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Like classic broccoli salad and loaded cauliflower salad, this hearty broccoli cauliflower salad recipe is great for parties, picnics, and potlucks. It can easily be made ahead of time and holds up well — it’s actually even better after a few hours or overnight. I originally made this broccoli cauliflower bacon salad for a Christmas party, as the colors happen to be festive red and green. It’s equally perfect with juicy burgers in the summertime, though.

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad Recipe: Why You’ll Love It

Savory and bright flavors
Crunchy broccoli and cauliflower side dish
Just 10 minutes total time
Made with simple ingredients
Delicious way to eat veggies
Naturally healthy, low in carbohydrates, keto, paleo, and whole30

Broccoli cauliflower salad in a bowl with lemon wedges to garnish.

Ingredients & Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for broccoli bacon cauliflower salad, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

For The Broccoli Cauliflower Salad Ingredients:

Broccoli & Cauliflower – Cut into small florets. If you use pre-cut cauliflower or broccoli florets, you will still want to trim and cut them into smaller sizes. That way, they’ll easily fit onto a fork with the other ingredients, for a little of everything in every bite. And if you have only broccoli or only cauliflower florets on hand, you can use just one of them instead of both.
Bell Pepper – For sweetness, color, and crunch. I love the red bell pepper for a contrast in color, but you could also use yellow or orange.
Cooked Bacon – Make your own or buy bacon bits ready-to-go. For the best flavor, I highly recommend cooking the bacon yourself (lots of options — oven bacon, microwave bacon, or air fryer bacon!) and then crumble it fresh.

VARIATIONS: Try adding…

Cheese – Shredded cheddar cheese or crumbled goat cheese both pair well for different flavor profiles.
Nuts Or Seeds – Such as sliced almonds, halved walnuts, or sunflower seeds. Great if you want some crunch!
Onions – Diced red onion is a popular option.
Dried Fruit – Such as raisins or dried cranberries. Just be aware the sugar content of the cauliflower broccoli salad will be higher with dried fruit added.

For The Simple Creamy Dressing:

Mayonnaise – I prefer homemade avocado mayo (it takes just 5 minutes, tastes great, and has clean ingredients!), but any store bought kind will also work. If you want to lighten up the dressing, replace half the mayo with sour cream or even plain Greek yogurt.
Olive Oil – Thins out the dressing. Any other neutral oil, such as avocado oil, will also work.
Lemon Juice – The acidity balances out the creaminess. Use fresh lemon juice for best flavor or bottled for convenience. White or apple cider vinegar would also work as a substitute to provide acidity.
Fresh Thyme – Thyme leaves are in season for fall and winter, though available year round. You could use other herbs at different times of year, or omit the herbs altogether.
Garlic Powder – Garlic powder typically works better in smooth, creamy dressings for salads. But if you like, feel free to substitute 2 cloves minced garlic.
Sea Salt & Black Pepper – Adjust salt to taste. The amount needed may vary based on how salty your mayonnaise is.

VARIATION: Prefer a sweet dressing?

This mayo dressing is savory, not sweet. If you prefer broccoli cauliflower salad with sweet mayo dressing, you can make a very similar one like I did in this broccoli cranberry salad, or simply add a couple tablespoons of sweetener of your choice to the dressing in this one. I recommend powdered Besti or Wholesome Yum Keto Honey as healthy sugar-free options.

Broccoli cauliflower salad recipe ingredients in bowls.

How To Make Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

This section shows how to make salad with broccoli and cauliflower, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

Mix salad. In a large bowl, stir together broccoli, cauliflower, bell pepper, and bacon bits.
Make homemade dressing. Whisk together mayonnaise, olive oil, lemon juice, thyme, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.

Dressing ingredients in a bowl with a whisk.

Assemble. Pour dressing over salad and toss together to coat.
Chill. You can serve the salad right away, but it will be better if you let it chill for a few hours or overnight.

Dressing on top of broccoli cauliflower bacon salad.

Finished broccoli cauliflower salad in a bowl.

Storage Instructions

Store: Keep salad in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Meal prep: One of the best things about this broccoli cauliflower salad recipe is it stores so well! In fact, it’s even better the next day. If you can, let it chill for a few hours or overnight after making it — perfect for meal prep. You can also chop the veggies and make the dressing ahead if you prefer.
Do not freeze: Both the creamy broccoli cauliflower salad dressing and the fresh salad ingredients will not hold up to freezing and thawing.

Broccoli cauliflower bacon salad on a plate with a fork.

