Wanna see people go all kinds of crazy for broccoli? Whip up this Broccoli Bacon Grape Blue Cheese Salad recipe for your next summer picnic. Seriously, this is the summer salad where sweet, salty, and savory all meet up and literally dance in your mouth.
Broccoli Bacon Grape Blue Cheese Salad
As a former, gourmet deli manager (here in the NorCal wine country), I quickly learned which deli salads were in highest demand…and hardest to keep on the shelves. We served a couple of styles of broccoli bacon salad made by a local company. By far, the most popular one had fresh, juicy, red grapes in it and was tossed in a gorgonzola cheese dressing….or it had gorgonzola crumbles, I don’t recall. Either way, the folks went aaall cray-cray over it! There’s a reason you see this grape-y style of broccoli salad at so many delis. It freakin’ rocks!
So, inspired by my love for broccoli and big, fat, red grapes…aaaaand the heat of summer, I’ve created my spin on this popular deli salad using a non-mayonnaise, Honey-Dijon vinaigrette.
Here’s how I like to approach this recipe:
- chop ingredients
- cook bacon
- steam broccoli (very lightly)
- whip up honey Dijon vinaigrette (so easy!)
- combine all
- chill…then devour!
Need more easy summer salad recipe inspiration? This Skinny Ranch BLT Avocado Pasta Salad is guaranteed to be an empty bowl at your summer party! Or, Check out my Grilled Zucchini Corn Salad with Feta Dressing, Brussels Sprout Slaw, and Turkey Waldorf Salad.
Ingredients you’ll need for this recipe:
For the salad:
- broccoli
- red grapes
- bacon
- green onion
- blue cheese
- walnuts or almonds (optional)
For the vinaigrette:
- olive oil
- apple cider vinegar
- honey
- dijon mustard
- salt and Pepper
Tools you’ll find handy for this recipe:
- 3.5 quart stainless sauce pan to steam the broccoli
- Stainless steam basket to steam broccoli
- Stainless mixing bowl to toss/serve salad
- Nutribullet Pro to make the vinaigrette
Hit me up on the Insta if you decide to make this number. Tag @thekitchengirl #tkgrecipe…and basically make my day! Cheers to summer picnics and always to our health!
Yields 6 cups
Broccoli, bacon, grapes and blue cheese crumbles are tossed in a light, honey-dijon vinaigrette to bring a unique spin to a popular deli salad. This is where sweet, salty, and savory all meet up and literally dance in your mouth.
30 minTotal Time
Save RecipeIngredients
- 4 cups Broccoli (chopped)
- 1 cup Red Grapes (rinsed, halved)
- 6 strips thick-sliced Applewood Smoked Bacon (chopped, fried, drained)
- 1 Green Onion (2 Tbsp finely chopped)
- 1/4 cup Blue Cheese (crumbled)
- 1/4 cup Walnuts or Almonds (toasted, chopped)
- 1/2 cup Olive Oil
- 1/3 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Honey
- 1 tsp Dijon
- Salt and Black Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place stainless steam basket inside 3.5 quart sauce pan; fill with 1” of water; place over a medium-high flame; add BROCCOLI, cover, and steam until slightly soft (3-5 minutes); remove and allow to cool. *Don’t over-steam (you want it crunchy).
- Cook BACON according to package instructions (you want it crispy).
- In a large mixing bowl, combine chilled BROCCOLI, GRAPES, GREEN ONIONS, BLUE CHEESE, and WALNUTS; chill until ready to use (add BACON later).
- In a small mixing bowl, combine OLIVE OIL, APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, HONEY, DIJON, SALT, and PEPPER; whisk to combine. *Note: if using the Nutribullet Pro, simply add all ingredients to it and pulse a few times until creamy and well-blended.
- To serve, pour vinaigrette over salad; toss to combine; add BACON; serve chilled.
Traci Antonovich
About my recipes: Minimal meat & more plants!
Latest posts by Traci Antonovich (see all)
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