With 3 veggies, bacon, and olive oil- this easy summer broccoli & bacon salad makes a healthy edition to any picnic or weeknight dinner!
I know not everyone is with me, but I LOVE broccoli! Hands down, one of my favorite vegetables! Well, I like cooked broccoli. Raw has never done it for me.
And, my love for these mini green trees is all thanks to my college friend, Ben. I don’t have any specific memories, but I must have tried broccoli a few times growing up. Cut to my 20-year-old self…one night Ben recommended ordering stir fry at a local college restaurant. He loved the orange chicken with broccoli (there may have been other veggies too.) So, I took a chance. He was right! It was delicious!
If I had never met Ben, how many more years would it have been before I dared to try broccoli again?!? Luckily, I never need to find out. Broccoli became a beloved staple in my diet.
And broccoli is the star of this healthy dish! Plus, bacon makes everything better! I chose to lightly cook (blanch) the broccoli, but you could go with raw or even boil it longer for a softer texture.
If you do have…issues…with broccoli, try slicing it up and cooking! This will help your body when digesting.
Ready, set, yum.
Ingredients for Summer Broccoli & Bacon Salad
Broccoli
Bacon
Bell Peppers
Corn
Olive Oil
Dressing: I used bacon grease, oil, orange juice, lemon juice, and brown sugar to make a light citrus dressing.
Optional: cashews
What to Serve with Broccoli Salad
Just add a protein for a complete meal!- Chicken, steak, beef, ham, turkey, pork, tofu, vegan “meat” substitutes…
Also makes a terrific side dish for a picnic!
Keto-Friendly, Low-Carb Chicken Parmesan
Stay-at-Home Orange Chicken
Asian-Style Meatloaf
30 minutes
Broccoli & Bacon Salad
Ingredients
- 8 - 12 slices of bacon, crumbled
- 3 heads of broccoli, chopped, (about 1 1/2 lbs.)
- Olive oil
- 3 bell peppers, sliced
- 1 c. frozen or fresh corn
Light Citrus Dressing
- 1 Tbsp. bacon grease
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 3 Tbsp. orange juice
- 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
- 2 tsp. brown sugar
Instructions
- In a medium skillet, brown the bacon. Set strips on a plate lined with a paper towel. Then, reserve 1 Tbsp. of grease for the dressing. Next, with about 1 Tbsp. of oil (either leftover grease or olive oil) lightly sauté the peppers for 3-5 minutes. Add about 1-2 tsp. of oil and lightly sauté the corn for 3-4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling water, blanch the broccoli for 1-3 minutes. Drain and allow to cool. Then, chop into smaller pieces. In a large mixing bowl, add the broccoli, bacon bits, peppers, and corn.
- In a small bowl or mason jar, add the bacon grease, olive oil, orange juice, lemon juice, and brown sugar. Whisk or cover and shake. For a stronger flavor, double the recipe. Pour over the broccoli salad and carefully stir. If desired, garnish with chopped cashews. Serve warm, cold, or room temperature.