My Broccoli Grape Salad with bacon combines crisp broccoli, crunchy bacon, and sweet red grapes all in a creamy dressing. Broccoli and grape salad is one of those classic, nostalgic recipes that’s sure to take you back in time!
Broccoli Grape Salad
How many of you remember seeing this broccoli grape salad at potlucks and picnics when you were younger? I certainly do! Only, most of the time it had raisins instead of grapes. I switched them out because my husband’s family (husband included) HATES raisins. And to be honest, I like broccoli and grape salad better too!
This broccoli salad with grapes is from an old church cookbook I have, so you know it’s a tried and true recipe! I love looking through those old cookbooks. It sort of takes me back in time to when I was a child. I will read the recipe and remember seeing that dish when I was a kid.
As a kid, I didn’t eat most of those dishes but I do now. I guess I can consider myself a grown-up now, well, maybe 🙂
I have to admit I can eat this salad straight out of the bowl and call it lunch. It’s super fresh thanks to the crisp broccoli and sweet grapes, making it perfect for spring and summertime get-togethers.
This would pair great with any barbecue menu, like this Applewood Grill Smoked Chicken or these Quick Smoked BBQ Pork Chops. Pair it with some Creamy Coleslaw, potato salad, Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats, or Homemade Banana Pudding Cups and you’ll have a backyard party sure to make some memories.
Why You’ll Love This Broccoli and Grape Salad
- Full of tasty textures and flavors
- Hearty enough for lunch
- Perfect for large parties or get-togethers — can be easily doubled or tripled!
- Kid-friendly and approved
- Made with simple ingredients
Key Ingredients to Make Broccoli Salad with Grapes
- BROCCOLI – I’m using fresh broccoli for my broccoli grape salad — I don’t recommend using frozen as it tends to get mushy due to the excess water. When doing your shopping, opt for bright green florets without any discoloring.
- RED GRAPES – I like red grapes best because I find them to be a bit sweeter and less tart than green grapes. Plus, the pop of color makes for a better presentation!
- BACON – You’ll want to cook, crumble, and cool the bacon before you assemble your broccoli and grape salad. I swear by baking my bacon in the oven — it comes out perfect every time with a lot less mess to clean up!
- RED ONION – Again, I like red onion over yellow or white for the pop of color. I also find it to be a bit milder in flavor.
- NUTS – You can use your preference — I typically like sliced almonds or chopped pecans. Toast them first for an extra nutty flavor!
- HOMEMADE DRESSING – You’ll need mayonnaise (the real stuff, please!), sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper to make the quick homemade dressing. The creamy mayo and tangy vinegar pair perfectly with a bit of sugar.
Instructions to Make Broccoli Grape Bacon Salad
PREP THE INGREDIENTS: Chop the broccoli into small pieces, halve the grapes, slice the red onion, chop or slice the nuts, and crumble the bacon.
COMBINE: Place the prepared ingredients into a large bowl.
MAKE THE DRESSING: Add the dressing ingredients to a separate, smaller bowl and whisk to combine.
ASSEMBLE THE BROCCOLI AND GRAPE SALAD: Pour the homemade dressing on top of the prepared ingredients and toss to coat evenly. Enjoy immediately, or chill in the fridge until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Tips for Making Broccoli Bacon Grape Salad
- Consider blanching the broccoli first. Cooking the broccoli in boiling water and then immediately placing it in ice water will help brighten its color and soften it slightly. Don’t worry — it will still be crispy, this extra step just helps ensure a better overall texture. It’s optional, and I honestly don’t usually do it, but it can be helpful!
- Cook the bacon until it’s nice and crispy. Not only will this make crumbling easier, but it also adds even more texture to your broccoli grape salad. Just remember to drain any excess grease on paper towels before adding to the rest of the ingredients to prevent it from becoming too oily.
- Toast the nuts for better flavor and texture. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, this broccoli salad with grapes is all about playing with textures! I almost always toast the nuts before adding them to the mix. The flavor is better, the texture is crunchier… it’s such a quick and easy step that makes a huge difference!
FAQ
If your broccoli salad with grapes gets watery, you likely didn’t dry the vegetables thoroughly enough after rinsing. Make sure to drain well before adding it to the other ingredients, and pat it with a paper towel just to make sure. Same goes for the grapes!
Absolutely! This salad is even better after it’s been chilled for a few hours, so feel free to make it ahead to save on time. Simply combine the ingredients in a large bowl, then chill for up to 24 hours. Reserve a little bit of the dressing to add just before serving.
Sure! Turkey bacon is leaner than regular bacon, making it a more wholesome choice for broccoli and grape salad. Cook it as you normally would, let it cool, and then crumble it in with the rest of the ingredients before adding the dressing.
Yes. To make this salad vegetarian, simply omit the bacon. To make it vegan-friendly, don’t use bacon and opt for a plant-based mayo substitute for the dressing.
More Salad Recipes To Try
- Pear Salad with Apricots
- Simple Caesar Salad
- Dorito Taco Salad
- Strawberry Cobb Salad
- Asian Chicken Salad
Thanks so much for reading! Let me know what you think about this broccoli grape bacon salad!
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Broccoli Grape Salad with Bacon
Ingredients
- 10 cups fresh broccoli cut into small pieces
- 2 cups halved red grapes
- 10 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- 3/4-1 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 3/4 cup sliced almonds or chopped pecans can toast if you like
- DRESSING:
- 3/4 cup real mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine the broccoli, grapes, bacon, onion and almonds. Set aside.
- In a small bowl combine the ingredients for the dressing and pour over the broccoli mixture. Combine well. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Stir just before serving.
Do you blanch the broccoli
So sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner!! No you don’t need to blanch the broccoli. Hope you enjoy!
I cut the recipe in half but kept the same amount of almonds and bacon. My 10 yo and 13 yo devoured it! Enough for 3 meal servings if you half the recipe. I had this at a potluck years ago! Thank you for the recipe!
Thank you so much! So glad you liked it!!
Sounds really good with grapes, although I am a raisin lover. This would make a great summer salad.
It is really good with the grapes and I agree that it would make a great summer salad!! 🙂
I for sure remember something similar, only I think we used Italian dressing! The best part about this is sneaking a fork and snacking straight out of the bowl from time to time!
Lol, I have to agree!! I am often sneaking straight from the bowl!! 🙂