15-Minute Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

This broccoli cauliflower bacon salad is so crunchy, it’s not even fair. From backyard BBQs to picnics to potlucks, it packs well, is always a crowdpleaser, and is super filling. While the recipe is great as-is, I’ve provided some awesome recipe variations for you to experiment with. No matter how you tweak the ingredients, I know you’re going to just love it!

What is Broccoli Cauliflower Salad? 

Broccoli cauliflower salad is made with bite-size pieces of red onion, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, bacon, and cauliflower. It’s then tossed with sunflower seeds for an extra crunch and finished with a creamy, citrusy mayo-based dressing. Below, find a rundown of the flavor, texture, and cooking time for this recipe. 

• Flavor: The flavor of this salad is a balance between salty bacon, earthy veggies, and tangy dressing. 
• Texture: The texture of this salad can best be summed up in one word: crunch. 
• Time: From prep to table, this salad takes just 15 minutes to put together. 

Making this Broccoli Cauliflower Bacon Salad

Making this broccoli salad recipe only requires a handful of wholesome ingredients and minimal prep. Below, find a rundown of the process to make this easy salad. 

• Chop the Vegetables & Bacon: Chop the broccoli, cauliflower, and bacon into bite-sized pieces. Next, slice the cherry tomatoes in half and dice the red onions. Place all the ingredients into a large bowl alongside the sunflower seeds.  
• Make the Dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients together. 
• Toss the Salad: Finally, toss the dressing into the salad. Enjoy!

Helpful Tips for Making Broccoli Cauliflower Bacon Salad

Here you’ll find a handful of tips to help you make the best broccoli salad.

• Cook the bacon first. Cook the bacon first and allow it to cool completely at room temperature before tossing it in the salad. This allows the bacon to get a nice, chewy texture and helps the grease to dry out. 
• Chop the veggies & bacon into similar sizes. To create the perfect bite each with each forkful, chop the broccoli florets, cauliflower florets, and bacon into equal bite size pieces.
• Adjust the dressing to taste. If you want your dressing more herby, add in more dried parsley. If you like it on the tangier side, add in more lemon juice. Spicy? Pop in a few extra cracks of black pepper.  

Dressing for Broccoli Cauliflower Bacon Salad

The dressing for this salad is very simple. All you need to do is combine the mayo, lemon juice, black pepper, and parsley. For best results, prep it a day ahead of time and let it marinate in the fridge overnight in an airtight container. This will deepen the dressing’s flavor, while also saving you time and dishes during day-of prep.

Different Ingredient Ideas for Broccoli Cauliflower Bacon Salad

There are tons of fun tweaks you can make to this salad with different ingredients. Below, find a couple of additions and swaps to keep you inspired.

• Add in raisins or dried cranberries for a pop of sweetness
• Swap the sunflower seeds for slivered almonds or rough-chopped walnuts 
• Swap out half of the mayonnaise for equal parts sour cream of plain greek yogurt for more tang
• Substitute the lime juice for apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar for the same tang but less citrus
• Whisk a tablespoon of honey into the dressing if you want the salad on the sweeter side (warning: not keto-friendly)
• Use pan-fried pancetta instead of bacon
• Add in some feta cheese   

Ways to Serve Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

Serve the broccoli cauliflower salad as-is for a filling yet light lunch. For dinner, pair it with just about any protein. Grilled ribeye steak, grilled chicken, or air fryer salmon are all great options. If you’re vegetarian, leave the bacon out and serve the salad with some quinoa. 

Top Storage Tips

If you plan to eat the salad within 2-3 days, store it tossed in the dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. However, if you’re making it for meal prep throughout the week, keep the dressing and the salad in separate airtight containers. This will prevent it from turning soggy and will ensure you have fresh-tasting, delicious salads for up to 5-7 days.

FAQ

More Crunchy Salads to Try

• Broccoli Crab Salad Recipe – Broccoli slaw with crab
• Broccoli Cucumber and Tomato Salad – Crunchy broccoli salad with greek yogurt
• Frito Chili Cheese Salad Recipe – Frito, cheddar cheese, and corn salad
• Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese – Salad with beets, pecans, and tangy goat cheese

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Recipe

15-Minute Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

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Servings

8 servings

Prep Time 15 mins

Total Time 15 mins

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

This broccoli cauliflower bacon salad is full of texture, color, and flavor. Each creamy bite will have you craving the next!

Ingredients

• 1 lb broccoli
• 1 lb cauliflower
• 1 cup chopped bacon
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes
• 1 small purple onion
• 1/2 cup roasted sunflower seeds

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad Dressing

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 tbsp dry parsley
• 1 tsp black pepper

US Units – Metric

Instructions

• Chop broccoli, cauliflower, and bacon into similar bite-sized pieces. Next, cut the cherry tomatoes into halves and dice the onions into tiny pieces.
  
• Place all the ingredients into a large bowl.
  
• In a small bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, lemon juice, pepper, and dry parsley together.
  
• Toss the dressing in right before you plan to serve the salad. Enjoy immediately!
  

Nutrition Facts

15-Minute Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

Amount Per Serving

Calories 308 Calories from Fat 243

% Daily Value*

Fat 27g42%

Saturated Fat 6g30%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 11g

Monounsaturated Fat 8g

Cholesterol 25mg8%

Sodium 357mg15%

Potassium 536mg15%

Carbohydrates 11g4%

Fiber 4g16%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 9g18%

Vitamin A 1701IU34%

Vitamin C 52mg63%

Calcium 96mg10%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.