Is everybody ready for Labor Day on Monday? It is forecasted to be 109 degrees, so I’m planning to eat copious amounts of this Broccoli Salad while sitting in my cool, air conditioned house. Here I am, on my maiden voyage with the blasted thing, trying not to cry about the fact that this is my life now. Eric thought I was being so ridiculous that he took a picture. The toothbrush I bought came as a set of two, so Eric got the other one. You know, just one of those lovely gifts you get your spouse with a not-so-subtle message. “Clean your teeth, you filthy animal.” “What cycle?” “There’s a cycle. It beeps at you so that you can switch to the next quadrant of your mouth. Then it automatically turns off when you’re done.” He shrugs. “Meh. I don’t need a toothbrush telling me what to do.” Maybe I need to be a little more zen about the toothbrush situation. (Also, I suppose this is the response I should expect after buying him the thing in the first place. Passive aggressive, much?) This would be so fun to bring to a Labor Day BBQ on Monday, if you’re going to one! If not, then make this salad and eat it as a side dish with your lunches all week. The perfect healthy side dish for any meal! Except don’t actually fry it, that’s messy. Put it on a pan and bake your bacon in the oven. So much easier! No lava splatters! While your bacon is cooking, chop up your broccoli. Now, I know you’ve chopped some broccoli in your lifetime, and you might be thinking I’m a total weirdo for including not one, not two, but SIX process shots (count em up) for how to cut broccoli. But stay with me here: just like in my Macaroni Salad, I’m a firm believer that half the success of these types of salads comes from the size of the veggie chop. I like small florets of broccoli, so that I don’t ever have to take a bite of just big ol broccoli. I want a bite of broccoli AND bacon AND dried cranberries. Small florets are the way to go. And don’t leave those stems behind! They are tasty…when they are chopped small. Nobody wants to gnaw on a big ol stem in the middle of their salad experience. Be kind to your guests. Small chop ftw. Now that we’ve got all the chopping out of the way, mix up your dressing. It couldn’t be easier. I start with Miracle Whip. Miracle Whip?? Yep. I’ve never been a believer before this, guys. But recently Eric made us a special snack from his childhood: I asked my Instagram followers if they had heard of it. It’s canned pear, topped with miracle whip and cheese, on a bed of lettuce. (SO. WEIRD. Have you had it before?) Anyway. We had the Miracle Whip on hand and I decided to try it out in the broccoli bacon salad. I thought the only difference between Miracle Whip and mayo is that Miracle Whip had a lot more sugar. But it actually only has a little bit more sugar, and lots more spices. I’m A-ok with spices, so I decided to try it out. Delicious! I think I’m a convert. (A Miracle convert. NOT a Pear Cheese Salad convert.) If you are not a believer, you can totally use mayo in place of Miracle Whip. I tried it both ways! Anyway, back to the dressing for the broccoli bacon salad. Miracle OR mayo, with lemon, vinegar, sugar, and a little dry mustard and cayenne pepper. Put it all together… …and voila. The easiest, tastiest broccoli salad situation of your life!
What to serve with this Broccoli Bacon Salad Recipe
Broccoli salad with bacon is the perfect addition to your next BBQ or potluck, but it also makes an excellent side dish to along with dinner. If you want another cheese option, I’d go with something that’s creamy and has a standout flavor. Feta would be delicious, so would Gruyere. I think a mild cheese like mozzarella would just get lost in the shuffle. Oh, and if you’re not into sunflower seeds, you would definitely do nuts instead. I’d do chopped walnuts or pecans (toasted of course). Or use pumpkin seeds, aka pepitas! YUM. A few of my favorites are BBQ smoked pulled pork, saucy pork chops, grilled flank steak, and lemon tarragon grilled chicken. For a dessert, try some of my summer favorites! Strawberry Rhubarb Pie, Homemade Peach Cobbler, or any other recipe from my Pies, Pastries, & Tarts page.
Storing Broccoli Salad with Bacon
Broccoli bacon salad is best after the flavors have had a chance to mingle, so it’s excellent stored in the fridge. Leftovers will last in an airtight container in the fridge for about 5 days. Keeping the bacon separate and stirring it in right before serving means it won’t get soggy in the fridge. It can’t be frozen, because the textures of the broccoli and mayo won’t hold up when thawed. Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram
