Creamy Amish Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Cheddar: The Ultimate Potluck Side Dish

Prepare to fall in love with this incredibly easy and delicious Amish broccoli salad recipe! Bursting with vibrant flavors and satisfying textures, this creamy side dish is an absolute showstopper, perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re hosting a casual family gathering, heading to a potluck, or planning a summer cookout, this salad will be the talk of the table. Crisp, fresh broccoli and cauliflower florets are combined with savory bits of bacon, sharp shredded cheddar cheese, and a hint of zesty red onion, all generously coated in a rich, tangy, and slightly sweet mayonnaise and sour cream dressing. It’s a simple recipe that delivers complex flavors, making it a beloved classic that everyone from kids to adults will adore!

A large white bowl of homemade creamy Amish broccoli salad made with fresh broccoli and cauliflower florets, crispy bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, and a rich mayo-based dressing.

🥦 Why You’ll Adore This Amish Broccoli Salad

Effortlessly Feeds a Crowd: This salad is a true lifesaver when you need to prepare food for many people. It’s incredibly easy to scale, meaning you can effortlessly double or triple the recipe without significantly increasing your prep time. Its hearty nature and universally appealing flavors make it a guaranteed hit at reunions, holidays, potlucks, and summer barbecues, ensuring there’s always enough to go around.
Remarkably Simple, No-Cook Prep: Aside from quickly frying a few strips of bacon to golden perfection, this recipe requires absolutely no cooking! This makes it an ideal dish for those hot summer days when you want to avoid turning on the oven or stovetop. Just a bit of chopping, a quick mix, and a brief chill in the refrigerator (though optional, it truly enhances the flavors), and your delicious salad is ready to serve. It’s truly a fresh and healthy option that comes together in minutes.
A Fantastic Make-Ahead & Meal Prep Solution: This Amish broccoli salad only gets better with time! Preparing it a few hours or even a day in advance allows the vibrant flavors to meld beautifully and the raw vegetables to soak up the creamy dressing, resulting in a deeper, richer taste experience. Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, making it a perfect candidate for meal prepping throughout the week. Enjoying delicious, healthy sides has never been easier!
Packed with Fresh, Wholesome Ingredients: At its heart, this salad celebrates fresh vegetables. Broccoli and cauliflower are nutritional powerhouses, rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Combining them with crunchy red onion, savory bacon, and cheese creates a balanced dish that feels indulgent yet contributes significantly to your daily vegetable intake. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy nutritious ingredients in a truly satisfying form.
Endlessly Customizable: One of the greatest joys of this Amish broccoli salad is its adaptability. It serves as a fantastic base recipe that you can easily tailor to your personal preferences or dietary needs. Want more crunch? Add nuts. Craving a touch of sweetness? Toss in some dried fruit. The possibilities are truly endless, allowing you to create a unique salad every time.

