Inspired by the flavors of German potato salad, this Cauliflower Salad with Bacon is the perfect combination of savory and sweet and is finished off with peppery notes and parmesan cheese. Serve this warm salad recipe with grilled chicken, salmon, burgers, or even sausage for a meal everyone will love!
Table of contents
Cauliflower and bacon salad is what baked salad dreams are made of. Coated in bacon fat and seasoned with apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, thyme, and red onions, it's a dimensional yet accessible side dish recipe. Serve it at your next dinner party, Sunday family dinner, or just because.
Why You'll Love Cauliflower Bacon Salad
- Veggie-Forward: Cauliflower and red onion are the stars of this show. The cauliflower is roasted to carmelized perfection, converting even those who are vegetable adverse.
- Simple Preparation: Though the presentation is impressive and elegant, the steps to make this warm bacon salad are not.
- Satisfying: Long gone are the days of overcooked microwaved cauliflower. This bacon-roasted cauliflower is rich and nutty with naturally sweet notes. It's hard to stop at just one bite!
- Versatile: Serve cauliflower bacon salad with almost any main dish for a delicious and beautiful dinner spread.
Ingredients
- Thick-Cut Bacon: Full strips of bacon are fried up for texture and heartiness and the bacon grease is the perfect roasting fat for the cauliflower.
- Cauliflower: One full head, cut into florets.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Distilled or raw-unfiltered vinegar.
- Dijon Mustard: Adds light sharp and peppery notes to the salad
- Sugar: Just one teaspoon adds a light sweetness to the salad, pulling it all together.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic is best.
- Fresh Thyme (Optional): Use this herb to add delightful citrus and earthy notes to the roasted cauliflower salad.
- Red Onions: Sweet peppery red onions complement the earthy and sweet cauliflower salad, making it balanced and flavorful.
- Shaved Parmesan (Optional): Finishes off the salad with nutty and rich umami notes.
Substitutions
- Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar will be the best option for this salad, but white wine vinegar or distilled white vinegar can substitute for it in a pinch.
- Dried Thyme: If you can't find or don't have fresh thyme, you can use 2 teaspoons of the dried herb in its place.
- Mustard: Stone ground mustard can substitute for Dijon mustard.
How to Make Cauliflower Salad with Bacon
For the complete recipe and measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 475 degrees Fahrenheit and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: In a skillet, fry up the bacon until crisp. Set bacon aside, reserving the bacon grease.
Step 3: In a large bowl, toss together the cauliflower florets, bacon grease, apple cider vinegar, sugar, dijon mustard, and garlic.
Step 4: Place the cauliflower onto the prepared baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes.
Step 5: Sprinkle the cauliflower with crumbled bacon, thyme, parsley, and red onions. Gently toss to combine.
Step 6: Serve the bacon cauliflower salad warm with shaved parmesan and freshly cracked pepper, if desired.
Recipe Pro-Tips
- How to Fry Up the Bacon. Fry the bacon up in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the bacon for 8-10 minutes, turning it half way through the cooking time, or until the bacon is crispy and firm. Remove the bacon from the skillet and drain on paper towels, reserving the bacon grease for the cauliflower.
- Taking the Spice out of Red Onion. Remove the sharpness from the sliced red onions by rinsing them in cold water.
- Cut Even Size Cauliflower Florets. This will help them to roast evenly and caramelize nicely.
Recipe Variations
- Broccoli Cauliflower Salad: Make broccoli cauliflower salad with bacon by using part broccoli and part cauliflower.
- German Style Cauliflower Potato Salad: Enjoy a new take on German potato salad by roasting half baby gold potatoes and half cauliflower in the bacon and seasoning mixture.
Dietary Adaptations
This low-carb salad is naturally gluten-free and processed sugar-free. To make it dairy-free, simply omit the parmesan cheese from the recipe or substitute a vegan parmesan cheese.
Storage Directions
- Refrigeration: Leftovers keep covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. They do not freeze well.
- Reheating: Leftovers can be enjoyed cool or at room temperature. Individual servings of the salad can also be heated in the microwave on medium heat for 45 seconds -1 minute intervals, or until warmed through.
Tools Needed to Make This Recipe
- Cutting Board
- Chef Knife
- Measuring Cups & Spoons
- Rimmed Sheet Pan
- Skillet
- Heat-Safe Spatula
- Silicone Spatula (Optional)
More Salad Recipes
- Raw Carrot Salad
- Grilled Watermelon Salad
- Creamy Cilantro and Corn Pasta Salad
- Light Herbed Potato Salad
Thank you for making this Warm Cauliflower Salad! If you enjoyed it, please follow me on Instagram @mindfulcooks and tag your recipe creations with #mindfulcooks!
Recipe
Cauliflower Salad with Bacon
Ingredients
- ½ lb bacon thick cut
- 1 head cauliflower cut into florets
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves optional
- ⅓ cup sliced red onions
- shaved parmesan and/or black pepper to garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 475℉ and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a skillet, fry up the bacon over medium heat for 8-10 minutes or until crisp, turning the bacon halfway through the cooking time. Set the bacon aside, reserving the bacon grease.
- In a large bowl, toss together the cauliflower florets, bacon grease, apple cider vinegar, sugar, dijon mustard, and garlic.
- Place the cauliflower onto the prepared baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes.
- Sprinkle the cauliflower with crumbled bacon, thyme, parsley, and red onions. Gently toss to combine.
- Serve the bacon cauliflower salad warm with shaved parmesan and freshly cracked pepper, if desired.
Notes
- Storage Directions: Leftovers keep covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. They do not freeze well.
- Reheating: Leftovers can be enjoyed cool or at room temperature. Individual servings of the salad can also be heated in the microwave on medium heat for 45 seconds -1 minute intervals, or until warmed through.
- Variations:
- Cauliflower & Bacon Salad: Make broccoli cauliflower salad with bacon by using part broccoli and part cauliflower.
- German Cauliflower Potato Salad: Enjoy a new take on German potato salad by roasting half baby gold potatoes and half cauliflower in the bacon and seasoning mixture.
- Chef's Tip: Remove the sharpness from the sliced red onions by rinsing them in cold water.
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