Broccoli Cauliflower Cranberry Salad with Bacon

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This easy, make-ahead Broccoli Cauliflower Cranberry Salad with Bacon is the perfect low-carb holiday side dish! Packed with healthy veggies, smoky bacon, and tangy-sweet cranberries, it’s a tasty, quick-to-prepare crowd-pleaser for any occasion.

Broccoli, cauliflower, cranberry salad topped with pecans in a white serving bowl.

It’s often referred to as a Christmas or holiday salad, because of its festive red and green colors but it’s great to pair with just about any entree or eat by itself all year long.

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Why I love this recipe (and, you will too!)
Key ingredients and simple substitutions
Step-by-step guide to making Broccoli Cauliflower Cranberry Salad
Serving and menu suggestions
Recipe variations
How to store leftovers
Recipe FAQs
Tips for the perfect broccoli cauliflower salad
More broccoli recipes
📋 Recipe:

Why I love this recipe (and, you will too!)

Like my recipe for Southern Broccoli Salad, this simple recipe for Broccoli-Cauliflower Salad with Cranberries is delicious! Even better, eating it is a great way to add more veggies to your diet.
This make ahead salad is quick and easy to prepare with only three steps. Like my Southern Grape Salad, it also keeps well in the refrigerator for several days.
It’s versatile! This gluten-free salad is equally at home on an elegant Christmas dinner table or at a covered-dish neighborhood potluck.

Key ingredients and simple substitutions

Broccoli cauliflower salad ingredients include cranberries and bacon.

Broccoli and cauliflower – these fresh and crisp cruciferous veggies are the stars of this quick to make salad.
Dried cranberries and red onion – provide a sweet and tart balance.
Bacon and roasted pecans – adds crunch and a savory touch. You can swap out other roasted nuts or seeds for the pecans, and use purchased real bacon bits instead of cooked bacon.
Mayo, sugar, red wine vinegar, and kosher salt and pepper – combine to make the sweet and tangy homemade salad dressing for this broccoli salad with bacon.

The complete recipe with measurements is listed in the recipe card below.

Step-by-step guide to making Broccoli Cauliflower Cranberry Salad

To make the salad, add the broccoli, cauliflower, dried cranberries, red onion, roasted pecans and bacon to a large bowl. Toss to combine and set aside.

Ingredients for a salad include broccoli, cauliflower, cranberries, and bacon in a bowl.

To make the homemade salad dressing, combine the mayonnaise, sugar, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and whisk until smooth and creamy.

Creamy homemade salad dressing in a bowl with a whisk.

Pour about half of the dressing over the salad and toss again to combine. For the best flavor, let the salad sit in the fridge for 30 minutes to one hour before serving or if making it ahead, cover and refrigerate for up to three days.

A large salad with broccoli, cauliflower, pecans, bacon, and onion in a white serving dish.

Serving and menu suggestions

I almost always serve this delicious salad for both Thanksgiving and Christmas along with these holiday worthy side dish recipes Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes, Southern Baked Mac and Cheese, Southern Sweet Onion Casserole, Turkey Neck Gravy and Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes.

Recipe variations

Here are some fun and tasty variations for my Broccoli Cauliflower Cranberry Salad:

Add grilled chicken, hard boiled eggs, shredded carrots, chopped apples, or shredded cheddar cheese for a heartier salad.
Swap out the roasted pecans for candied pecans, sunflower seeds, pistachios, or lightly toasted almonds.
Or, lighten the dressing by substituting greek yogurt for all or part of the mayo.

How to store leftovers

You can store leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. If the ingredients start looking dried out, add additional dressing before serving.

Recipe FAQs

What are cruciferous vegetables?

Broccoli and cauliflower are both cruciferous vegetables, and as such, they are some of the most nutritious foods you can add to your diet. According to WebMD, they are true nutritional powerhouses.

What can I use instead of dried cranberries?

Dried cherries or blueberries, golden raisins, or even fresh pomegranate seeds are good substitutes. For a less sweet option, try diced red or green grapes.

Can I use frozen broccoli or cauliflower?

For the best results with this salad, fresh is best and I don’t recommend using frozen veggies.

Tips for the perfect broccoli cauliflower salad

For the best results in this healthy broccoli cauliflower salad recipe, wash and thoroughly dry the veggies to ensure a crunchy texture.
Cut the broccoli and cauliflower into very small bite-sized, uniform pieces.
Crisp bacon adds the perfect crunch and smoky flavor and I like to either cook it in the microwave, or bake it in the oven. Purchased crumbled real bacon bits can also be used instead.
If your picky eaters don’t like onions, leave them out.

More broccoli recipes

Broccoli is my favorite vegetable, and as you might imagine, I have lots of broccoli recipes on my blog. If you like broccoli as I do, you might want to check out these easy broccoli recipes:

You might also like my Roasted Broccoli and Carrots, Teriyka Chicken Stir Fry, Chicken and Broccoli Pasta, and Broccoli Slaw.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ If you make this recipe for Broccoli Cauliflower Cranberry Salad, please leave a comment and give it a star rating. I would love to know how you liked it!

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📋 Recipe:

**This recipe was inspired by a Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad that was developed by Kathleen Royal Phillips of the Grits and Gouda blog in 2010 while she was working in the test kitchen for Oxmoor House and Southern Living. I’ve made a few changes such as swapping out roasted pecans for pistachios.

Comments

4.80 from 5 votes (4 ratings without comment)