Get ready for your new favorite make-ahead lunch! This Creamy Broccoli Salad is light yet filling, packed with fresh broccoli florets, savory crispy bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, crunchy red onion, and a zesty kick from diced jalapeños, all tossed in a tangy and creamy dressing. I absolutely love this Creamy Broccoli Salad for meal prep because it holds up beautifully in the fridge and is full of bright, satisfying flavors. It's perfect for easy lunches throughout the week or as a crowd-pleasing side dish for potlucks and barbecues, especially now during these lovely spring days!
Why You'll Love This Creamy Broccoli Salad
- Perfect for Meal Prep: Stays crisp and flavorful for days when stored properly, making lunches a breeze.
- Flavor Packed: A delicious combination of savory bacon, sharp cheddar, spicy jalapeño, tangy dressing, and fresh broccoli.
- Easy to Make: Simple chopping and mixing are all that's required after cooking the bacon.
- Great Texture: Crunchy broccoli, crisp bacon, chewy cheese, and creamy dressing provide wonderful textural contrast.
- Healthy-ish & Satisfying: Packed with veggies and protein for a filling salad.
Ingredients for Creamy Broccoli Salad Meal Prep
Here's what you'll need to make this delicious and easy broccoli salad. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Salad Base
- Thick-cut bacon (Meat)
- Red onion, finely chopped (Vegetable)
- Jalapeños, seeded and diced (Vegetable)
- Broccoli (1 head), rinsed and cut into florets (Vegetable)
- Shredded cheddar cheese (sharp recommended) (Dairy)
Creamy Dressing
- Mayonnaise (optional, adds richness) (Condiment)
- Greek yogurt (Dairy)
- Apple cider vinegar (Acid)
- Dijon mustard (Condiment)
- Salt (Seasoning)
- Fresh ground black pepper (Spice)
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I love the classic flavor combination in this Creamy Broccoli Salad, but feel free to customize it:
- Add Nuts or Seeds: Toss in some toasted slivered almonds, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds (pepitas) for extra crunch.
- Include Dried Fruit: Add ¼ cup of dried cranberries or raisins for a touch of sweetness.
- Different Cheese: Use crumbled feta, blue cheese, or cubed Colby Jack instead of shredded cheddar.
- Make it Vegetarian: Simply omit the bacon. Add some smoked paprika to the dressing for a smoky flavor hint.
- Different Dressing Base: Use all Greek yogurt or all mayonnaise depending on your preference for tanginess vs. richness.
How to Make Creamy Broccoli Salad Meal Prep
Let me show you how easy it is to whip up this fantastic Creamy Broccoli Salad for your weekly meals:
Cook Bacon and Prep Veggies
- First, I cook the bacon until it's nice and crisp. I usually do this in a skillet, but baking it in the oven works great too. Once crisp, I drain it well on paper towels and then chop it into small bits.
- While the bacon cooks, I prepare my vegetables: finely chop the red onion, seed and dice the jalapeños (wear gloves if sensitive!), and cut the rinsed broccoli head into small, bite-sized florets.
Make the Dressing
- In a separate small bowl, I stir together the dressing ingredients: mayonnaise (if using), Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, a pinch of salt, and a few grinds of fresh black pepper.
- I mix well until the dressing is smooth and combined. I give it a taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
Combine the Salad
- In a large salad bowl, I toss together the broccoli florets, chopped red onion, shredded cheddar cheese, diced jalapeño, and the crispy chopped bacon bits.
- I pour about two-thirds of the prepared dressing over the broccoli mixture.
- I mix everything well until all the ingredients are evenly coated in the creamy dressing. If the Creamy Broccoli Salad seems a little dry for my liking, I add a little more of the remaining dressing.
Store for Meal Prep (or Serve)
- I divide the finished Creamy Broccoli Meal Prep Salad into individual meal prep containers.
- Alternatively, if serving right away, transfer to a serving bowl. Enjoy! ❤️
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Broccoli Salad
Here are my secrets for making this Creamy Broccoli Salad truly exceptional, especially for meal prep:
- Cut Broccoli Small: Ensure the broccoli florets are cut into small, bite-sized pieces for easier eating and better coating with the dressing.
