This creamy broccoli salad is a lighter dairy-free version of the classic side dish. Fresh broccoli, crispy bacon, sweet cranberries, raisins, and crunchy nuts are tossed in a homemade dressing for a salad that’s full of flavor without relying on cheese or heavy ingredients.
It’s an easy make-ahead recipe that’s perfect for BBQs, potlucks, and summer gatherings. The combination of sweet, savory, and crunchy textures makes every bite delicious, while the lighter dressing keeps the salad fresh and satisfying.
If you’re looking for a creamy broccoli salad that works for dairy-free and gluten-free diets, this recipe is a crowd-pleasing side dish that’s simple to prepare and always disappears quickly.
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Ingredients for the creamy broccoli salad
- 1 pound of bacon
- 1 pound of fresh broccoli, cut into bite sized florets
- 1 small vidalia onion, diced finely
- ⅓ cup of dried cranberries
- ⅓ cup of plump raisins
- ¾ cup of pecans
- ¾ cup of light mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoons of stevia leaf extract
- 1 ½ teaspoons of white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon of sea salt
- Pinch of cracked black pepper
How to make this creamy broccoli salad
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 recipes for easy side dishes on hand that can be prepared quickly.
Cook the bacon
- Cook bacon until crisp.
- Drain on paper towels and break it into pieces.
Combine the salad ingredients
- Place the broccoli with bacon, onion, cranberries, raisins, and pecans in a large bowl.
- Toss well and set the salad aside.
How to make the creamy dressing
- Combine the light mayonnaise, stevia leaf extract, and vinegar in a small bowl.
- Whisk well to combine.
Toss the salad and chill
- Toss the dressing with the broccoli salad.
- Season with sea salt and cracked black pepper.
- Place in the fridge for one hour.
Stir the salad before serving.
Tasting the salad
This salad is sweet from the raisins and stevia leaf extract. Cranberries give it a nice tartness and the bacon adds a rich, salty finish.
It’s creamy, crunchy, sweet and tart in every biteful!
This salad is gluten-free and dairy-free. You will love knowing that you’ve lightened it up but left all the flavor. Enjoy!
More healthy salad recipes
Looking for more salads to serve at your summer BBQ? Try one of these:
- Keto Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheese
- Melon Cucumber Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
- California Cobb Salad with Ranch Dressing
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🥦✨ Looking for the perfect BBQ side dish? This creamy broccoli salad combines crisp broccoli, bacon, sweet cranberries, raisins, and crunchy nuts in a light dairy-free dressing. Easy to make, full of flavor, and always a crowd… Share on XPin this creamy broccoli salad recipe
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Admin note: This dairy-free broccoli recipe first appeared on the blog in July 2017. This post has been updated with new photos, a printable recipe card, and a slideshow video for more side dishes to try.
Creamy Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cranberries
This creamy broccoli salad combines crisp broccoli, bacon, cranberries, raisins, and nuts in a light dairy-free dressing. It's easy to make and perfect for BBQs, potlucks, and family dinners.
Ingredients
- 1 pound of bacon
- 1 small vidalia onion, diced finely
- 1 pound of fresh broccoli, cut into bite sized florets
- ⅓ cup of dried cranberries
- ⅓ cup of raisins
- ¾ cup of pecans
- ¾ cup of light mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon of stevia leaf extract
- 1 ½ teaspoons of white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon of sea salt
- Pinch of cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Cook bacon until crisp.
- Drain on paper towels and break it into pieces.
- Toss the broccoli with bacon, onion, cranberries, raisins, and pecans.
- Whisk together the light mayo, stevia leaf extract, and vinegar.
- Toss the dressing with the broccoli salad an hour before serving.
- Season with sea salt and cracked black pepper.
- Place in the fridge for one hour to chill.
- Stir before serving.
- Enjoy!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 417Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 9gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 1366mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 28g
Nutritional information is approximate due to natural variation in ingredients and the cook-at-home nature of our meals.