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Flavorful Broccoli Cauliflower Salad with Cheddar Bacon Easy Recipe for Creamy Ranch Dressing

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A crunchy and creamy salad combining fresh broccoli and cauliflower with crispy bacon, sharp cheddar, and a homemade creamy ranch dressing. Perfect as a quick, hearty side dish or potluck favorite.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups broccoli florets, chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 3 cups cauliflower florets, chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 small red onion, finely diced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • ¼ cup buttermilk
  • 1 tsp dried parsley
  • ½ tsp dried dill weed
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice (optional)

Instructions

  1. Rinse and thoroughly dry the broccoli and cauliflower florets. Chop them into bite-sized pieces, roughly 1 to 1.5 inches each (about 4 cups broccoli and 3 cups cauliflower). Dice the red onion finely. If using, halve the cherry tomatoes. (Prep time: 10 minutes)
  2. In a dry skillet over medium heat, cook 6 thick-cut bacon slices until crispy, about 5-7 minutes, flipping occasionally. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool. Once cool, crumble into bite-sized pieces. (Cook time: 10 minutes)
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together ½ cup mayonnaise, ½ cup sour cream, and ¼ cup buttermilk. Add 1 tsp dried parsley, ½ tsp dried dill, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir in 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice if using. Adjust seasonings as needed. The dressing should be creamy but pourable. (Prep time: 5 minutes)
  4. In a large mixing bowl, gently toss the chopped broccoli, cauliflower, red onion, and cherry tomatoes. Add the shredded sharp cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon. Pour the creamy ranch dressing over the mixture and toss well until everything is evenly coated. (Prep time: 5 minutes)
  5. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to let flavors meld and soften the raw onion’s sharpness. Serve chilled or at room temperature. (Hands-off time: 30 minutes)

Notes

Dry veggies thoroughly to avoid watery salad. Cook bacon until crisp for best texture. Homemade ranch dressing offers fresher flavor than store-bought. Chill salad at least 30 minutes before serving to meld flavors and soften onion sharpness. Bacon fat can be saved for cooking other dishes. For vegetarian version, omit bacon and add toasted nuts. For dairy-free, use vegan mayo and coconut yogurt with non-dairy milk.

Nutrition

Keywords: broccoli cauliflower salad, cheddar bacon salad, creamy ranch dressing, easy salad recipe, potluck salad, healthy side dish, crunchy salad

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