- Crispy Bacon: Cook the bacon until truly crisp so it holds up better in the salad and provides great texture.
- Adjust Dressing Amount: Start with less dressing and add more as needed. You want the salad coated, not swimming.
- Let Flavors Meld: While delicious immediately, this salad tastes even better after chilling for at least 30 minutes (or overnight for meal prep) as the flavors meld.
- Jalapeño Heat: Control the spice by removing all seeds and white membranes from the jalapeños for less heat, or leave some in for more kick.
How to Serve
This Creamy Broccoli Salad is fantastic served chilled as:
- A Meal Prep Lunch: Perfectly portioned and ready to go.
- A Side Dish: Excellent with grilled chicken, burgers, sandwiches, or BBQ.
- A Potluck Contribution: Always a popular choice that holds up well.
- A Light Dinner: Enjoy a larger portion on its own.
Make Ahead and Storage
This salad is designed for making ahead!
- Make Ahead: Prepare the salad completely as directed.
- Storage: Store the finished Creamy Broccoli Salad in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The flavors will continue to develop!
FAQs about Creamy Broccoli Salad Meal Prep
- Can I use frozen broccoli?
- Fresh broccoli provides the best crunchy texture for this salad. Frozen broccoli, once thawed, will be much softer and may result in a watery salad. It's not recommended for this recipe.
- Is this salad very spicy?
- It depends on your jalapeños! Remove all seeds and membranes for just a hint of flavor and minimal heat. Add more jalapeño or keep some seeds for more spice.
- Can I use a different dressing?
- While the creamy yogurt/mayo dressing is classic for this style of broccoli salad, you could substitute a vinaigrette if you prefer a lighter, non-creamy version, though it will change the character of the dish significantly.
Enjoy this easy, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying Creamy Broccoli Salad Meal Prep! It makes healthy lunches delicious.
Print
Creamy Broccoli Salad Meal Prep
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Salad, Side Dish, Meal Prep
- Cuisine: American
Description
A light and filling broccoli salad meal prep that's easy to pull together with the beautiful and fresh combinations of fresh broccoli, savory bacon, and creamy dressing. This broccoli salad is easy to make and full of bright flavors, perfect for make-ahead lunches!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Salad:
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
- 1 pound fresh broccoli (about 1 medium head), rinsed and cut into small florets
- ¼ of a medium red onion, finely chopped (about ⅓ cup)
- 2 Jalapeños, seeded and finely diced (optional)
- ¾ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
For the Creamy Dressing:
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Cook Bacon: Cook the bacon until crisp using your preferred method (skillet, oven, or microwave). Drain the bacon on paper towels. Once cool enough to handle, chop or crumble it into small bits.
- Prepare Vegetables & Cheese: Wash and cut the broccoli into small, bite-sized florets. Finely chop the red onion. Seed and finely dice the jalapeños (if using). Shred the cheddar cheese.
- Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt (or sour cream), apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Combine Salad: In a large salad bowl, combine the broccoli florets, chopped red onion, diced jalapeños (if using), shredded cheddar cheese, and most of the cooked bacon bits (reserve some for topping, if desired).
- Dress Salad: Pour about two-thirds of the prepared dressing over the broccoli mixture. Toss well to coat everything evenly. If the salad seems a little dry, add a bit more of the dressing until it reaches your desired creaminess. (See notes for meal prep).
- Serve or Store: Serve the salad immediately or divide it into meal prep containers. Garnish with reserved bacon bits before serving or storing.
Notes
- Broccoli: Use fresh broccoli cut into small florets for the best texture. Blanching the broccoli briefly (1-2 minutes in boiling water, then plunge in ice water) can soften it slightly if you prefer less crunch, but raw is traditional for this style.
- Bacon: Thick-cut bacon provides nice texture.
- Jalapeños: Seed and dice finely. Adjust amount or omit based on heat preference.
- Dressing: The dressing combines mayo and Greek yogurt for creaminess with less fat than all-mayo versions. Sour cream can be used instead of yogurt.
- Meal Prep Tip: For best results and to prevent sogginess, store the dressing separately from the salad ingredients in your meal prep containers. Combine and toss just before eating. The salad (undressed) will keep well for 3-4 days.
- Storage: If dressed, store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. The broccoli may soften slightly.
