Creamy Classic Apple Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheddar
This is a simple, refreshing, and crunchy salad combining fresh broccoli, crisp apples, savory bacon, and sharp cheddar cheese, all coated in a light, creamy dressing. It is an easy potluck side dish recipe.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 5 min
- Total Time: 20 min
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No cook vegetable salad
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large head fresh broccoli, cut into small florets
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup cooked bacon, crumbled
- 1 large crisp apple (like Honeycrisp or Fuji), cored and chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the broccoli: Place the broccoli florets in a medium bowl. If you prefer softer broccoli, you can blanch them briefly in boiling water for 1 minute, then immediately transfer them to an ice bath to stop cooking. Drain well.
- Make the dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, and Dijon mustard until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the prepared broccoli, chopped apple, shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, and red onion.
- Dress the salad: Pour the creamy dressing over the salad ingredients. Toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
- Chill: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to blend.
Notes
- For a crunchier texture, use raw broccoli and ensure the florets are cut small.
- You can substitute plain Greek yogurt for half the mayonnaise for a lightened up broccoli salad version.
- Add 1/4 cup of toasted pecans or sunflower seeds for extra texture in this salad with apples and nuts.
- This salad is excellent made ahead of time for gatherings; prepare it up to 4 hours in advance.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 280
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 18
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 14
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 9
- Cholesterol: 45
Find it online: https://www.purecookingjoy.com/apple-broccoli-salad-recipe/