Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

This Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad recipe is an easy, cold side dish that is often on the table at our family parties and potlucks.

Raw broccoli and crunchy cauliflower are tossed with bacon, onion and cheddar cheese in a light, creamy Miracle Whip and vinegar dressing. It’s a delicious, easy way to eat more vegetables!

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad Recipe with Miracle Whip

Cheese, bacon and a light dressing add just the right notes to the crunchy broccoli and cauliflower. 

My mom has been making this easy salad for years, and for far too long I refused to try it because of the Miracle Whip. That was a big mistake! Even a picky eater like me loves this simple combination of fresh and tangy flavors, and it’s a tasty way to get more veggies into my diet.

This easy vegetable side dish tastes great with about any meal, so it’s perfect to take to a potluck, picnic or a big holiday meal like Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas.

When we try to eat healthier in our house we try to set simple goals that are feasible like eating more fruits and vegetables.  Drinking more water and adding more fiber to the diet are small changes that can make a big difference.  This recipe is our favorite way to eat raw broccoli and cauliflower.

Ingredients Needed

• Vegetables – Broccoli, Cauliflower & Red Onion – make sure all are fresh and a good quality.
• Bacon – We like to fry and chop a full pound of bacon. It adds much more flavor than bacon bits alone.
• Cheddar – For premium flavor, use freshly shredded sharp cheddar.
• Dressing – Miracle Whip, red wine vinegar and sugar. Balsamic vinegar works in place of the red wine vinegar. I’ve also cut the sugar by more than half from the original recipe.

Another way that we enjoy eating broccoli is in our baked Broccoli Mushroom Casserole recipe and Broccoli Slaw with Ramen Noodles recipe.

Tips for Making Our Broccoli Cauliflower Salad Recipe

• Cut broccoli and cauliflower into very small pieces, small pieces mean more flavors that can be enjoyed together in each and every bite
• Chop the onion very finely as each piece should be a small accent in every bite
• Red onion has the strongest onion flavor and makes a great accent to the other veggies for onion lovers, more mild palates may enjoy a sweet onion instead
• I prefer sharp cheddar cheese to maximize flavors, but mild cheddar or another combination with yellow cheese can be used
• Be sure to to Miracle Whip, not Mayo
• To prep ahead of time chop vegetables, but wait to add the dressing until ready to serve to extend shelf life
• Salad is best in the first day or two, make half a batch and store chopped veggies that won’t be eat right away in separate containers
• Store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days

Step By Step Instructions

Prep all of the veggies by cutting into very small pieces. This allows a little bit of every flavor to mix together and create the best flavor experience in every bite!

I like to chop the broccoli and cauliflower as part of a meal prep plan and if that doesn’t work I’ll get started while the bacon is frying.

Keeping a couple kids safe knives on hand means the kiddos can help be part of the salad prep process too!

Once all of the ingredients are prepped pour in a bowl and stir together.

Mix the salad dressing ingredients together – Miracle Whip, red wine vinegar and sugar – then pour over salad. Mix well and store in the refrigerator.

Other Delicious Recipes with Bacon & Cheese:

• Bacon Corn Chowder recipe
• Bacon Cheese Quesadilla
• Bacon Egg Cheese Cups
• Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac and Cheese