Anytime of year, this recipe for broccoli salad with bacon and cheddar is a potluck winner! Homemade bacon and mayo dressing with a hint of cayenne kick renders this broccoli salad unforgettable! It makes ordinary steamed broccoli everyone’s favorite vegetable!
Back in May, we took my mom out for a Mothers Day lunch. She’s a huge seafood fan and simply cannot get enough crab cakes or fresh lobster. So being the most awesome daughter (sorry Rosie;-) I took mom to Thames Street Oyster House. Not only was it on all the best seafood lists in Baltimore, it is also in a quaint location in Fells Point. The service was on point, the decor classy yet comfortable, and the seafood was terrific!
But being the weirdo that I am, the broccoli salad was the standout for me. I can’t get enough broccoli fritters and think that broccoli cheese casserole should be included on every holiday menu, so of course the broccoli salad was my fave!
The broccoli was partially cooked but still crunchy, there were bits of bacon and cheddar and an ever so slightly spicy dressing. So freaking good that I was determined to recreate the recipe at home.
You would think this an easy task, but no! There was something EXTRA about that broccoli salad! Like extra in flavor, not in the number of ingredients. No cranberries, or nuts, or seeds… the star was the dressing! I was sure that there was mayo in it, but what was the subtle spice?
The red spots in the dressing made me think of Old Bay seasoning… but that didn’t seem quite right. So I went with paprika only to find no kick. Then I switched to cayenne which provided the heat I was looking for. But something was still missing. I had the mayo, vinegar and sugar…
Turns out that bacon fat was the missing element. Those tricky chefs! Waste not, want not. If you fry the bacon, better not waste the tasty bacon fat! Brilliant, right? But there’s one other trick I think Thames Street employed. The onions in the salad were so sweet and subtle.
Have you ever eaten a salad and all you could taste were the pungent onions? Well, chefs will often soak the onion in cold water to pull the sulfur out, thus neutralizing the sharp flavor and allowing the sweetness in the onion to dominate. We tried this method and it definitely makes a huge difference. Most notably, the soaked onions made the salad appetizing as leftovers. When we tried the salad without soaking the onions the leftovers tasted more like onion than anything else!
I think I nailed this copycat broccoli salad recipe! It’s cheesy, bacony and flavorful but the steamed broccoli still shines. And don’t just take my word for it… I took the salad to a family reunion and it was a hit! Family approved, restaurant quality means it’s time for you to make this recipe!
It’s great served with traditional picnic food like chili cheese dogs and grilled lamb kabobs.
Broccoli Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Broccoli Salad
- 2 lbs broccoli
- 1/2 lb bacon
- 8 oz cheddar cheese , grated
- 1 cup red onion , diced finely
Dressing
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt (plus more to taste)
- 1 teaspoon ground cayenne
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons bacon fat (cooled)
- 1/2 cup mayo
Instructions
Broccoli salad
- Fill a large pot 1/4-1/3 full of water and bring to boil.
- Wash and trim broccoli into florets. If using the stem, peel and dice.
- Place broccoli in a steamer basket and cook for 2-4 minutes, or until bright green.
- Rinse broccoli in cold water or submerge in an ice bath to stop the cooking process, then dry on a clean towel.
- Fry bacon until crispy and drain on paper towels, reserving fat for dressing.
- Chop the bacon once it's cooled.
Broccoli salad dressing
- In a bowl, whisk together the sugar, vinegar, cayenne, salt and pepper.
- Once the bacon fat has cooled, add it and the mayo to the drressing ingredients and whisk until the dressing is smooth.
- When ready to serve the salad, toss all the ingredients together and serve immediately.
Notes
- If you like a sweeter onion, vidalia onion is a good substitute for the red onion.
- To take some of the pungency out of the raw onions, dice the onions and soak them in a large bowl of cold water. This will pull the sulfury flavor out. Make sure to drain well before adding them to the salad.
- Maybe it's just me, but I'm not fond of this salad as leftovers. The onion gets stronger in the refrigerator and the broccoli gets soft. If you'd like to prep this salad in advance, I recommend prepping all the ingredients and tossing them immediately before serving.
- Want to step up this recipe an extra notch? Follow this recipe from Foodal to make your mayo from scratch!
