Print

Crunchy Broccoli Grape Bacon Salad with Creamy Dressing

crunchy broccoli grape bacon salad - featured image
Print Recipe

A crunchy and flavorful salad combining fresh broccoli, sweet grapes, smoky bacon, and a velvety creamy dressing made with cottage cheese and mayonnaise. Perfect for quick meals, potlucks, or anytime you want a fresh, satisfying side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups broccoli florets, chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 ½ cups red grapes, halved (seedless)
  • 6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
  • ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
  • ½ cup sunflower seeds, toasted (optional)
  • ¾ cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup plain cottage cheese, blended smooth
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon: Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add 6 slices of bacon and cook, turning occasionally, until crisp (about 8-10 minutes). Transfer to paper towels to drain, then chop into bite-sized pieces. Save a bit of the bacon drippings to toss into the salad for extra smoky flavor if desired.
  2. Prep the broccoli: Wash and thoroughly dry 4 cups of broccoli florets. Chop into small, uniform pieces.
  3. Slice the grapes: Halve 1 ½ cups of seedless red grapes.
  4. Dice the red onion: Finely chop ¼ cup of red onion.
  5. Toast the sunflower seeds: In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast ½ cup of sunflower seeds for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently until golden and fragrant. Let cool.
  6. Make the dressing: In a blender or food processor, combine ¾ cup mayonnaise, ½ cup cottage cheese, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons honey, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy, about 30 seconds. Adjust seasoning as needed. For thinner dressing, add 1-2 teaspoons of water or milk.
  7. Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine broccoli, grapes, bacon pieces, red onion, and toasted sunflower seeds. Pour the creamy dressing over and toss gently to coat evenly.
  8. Chill before serving: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld and soften broccoli slightly while maintaining crunch.

Notes

For best texture, dry broccoli thoroughly before mixing to avoid soggy salad. Crisp bacon is essential for texture contrast. Blend cottage cheese smooth for a velvety dressing. Toss salad gently to avoid bruising grapes or crushing broccoli. Salad tastes best chilled and can be stored up to 3 days refrigerated. Add extra toasted sunflower seeds before serving leftovers to refresh crunch.

Nutrition

Keywords: broccoli salad, grape salad, bacon salad, creamy dressing, easy salad recipe, quick salad, potluck salad, healthy salad

Find it online: https://lucastable.com/crunchy-broccoli-grape-bacon-salad-recipe-easy-homemade-creamy-dressing/