins and adding shredded cheddar cheese for extra flavor and texture.
The dressing for this broccoli salad is wonderfully simple to prepare. It involves whisking together good quality mayonnaise, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and a touch of sugar. This combination creates a rich, tangy, and subtly sweet dressing that perfectly complements the other ingredients. While some broccoli salads use vinaigrettes, the creamy mayo-based dressing is a hallmark of this popular rendition.
Typically, broccoli salad is made with fresh, raw broccoli florets, which provide a fantastic crunch. However, you certainly have the option to blanch the broccoli first. Blanching involves quickly immersing the florets in boiling water until they turn a brighter green, then immediately plunging them into an ice bath to stop the cooking process. This softens the broccoli slightly and can mellow its raw flavor, making it more palatable for some. This recipe is designed to be delicious with either raw or blanched broccoli, so choose what you prefer!
Absolutely, and it’s highly recommended! Broccoli salad actually tastes best when it has had time to chill in the refrigerator for at least a couple of hours, allowing the dressing to permeate the ingredients and the flavors to fully meld. Making it the day before serving is an excellent strategy, as its sturdy nature prevents it from getting soggy. Just remember to give it a good toss right before you serve it to redistribute the dressing.
As a traditional favorite for summer gatherings, broccoli salad pairs beautifully with classic picnic and barbecue fare. Think juicy burgers, grilled chicken (especially BBQ chicken), pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, and potato salad. Beyond summer, its versatility makes it a fantastic addition to holiday meals, complementing roasts and other festive dishes wonderfully. It’s a crowd-pleaser that fits almost any menu!
Serving Suggestions and Flavorful Pairings
This Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Dried Cherries is incredibly versatile and makes a fantastic addition to nearly any meal. Its vibrant flavors and satisfying textures mean it can hold its own or beautifully complement a variety of main dishes. For a quintessential summer meal, pair it with grilled burgers, hot dogs, or smoky barbecue ribs. It’s also superb alongside baked chicken, crispy fried chicken, or even a simple deli sandwich for lunch. When the holidays roll around, this salad provides a fresh, tangy counterpoint to rich roasts, mashed potatoes, and gravy. Don’t limit it to just lunch or dinner; a smaller portion makes a refreshing and hearty side for a weekend brunch. It truly is the side dish that disappears first!
You May Also Enjoy These Fresh Salad Ideas:
While this broccoli salad is a new favorite, the world of salads offers endless possibilities. For those who enjoy incorporating garden-fresh produce like tomatoes and basil, or seeking other unique side dishes, explore these delicious recipes:
- Summer Italian Spaghetti Salad from Reluctant Entertainer
- Cold Beet Salad Recipe
- Fresh Tomato Basil Pasta Salad
- Hearts of Palm, Artichoke, Avocado, and Butter Lettuce Salad
- Discover more of the Best Salad Recipes
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Recipe: Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Dried Cherries
A classic picnic salad made with broccoli, bacon and dried cherries. Easily adapted to make it your own!
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 6 slices thick bacon, cooked and chopped
- 4 cups of small, bite-sized broccoli florets
- ½ red bell pepper, diced
- 2 tablespoons diced, pickled red onion*
- ½ cup dried tart cherries
- ½ cup slivered almonds
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup mayonnaise (I recommend Hellmann’s)
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons sugar
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the bacon, broccoli, bell pepper, onions, cherries, almonds, seeds, and cheese.
- Whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice and sugar.
- Add to broccoli mixture and toss to combine.
- Refrigerate for an hour or two to let flavors meld. Toss again before serving.
Notes
*Soak the diced onion in champagne vinegar while prepping other salad ingredients, then drain and add to the salad. This will soften the sharp flavor of the raw onions.
This salad tastes best after refrigerating for a few hours up to overnight.
Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 425
Total Fat: 38g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Trans Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 26g
Cholesterol: 48mg
Sodium: 745mg
Carbohydrates: 9g
Fiber: 2g
Sugar: 5g
Protein: 12g
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