Broccoli Bacon Salad (Low Carb, Whole30 & Paleo)

This is the best ever healthy broccoli bacon salad recipe! Tiny bite-sized pieces of broccoli are tossed with bacon, dates, sunflower seeds, red onion, and creamy homemade lemon garlic dressing. Best of all, it’s completely Whole30 and Paleo compatible, and can also be made Keto and low carb.

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All the salad ingredients in a large glass bowl with the salad dressing being poured on.

This recipe was originally shared in 2018 and was republished 5/2022 with more pictures and video.

Table of Contents

Broccoli Bacon Salad Recipe

The simplest recipes are usually the most impressive to me, so easy, healthy, and delicious salads are always on the menu at my house! This cold broccoli salad with crispy bacon is just amazing and it’s very dietary friendly too.

It’s a total crowd-pleaser of a dish. Broccoli bacon salad works just as well for summer barbecues and cookouts as it does for weeknight dinners! So if you’re looking for creative ways to get more vegetables into your diet then check out this recipe.

The broccoli is cut into tiny pieces and tossed with sharp red onions, sweet dates, crispy bacon and crunchy sunflower seeds, then mixed with a creamy homemade lemon garlic dressing. Every bite is loaded with the most incredible flavor, so you’ll never miss out on the lemony goodness!

As an added bonus, the steps to making this recipe are super simple. Once you’re done prepping the ingredients, you just need to toss them together and let your family and guests dig in! Then pair with dishes like bruschetta chicken and enjoy your dinner.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

Summer salads have a special place in my heart! This is the perfect option if you need something easy and flavorful:

This fresh and tasty salad only takes about 20 minutes to make. There’s not a whole lot of prep time added on to your plans and then you’ve got the perfect side dish after a few quick steps.
Broccoli has tons of different health benefits and is loaded with vitamins and minerals. Dates are also full of health and nutritional benefits! Who knew veggies could be so tasty.
Easily adjust these broccoli salad ingredients to fit your dietary needs. It’s really easy to make substitutions and edits to fit this to your needs and preferences!

Ingredients

These fresh ingredients combine together to make the best broccoli salad recipe ever. Here’s everything you’ll need for classic bacon broccoli salad:

Broccoli Bacon Salad Ingredients

broccoli
bacon
dates
sunflower seeds
red onion

Lemon Garlic Dressing Ingredients

mayo
mustard
minced garlic
lemon juice
apple cider vinegar
salt & black pepper

Substitutions and Variations

Use Whole30 compatible mayo if you want to keep this Whole30 approved! Make sure to use nitrate-free, sugar-free bacon. Otherwise, any other kind of mayo and bacon will work.

Dates add a sweetness to the salad that perfectly balances the salty bacon and savory dressing. You can substitute dried cranberries or apricots if you prefer them.

Sunflower seeds add crunch and a lovely nutty flavor! I use roasted and unsalted sunflower seeds so I have more control over the saltiness of the salad. But you can use whatever you want in this easy side dish.

I tend to use regular dijon mustard in this recipe, but any type you enjoy or have on hand will work.

Turn this classic broccoli salad recipe into a vegetarian dish! Just omit the bacon and substitute vegetarian mayo. You can also include mushroom or coconut bacon, if you’d like, or just leave it out completely. Either way will be totally delish!

For a keto/low carb option, use sugar-free bacon and omit the dates. You can also substitute fresh or dried blueberries if you’d like or just leave them off the salad completely. Optionally, add 1 cup cubed cheddar cheese.

A wooden cutting board with diced broccoli, dates, bacon, and red onion.

How to Make Broccoli Bacon Salad

If you’re ready to make this easy salad, then follow this quick step by step guide and get summer barbecue ready:

Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the bacon is crispy, set it aside on a paper towel lined plate to cool.

Next, grab your cutting board! Chop the broccoli into bite-sized pieces, then dice the onion, cut the dates into quarters, and roughly chop the cooked, cooled bacon.

Two hands whisking the lemon garlic salad dressing together in a small bowl.

Add the mayo, lemon juice, garlic, mustard, and apple cider vinegar to a small bowl. Then add a pinch of salt and pepper.

Whisk together the salad dressing ingredients until it’s a smooth and creamy consistency.

If you want to thin out the dressing a bit more once it’s whisked together, stir in 1/2-1 teaspoon of lemon juice at a time.

Broccoli Bacon Salad - Finished Dish. A large glass bowl sits on a white marble board. The bowl is filled with bite sized pieces of broccoli, chopped bacon, sliced red onion, sunflower seeds, and diced dates. A large wooden spoon is ready to stir the whole thing up!

Add the broccoli, savory bacon, dates, sunflower seeds, and onion to a large bowl.

Drizzle all the broccoli salad dressing on top of the salad, then toss all the ingredients together until it’s fully and evenly combined.

Broccoli Bacon Salad - Finished Dish. A large bowl sits on a white marble board. The bowl is filled with bite sized pieces of broccoli, chopped bacon, sliced red onion, sunflower seeds, and diced dates. A wooden spoon is in the mixture, mixing it up into creamy, crunchy salad goodness!

How to Store Leftover Broccoli Bacon Salad

Transfer leftover broccoli salad to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. I do not recommend freezing any leftovers. Before serving, shake up the salad to redistribute the creamy homemade dressing into the broccoli mixture.

What to Serve with Broccoli Bacon Salad

Serve broccoli salad with burgers, hot dogs, bbq chicken thighs, chicken drumsticks, meatloaf, grilled chicken, or salmon.

I love pairing it with Greek yogurt marinated chicken and BBQ chicken thighs too! It’s truly the perfect summer side dish with all of your grilling favorites.

Tips for Success

This truly is the easiest salad, but follow these simple tips to ensure the best results:

If you prefer a little less harsh flavor to your onions, pour the tangy dressing over the sliced onions and wait an hour. Then combine with the rest of the salad ingredients. The vinegar in the dressing will begin to mellow the flavor of the onions over time.
Make sure you wash the broccoli for this delicious broccoli salad before combining all the ingredients together. This will ensure there’s no funky flavors left behind!
Planning to make this dish ahead of time? I recommend following the recipe as-written, but keep the bacon separate on the side to keep it from getting soft and soggy. Then store the salad covered in the refrigerator for up to a day, and add the smoky bacon just before serving.

FAQ

Do I use raw or cooked broccoli in broccoli salad?

I prefer to use raw broccoli, however, you can decide whether you like blanched or raw broccoli, based on your preferences. Blanching refers to briefly submerging the vegetable in boiling water and then stopping the cooking process quickly, which allows for just a tiny amount of cooking and softening of the vegetable.

To Blanche Broccoli:
1. Boil a large pot of salted water.
2. Gently place the pieces of bite-sized broccoli into the boiling water.
3. Cook for about 1 minute, or just until bright green.
4. Then remove the broccoli and transfer it to an ice bath (a large bowl of ice and water) until fully cool.
5. Drain the water and pat the broccoli dry.

What to do with leftover broccoli stems?

Toss diced broccoli stems from the fresh broccoli florets into this salad for extra crunch and texture, or you can also make broccoli ranch slaw. You can also add them to your stir fry or salads.

More Delicious Salads

Are you making this recipe?
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Broccoli Bacon Salad