👩🏼‍🍳 Expert Chef’s Tips for the Best Broccoli Salad

Cheese Choices Galore: While classic sharp cheddar cheese offers a delightful tang and creamy texture, don’t hesitate to experiment with other varieties. Cheddar Jack provides a milder, meltier quality, while grated Parmesan cheese adds a salty, umami depth. For a more adventurous twist, consider crumbled feta cheese for a briny kick or soft goat cheese for a creamy, tangy element that beautifully complements the other flavors.
Unleash Your Creativity with Customization: This recipe is a blank canvas for your culinary imagination!
- For Extra Creaminess: If you prefer your vegetables heavily coated and lusciously creamy, feel free to increase the amounts of mayonnaise and sour cream until you reach your desired consistency.
- For Lighter Dressing: Conversely, if you want the crisp, raw vegetables to shine more prominently, you can slightly reduce the dressing ingredients.
- Additions for Texture & Flavor: Introduce a delightful crunch with toasted pecans, walnuts, or sunflower seeds. For a burst of sweetness and chewiness, incorporate dried cranberries, golden raisins, or chopped dates. Finely diced bell peppers (red, yellow, or orange) can add extra color and a mild sweetness, while shredded carrots boost both nutrition and visual appeal.
- Spice It Up: A pinch of black pepper, a dash of garlic powder, or even a hint of Dijon mustard in the dressing can elevate the flavor profile.
The Bacon Trick for Ultimate Crispness: If you’re preparing this salad more than a few hours in advance, a crucial tip is to store the crispy bacon separately from the main salad mixture. Moisture from the dressing and vegetables can quickly turn bacon soggy. By folding in the bacon just before serving, you ensure every bite features that irresistible, crisp texture that truly makes this salad special.
Sour Cream Alternatives: Not a fan of sour cream, or looking for a healthier substitute? Full-fat Greek yogurt is an excellent alternative! It provides a similar tang and creamy texture with added protein. The flavor profile will be slightly different, leaning a bit more savory, but it will still be incredibly delicious and satisfying. For a dairy-free option, consider a high-quality vegan sour cream or plain unsweetened coconut yogurt.
Always Opt for Fresh Veggies: For the brightest flavors and the most satisfying crisp textures, always use fresh broccoli and cauliflower. Frozen vegetables, even when defrosted, tend to release excess water and can become mushy, compromising the overall texture and freshness of the salad. Take the extra moment to chop fresh florets for the best possible outcome.
The Magic of Chill Time: While delicious immediately, Amish broccoli salad truly transforms after a little time in the refrigerator. Allowing it to chill for at least 2 hours (or ideally 4-6 hours) lets the flavors marry, and the dressing permeates the vegetables, enhancing their taste and softening them ever so slightly to a perfect al dente bite. This resting period is key to achieving that signature, well-rounded flavor.
Perfect Florets, Every Time: When preparing your broccoli and cauliflower, aim for uniformly sized, bite-sized florets. This ensures that each piece is evenly coated with the dressing and makes for a pleasant eating experience. Avoid overly large pieces, as they can be difficult to manage and won’t absorb the dressing as well.
Taming Red Onion’s Bite: If you find red onion too pungent, a simple trick is to soak the chopped onion in a bowl of ice water for about 10-15 minutes before adding it to the salad. This process mellows its sharp flavor, leaving you with a milder, sweeter onion taste that integrates beautifully without overpowering the other ingredients.

A close-up view of a large white bowl filled with creamy Amish broccoli salad, showcasing the texture of the broccoli and cauliflower florets, crispy bacon pieces, and shredded cheddar cheese mixed in the rich dressing.

🥗 More Irresistible Salad Recipes We Love

Deviled Egg Salad
Roasted Potato Salad
Ham Salad
Carrot Raisin Salad
Guacamole Salad
Viral Jennifer Aniston Salad Recipe
White Bean Salad
Potato Salad With Raisins
Paleo Chinese Chicken Salad (Whole30)
Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Salad
Perfect Pea Salad
Chef Salad

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Classic Creamy Amish Broccoli Salad

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 5 minutes

Total: 15 minutes

This easy Amish broccoli salad recipe, complete with its signature creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet dressing, is a simple yet incredibly delicious side dish. It’s truly perfect for any family gathering, potluck, or summer cookout, bringing together fresh vegetables, crispy bacon, and savory cheese in a harmonious blend that’s sure to impress!

Cheryl Malik Cheryl Malik

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8 servings

Ingredients for a Delicious Gathering

For the Crunchy & Flavorful Salad Base

▢ ½ pound diced bacon (we recommend thick-cut for best texture)
▢ 3 ½ cups chopped broccoli florets (fresh is best for crispness)
▢ 3 ½ cups chopped cauliflower florets (ensuring bite-sized pieces)
▢ ½ cup chopped red onion (finely diced for even distribution)
▢ 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (sharp cheddar adds a wonderful bite)

For the Signature Creamy Dressing

▢ 1 cup mayonnaise (full-fat for ultimate creaminess)
▢ ¾ cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt for a tangier twist)
▢ 1 tablespoon white sugar (adjust to your preferred sweetness, see Notes for alternatives)
▢ 2 teaspoons salt (start with less and add more to taste)