Nutrition
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Nicole says
Sometimes you have to kick things up with broccoli. This salad seems like it would do the trick. Thanks for sharing!
Vintage Kitty says
You’re welcome Nicole. Enjoy!
Linda says
I made a potato salad where bacon fat really made it shine. I bet this is delicious! I’ve pinned it to try!
Vintage Kitty says
Bacon fat is the secret sauce!
Anne Murphy says
That sounds like a great summer meal! Wonderfully hearty!
Vintage Kitty says
It can be a meal! It’s hearty for sure!
Ashley says
We go to Maryland every summer for a week but haven’t been to that part of Baltimore. This salad looks incredible – I love a good amount of bacon with my veggies ;)
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Ashley! Fells Point is awesome. Very old (and beautiful) part of the city.
Katie Crenshaw says
Broccoli Salad is one of my go-to dishes in the summer. I have never had it with cheddar cheese. That sounds brilliant. I am excited to try your version!
Vintage Kitty says
Hope you love it Katie!
lauren says
Broccoli is good. Broccoli with bacon and cheddar is DIVINE. Broccoli salad is one of my favorite summertime sides. I love your twist on the ingredients and the dressing (I tend to make the sweeter ones). Can’t wait to give this a try!
Vintage Kitty says
I like variety! Sweet sounds good too!
Sam says
I love broccoli salad but never tried it with the flavours that you have here. Sounds amazing! I will have to give it a try!
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Sam! It seems like there is a lot of variety when it comes to brocoli salad!
Julie says
Oooooh I love a good crunchy broccoli salad. I’ve never put any cheese in mine, though – that sounds like a delicious addition!
Vintage Kitty says
Broccoli + cheese= :-)
Jessica says
This broccoli salad recipe totally brings back memories of potlucks at my grandmas during summer. She’d make the most amazing 7 layer salad. I bet she’d love this one for Labor Day, too!
Vintage Kitty says
Ah grandmas know how to make tummies happy!
Kelsey says
I love a good broccoli salad! I have to try your version at our next gathering!
Vintage Kitty says
Hope you love it!
Michelle says
Wow love how this salad is a meal by itself, you have taken broccoli salad to another level.
Vintage Kitty says
It is quite hearty!
Sara says
This looks like such a tasty salad! I love broccoli and know this would be a big hit with my family with so many great flavors in the mix!
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Sara! I’m sure it will be a hit!
Anne|Craving Something Healthy says
Yes, please! This salad is perfect for a Labor day cookout – and who doesn’t love a little bacon and cheddar?!
Vintage Kitty says
Right? The top two reasons I’m an omnivore!!!!
Dominique says
Oh heck ya! THIS is my kind of salad. Give me all of the cheddar and bacon :) I also really love broccoli so this salad is my ideal type of salad. YUUUM
Jenni LeBaron says
These are basically all of my fella’s favorite ingredients rolled into one dish. Can’t wait to whip this up as a side for BBQ!
Marisa F. Stewart says
OMG! I’d completely forgotten about this salad. It is so good. My daughter worked for a caterer one summer and they would make something similar. I’m going to have to make this for our next gathering. Everyone loved the recipe.
Amy says
This looks so yummy — I love the green freshness of the broccoli paired with the warm creaminess of the cheese and mayo! Would be so perfect for a cookout or potluck!
Shannon says
If there ever was a reason to eat more broccoli, this salad would be it! I could literally eat this salad every single day. So so yummy!
Julia says
I’m so excited that we’re getting back into summer salad season! So perfect for potlucks and BBQs – love all that fresh broccoli!
Kylie says
Would you believe I’ve never made broccoli salad?! This looks like a great recipe for Easter dinner – pinning for later!
Amanda Mason says
This broccoli salad looks like the perfect recipe for a springtime picnic!! I love broccoli salads and this one has some amazing ingredients….BACON! I love everything bacon! Seriously – so delish!!!
Aditi Bahl says
somedays you look for simple recipes which are full on flavors.This is one such recipe for me. A simple sauce but sounds so flavorful.Easy to put together .
Michelle says
This is such a great dish to bring to a potuck. I love broccoli salad but have never added cheddar to it, will definitely try it now.
Natalie says
Since we moved to UK I’m obsessed with cheddar and bacon. This salad looks perfect to join those two in one meal. I will definitely give this delicious looking salad a try.