Creamy Broccoli Salad – Great BBQ Side Dish

This creamy broccoli salad is the perfect side dish to serve along with BBQ recipes. It’s not only very easy to make, but it’s healthy too.

Broccoli and bacon are a match made in heaven when it comes to salads. There are so many ways to make them fit into your eating plan no matter what diet you follow (see this keto bacon and broccoli salad for another tasty option).

The traditional version is loaded with cheese and has extra sugar. I omitted the cheese and added both cranberries, plump raisins and nuts to give it sweetness and crunch.

The bacon gives it richness and light mayo rounds it out for a clean eating salad that is sure to be a hit. The end result is a salad loaded with flavor but much lower in calories and fat and no dairy.

Are you excited for the summer grilling season? Cooking outdoors is one of our favorite ways to entertain guests this time of the year.  That means having easy to make side dishes that can be done quickly and won’t heat up the kitchen.

How to make this creamy broccoli salad recipe

This recipe is an adaptation of a not quite as healthy version that my sister in law makes. I love it, but am trying to omit dairy from my diet and so the cheese had to go.

But don’t let that omission think you will be missing flavor. The taste of this delicious side dish is amazing.

The salad is so easy to make, just toss everything except for the dressing ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.

Stevia leaf extract replaces sugar and plump raisins add more sweetness. Cranberries gives it a nice tartness and who doesn’t like bacon?

Cooking bacon in the oven allows the fat to cook away and crisps it up beautifully, saving even more calories and fat.

Add the dressing to the mixed salad veggies and mix until everything is well coated. I usually add the dressing a few hours before serving and then keep it in the fridge.

This looks like a lot of dressing but works out to only a tablespoon per serving.

Crunchy, creamy, sweet and tart with the healthy goodness of broccoli and vidalia onions. YUM!

This salad is gluten-free and dairy-free. You will love knowing that you’ve lightened it up but left all the flavor. Enjoy!

For another healthy lunch time or side dish salad, try this Greek Chopped Salad with a home made vinaigrette dressing.

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