What To Serve With Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

Serve this salad with a healthy dinner main dish for a balanced meal:

Juicy garlic grilled shrimp skewers with lemon and garlic

More Healthy Cauliflower Recipes

If you like this cauliflower broccoli salad with bacon, you might also like some of these other healthy cauliflower recipes:

Cauliflower soup recipe close up in a bowl

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad Recipe

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27 Comments

SHANNA
0 February 20, 2023Reply

One of my favorite salads on here. So good, and I just love the fresh thyme!
Maryam
0 August 16, 2022Reply

The salad recipe is nice, I like it.
Wendy
0 August 6, 2022Reply

This is such a great side – I can’t wait to make it again.
Scarlet
0 August 6, 2022Reply

Great flavors and great crunch in this broccoli cauliflower salad. I will make it again.
jess
0 July 20, 2022Reply

I love this salad, and it is the perfect dish to bring to parties or potlucks.
Allyson Zea
0 July 19, 2022Reply

This was majorly delicious! Thank you so much for this easy low-carb recipe!
Toni
0 July 19, 2022Reply

This is really perfect for any occasion!! Everyone at my house loved it!
Doris
0 July 13, 2022Reply

Great salad for a family get together! Lots of good comments! Increased # to 15 people. Thanks for a healthy Keto salad! 👏
Jason Schmidt
0 June 25, 2022Reply

Hi is the broccoli and cauliflower cook first or raw?
- Wholesome Yum D
  0 June 27, 2022Reply
  
  Hi Jason, The broccoli and cauliflower are raw.
Carolyn
0 June 25, 2022Reply

I have been making Avocado Mayonaise for several years but I also add granulated garlic and dried cilantro to it makes it delicious! Sometimes I use 2 eggs because large eggs are not very large.
Glenda
0 June 20, 2022Reply

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad is a family favorite!
Andrea Pannell
0 June 20, 2022Reply

I am new to this keto diet and this recipe is sure making it easy! So delicious!
Chris
0 July 23, 2021Reply

Can u make this salad with Greek yogurt ?
- Wholesome Yum M
  0 July 23, 2021Reply
  
  Hi Chris, Yes, but it will change the nutrition.
Julie
0 February 3, 2020Reply

Made this with cauliflower and broccoli half cooked. Great salad!
Aileen Creedon
0 January 12, 2020Reply

I love both broccoli and cauliflower but only when cooked. I dont care for the texture of it raw. Would it work if they worked steamed and then chilled?
- Wholesome Yum M
  0 January 13, 2020Reply
  
  Hi Aileen, This should work fine as long as the vegetables are lightly steamed. You want them to be able to retain their shape in the salad.
Brandi McClure
0 January 10, 2020Reply

If I thaw out frozen broccoli and cauliflower, would that work? I don’t get fresh, as it goes bad. I have everything on hand for this if I can use thawed frozen. I know this sounds silly, but I am curious. I would like to try it, without having to go to the grocery store, as i have already shopped for the week.
- Wholesome Yum M
  0 January 13, 2020Reply
  
  Hi Brandi, I think the recipe should still work if your use frozen. Please let us know how it turns out!
  - Heather Bailey
    0 June 5, 2020Reply
    
    This is a great keto friendly recipe I used to buy this from the grocery store all the time but I feel like they put all kinds of crap in it. I like to doctor my things up because I love flavor. I did add a little bit of monk fruit to sweeten it up and yet it was still just a little too mayonnaise tasting to me so I added a little bit of craft chunky blue cheese which is keto friendly. Oh and I also had a chunks of cheddar cheese cuz I’m a Wisconsin girl. It’s definitely going to work at the barbecue tomorrow. The flavor is heaven on my taste buds
    - Glenda
      0 August 6, 2022Reply
      
      One of our family favorites and it’s always a hit at potlucks.
Cindy
0 January 28, 2019Reply

I can’t believe how simple this was. I made this for the first time to take to a dinner party and there were no leftovers. I gave your name recipe to a few people that night. It was so delicious I had to make more when I got home. Thank you!
Natalie
0 December 24, 2018Reply

This combination has been my favourite breakfast at least twice a week! Especially I’m crazy at broccoli xD They also give a fresh start of the day Btw, Merry Christmas Maya!!!
Bryan Martinez
0 December 21, 2018Reply

My wife would love this solely because of the broccoli haha great recipe! I already sent her the link so we can make it for lunch this weekend
Britni
0 December 21, 2018Reply

I’ve never tried with cauliflower added…looks yummy! We also add dried cranberries.
Molly Kumar
0 December 21, 2018Reply

The salad is so yummm!!! We love the bacon, mayo and broccoli mix you have going on here. Super easy and makes a great quick-light lunch too.