Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Dried Cranberries

May 30, 2016
Loaded with the saltiness of crumbled bacon, slight-sweetness of dried cranberries, and crunch of fresh broccoli and sunflower seeds, this Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Dried Cranberries is packed with great flavor.  Perfect for all those cookouts, church socials, picnics, and potlucks!

Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Dried Cranberries ~ This version of broccoli salad is packed with great flavor.  Perfect for all those cookouts, church socials, picnics, and potlucks!   www.thekitchenismyplayground.com


Broccoli Salad.  It's one of those dishes that has about as many different ways to make it as there are people in the world.  Am I right??  It seems every time I run across a bowlful at a potluck or cookout, it's got just some little twist or tweak to it that makes it unique.


Some have creamy dressings ... some do not.  Nuts ... no nuts ... sunflower seeds.  Bacon ... or no bacon.  {Of course, if you ask me, bacon is a must!}  Apples.  Raisins.  Or no fruit at all.  Heck, I even make a Broccoli Pasta Salad with Grapes version that includes a hearty dose of bowtie pasta.

But my favorite version by far?  This Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Dried Cranberries.  No doubt about it.

Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Dried Cranberries ~ This version of broccoli salad is packed with great flavor.  Perfect for all those cookouts, church socials, picnics, and potlucks!   www.thekitchenismyplayground.com

Loaded with the saltiness of crumbled bacon, slight-sweetness of dried cranberries, and crunch of fresh broccoli, chopped celery, and sunflower seeds this broccoli salad version is packed with great flavor.

I based the recipe on my Mom's classic broccoli salad.  I've always loved hers because of the zippy-ness in the dressing from apple cider vinegar.  It brings wonderful flavor to the broccoli.

I simply tweaked her recipe a tiny bit by adjusting some quantities and changing out the originally-called-for golden raisins for dried sweetened cranberries.

When preparing my broccoli salad, the one thing I take extra care to do is cut the broccoli florets into truly bite-sized pieces.  All too often, I feel the broccoli is left in larger way-too-difficult-to-fit-in-your-mouth pieces ... which leaves people struggling to cut their salad or stuffing their mouths with uncomfortably large bites.  I much prefer for my diners' sake, to take the time to create manageable bite-sized florets.

Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Dried Cranberries ~ This version of broccoli salad is packed with great flavor.  Perfect for all those cookouts, church socials, picnics, and potlucks!   www.thekitchenismyplayground.com

So whether you're hosting a summer cookout, contributing a dish for a potluck, or headed to a big church social, this Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Dried Cranberries is sure to be a hit.

But hey, if there's something in this recipe you'd rather tweak or change ... go for it!  That's one of the great beauties of broccoli salad ... it's truly a versatile dish.  


Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Dried Cranberries ~ This version of broccoli salad is packed with great flavor.  Perfect for all those cookouts, church socials, picnics, and potlucks!   www.thekitchenismyplayground.com
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broccoli salad recipe, broccoli salad with cranberries recipe, broccoli salad with bacon recipe
Salads
American
Yield: about 7 cups

Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Dried Cranberries

Loaded with the saltiness of crumbled bacon, slight-sweetness of dried cranberries, and crunch of fresh broccoli and sunflower seeds, this Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Dried Cranberries is packed with great flavor. Perfect for all those cookouts, church socials, picnics, and potlucks!
prep time: 20 Mcook time: total time: 20 M

ingredients:

  • 1 bunch broccoli, cut into small flowerets {about 5 c. flowerets}
  • 1 c. chopped celery
  • 1/2 c. finely chopped red onion
  • 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 1/2 c. dried sweetened cranberries {such as Craisins}
  • 1/2 c. hulled sunflower seeds
  • 3/4 c. mayonnaise
  • 1/4 c. granulated sugar
  • 2 T. apple cider vinegar

instructions:

How to cook Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Dried Cranberries

  1. In a large bowl, combine broccoli, celery, red onion, bacon, dried cranberries, and sunflower seeds.
  2. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sugar, and cider vinegar. Whisk until sugar is dissolved.
  3. Pour mayonnaise mixture over broccoli mixture and toss to coat.
  4. Refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight to allow flavors to meld.
Created using The Recipes Generator



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4 comments

  1. Salads are high among the things I love to eat, Tracey. This salad looks so good. I have pinned it to make for some great summer days!

    ReplyDelete
  2. A delicious salad for the summertime!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is a perfect salad for the summer picnic's! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a great weekend!
    Miz Helen

    ReplyDelete
  4. You had me at broccoli salad, the bacon is a bonus! Great post!

    I would love it if you would consider sharing this on my weekly Link Up:
    http://www.twentysomethinginthe2010s.com/peace-love-linkup-010/
    Hope to see you there! : )

    ReplyDelete

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