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Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Honey Mustard Bacon Dressing

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A crunchy, savory, and slightly sweet broccoli salad featuring crisp bacon and a homemade honey mustard dressing, perfect for summer meals and potlucks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups fresh broccoli florets (about 300g or 10.5 oz)
  • 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (about 60g or 2 oz)
  • 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup sunflower seeds or sliced almonds
  • 6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
  • 3 tablespoons bacon drippings (reserved from cooked bacon)
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup olive oil (60ml or 1/4 cup)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Place 6 slices of thick-cut bacon in a cold skillet. Turn the heat to medium and cook, turning occasionally, until the bacon is crisp and golden brown (about 8-10 minutes). Use tongs to transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
  2. Carefully pour off all but 3 tablespoons of the bacon drippings into a heatproof container and let cool slightly.
  3. Rinse the broccoli florets and spin dry or pat with paper towels. Chop into bite-sized pieces if needed. Place in a large mixing bowl.
  4. Finely dice 1/4 cup red onion and add to the bowl with broccoli.
  5. Shred sharp cheddar cheese (about 1/2 cup) and toss into the bowl.
  6. Stir in 1/2 cup dried cranberries and 1/2 cup sunflower seeds or sliced almonds.
  7. In a small bowl or mason jar, whisk together 3 tablespoons warm bacon drippings, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, and 1/4 cup olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  8. Crumble the cooled bacon and add it to the salad bowl.
  9. Pour the honey mustard bacon dressing over the salad and toss gently but thoroughly to coat everything evenly.
  10. Cover the salad and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and broccoli to soften slightly while staying crunchy.

Notes

Use thick-cut bacon for better fat rendering and crunch. Warm bacon drippings help emulsify the dressing smoothly. Dry broccoli thoroughly to prevent sogginess. Chill salad for at least 30 minutes before serving for best flavor. Adjust dressing quantity to avoid overdressing. Salad can be made ahead and stored refrigerated up to 2 days.

Nutrition

Keywords: broccoli salad, honey mustard dressing, bacon salad, summer salad, crunchy salad, easy salad recipe, picnic salad

Find it online: https://cookluma.com/crunchy-broccoli-salad-with-honey-mustard-bacon-dressing-easy-recipe-for-summer/