The end of summer is drawing near and people are beginning to get in their last socially distant barbecues. I’ve been invited to a few and this Broccoli Salad with Quick Homemade Ranch is what I’ve been turning to as my food contribution. Studded with crisp bacon, minced shallots, and chewy raisins, this easy Broccoli Salad is only made better by the homemade Greek yogurt ranch dressing. It’s a healthy alternative to store-bought ranch and takes less than five minutes to make, plus I’d argue it tastes better than the original!
Ingredients needed to make Broccoli Salad with Quick Homemade Ranch
The ingredients for Broccoli Salad are probably self-explanatory. I’ll give you a hint- they involve broccoli. You’ll need a large head of broccoli, one or two shallots, 6 slices of bacon, and raisins. For the Quick Homemade Ranch, it’ll require plain Greek yogurt, a few tablespoons of water, fresh parsley, fresh chives, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper! It’s simple and flavorful in under five minutes!
Tools used to make Broccoli Salad with Quick Homemade Ranch
Since there is barely any real “cooking” required for this recipe, the tools you need are minimal. As always, a good chef’s knife is essential in the kitchen for everything from chopping the broccoli to mincing the fresh herbs. Here is my favorite. In addition, you’ll need a medium skillet to crisp your bacon, such as this one. I love it because it uses hard-anodized aluminum to create a nonstick surface, rather than traditional teflon that can leach chemicals into your food. It’s durable and cleans SO easily.
Other than a knife and skillet, you’ll need a few basics such as a large mixing bowl, cutting board, measuring tools, and a whisk. Hopefully you already have most of those items stocked in your kitchen and can get right to salad-making!
How to make Broccoli Salad with Quick Homemade Ranch
This recipe involves very little real cooking, so it’s perfect to do with kids or if you don’t want to put forth a lot of effort. You begin by crisping up 6 slices of bacon, which is truly the only time you need to turn on the stove. Chop the cooked bacon, along with the broccoli and shallots, and add to a bowl with the raisins. To make the dressing, simply combine all remaining ingredients and whisk. Drizzle it over your broccoli and enjoy! I love to chill this salad for a few hours before eating, so it’s great to make-ahead or use for meal prep. The longer it sits, the better it gets!
If you’re a ranch fiend like I am, feel free to double the recipe and save whatever you don’t use on your salad for dipping veggies, pizza crust, or drizzling over pretty much anything. It’s so yummy and stores for 4-5 days when kept in an airtight container!
Looking for other healthy side dishes?
Check out these other recipes for some more of my favorite healthy sides.
Cheesy Corn and Poblano Casserole
Charred Corn Salad with Cumin Lime Vinaigrette
Blistered Green Beans with Garlic and Ginger
Recipe Ingredients
1 large head broccoli, chopped into small pieces
6 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
1 shallot, diced
¼ cup raisins
½ cup greek yogurt
3-4 tbsp water
⅛ cup fresh parsley
⅛ cup fresh chives
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
Recipe Instructions
- Crisp the bacon in a medium skillet until cooked through, then chop.
- Chop broccoli into small pieces and add to a large mixing bowl, along with the cooked bacon, diced shallots, and raisins.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine the greek yogurt, herbs, spices, salt, and pepper. Add water, tablespoon by tablespoon, and whisk until you reach your desired consistency.
- Pour dressing over the salad and fold to incorporate. Chill for 30 minutes or overnight, then serve cold. Enjoy!
There may be affiliate links in this post! By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I love and use myself. Thank you for your continued support of The Ardent Cook, it does not go unnoticed.
The Ardent Cook 
1 Comment
Comments are closed.