Get Recipe Ingredients

Essential Kitchen Tools

Plate (for cooling bacon)
Paper towels (to absorb bacon grease)
Medium skillet (for frying bacon to crispy perfection)
Slotted spoon or spatula (to remove bacon)
Small mixing bowl (for whisking the dressing)
Silicone spatula or large wooden spoon (for mixing)
Large mixing bowl (for combining all salad ingredients)

Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Amish Broccoli Salad

Prepare your cooling station by lining a plate with several layers of paper towels. This will help absorb excess grease from the bacon and ensure it remains perfectly crispy. Set this aside.
Place your medium skillet on the stovetop and heat it over medium-high heat. Once the pan is warm, add the ½ pound of diced bacon. Fry the bacon, stirring occasionally, until it reaches your desired level of crispness. Using a slotted spoon or spatula, transfer the crispy bacon pieces to the paper-towel-lined plate. Allow the bacon to cool completely while you prepare the rest of the salad; this ensures maximum crunch.
While the bacon is cooling, turn your attention to the creamy dressing. In a small mixing bowl, combine the 1 cup of mayonnaise, ¾ cup of sour cream, 1 tablespoon of white sugar, and 2 teaspoons of salt. Whisk these ingredients together thoroughly until they are completely smooth and well-combined. Take a moment to taste the dressing; this is your chance to adjust the flavors. Add more mayo for extra richness, sour cream for more tang, sugar for added sweetness, or salt to enhance overall taste, until it perfectly suits your palate.
Once you are satisfied with the dressing’s flavor, prepare the vegetable base. In a large mixing bowl, combine the 3 ½ cups of chopped broccoli florets and 3 ½ cups of chopped cauliflower florets. Pour the prepared creamy dressing over the florets. Using a silicone spatula or large wooden spoon, gently stir the ingredients together, ensuring that every floret is evenly and generously coated with the dressing. This step is crucial for distributing flavor throughout the salad.
To complete the salad, add the ½ cup of chopped red onion, 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, and the cooled, crispy cooked bacon to the bowl with the coated florets. Gently fold these ingredients into the mixture until they are just incorporated. Be careful not to overmix, which can break down the broccoli and cauliflower florets or cause the bacon to lose its crispness.
Your delicious Amish broccoli salad is now ready to serve! For the best flavor development and texture, we highly recommend covering the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerating it for at least 2 hours before serving. This chill time allows the ingredients to meld and the dressing to fully flavor the vegetables. If you are preparing it ahead for a party, remember to add the bacon just before serving to maintain its crunch.

Helpful Recipe Notes & Dietary Adjustments

Make it Keto-Friendly: To reduce the carbohydrate count, substitute white sugar with your favorite granulated sugar substitute, such as Swerve or erythritol, adjusting to taste. For an even lower carb profile, you can also omit the red onion, which shaves off an additional 1-2 carbs per serving while still maintaining a delicious flavor.
Make it Vegetarian: Easily adapt this recipe for vegetarian diets by simply leaving out the bacon completely. The salad is still incredibly flavorful and satisfying even without it. Alternatively, you can use a high-quality vegetarian or plant-based bacon substitute for that smoky crunch.
Make it Vegan: To create a delicious vegan version, you’ll need to use plant-based alternatives for several key ingredients. Opt for vegan versions of bacon (if desired), mayonnaise, sour cream (or plain unsweetened coconut yogurt), and shredded cheddar cheese. Many excellent dairy-free and meat-free options are available today that will ensure your salad is just as creamy and flavorful.
Sweetness Level: The 1 tablespoon of sugar provides a classic balance to the tangy dressing. If you prefer a less sweet salad, start with ½ tablespoon and taste before adding more. For a different kind of sweetness, a drizzle of maple syrup or honey can also be used, though this will slightly alter the flavor profile.

Nutrition Information (Estimated Per Serving)

The number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes and the size of your florets.

Nutritional values provided are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients or substitutions you might make. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands, types of ingredients used, and portion control. It is always recommended to calculate nutrition based on your specific ingredients for the most accurate results.

To accurately determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the entire finished recipe (excluding the weight of the container). Then, divide the total weight of the finished recipe by your desired number of servings. The result will give you the precise weight of one individual serving.