Creamy Broccoli Salad with Bacon, Red Onion, Raisins, and Almonds Recipe
This Broccoli Salad is a classic, crunchy, and flavorful side dish featuring fresh broccoli, crispy bacon, sweet raisins, and toasted almonds tossed in a creamy, tangy dressing. Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or as a refreshing complement to any meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- ½ pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 2 heads fresh broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 small red onion, sliced into bite-sized pieces
- ¾ cup raisins
- ¾ cup sliced almonds, toasted
Dressing Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup white sugar
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
Instructions
- Prepare the bacon: Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove from skillet and drain on paper towels. Once cooled, crumble the bacon into small pieces.
- Toast the almonds: In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast the sliced almonds for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant, stirring frequently to prevent burning. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Prepare the vegetables: Cut the broccoli into bite-sized florets and slice the red onion into small pieces, then combine them in a large mixing bowl.
- Make the dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, white sugar, and white wine vinegar until smooth and well combined.
- Combine the salad: Add the raisins, toasted almonds, and crumbled bacon to the broccoli and onion mixture. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the broccoli to soften slightly.
- Serve: Give the salad a final toss before serving chilled as a delicious side dish.
Notes
- For extra crunch, add sunflower seeds or chopped walnuts.
- You can substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for a lighter dressing.
- Make sure to soak raisins in warm water for 10 minutes if you prefer them plumper.
- Keep salad refrigerated and consume within 2 days for best freshness.
Keywords: broccoli salad, bacon salad, creamy salad, summer salad, potluck recipe, picnic side dish