January 19, 2023
Review RecipeBroccoli Sunflower Seed Salad

Table of Contents
This delicious broccoli salad is an easy, healthy side dish that brightens up any table. It’s loaded with cranberries, sunflower seeds, almonds, bacon, and a creamy homemade dressing — the perfect flavor combination.

Best Broccoli Salad Ingredients

You’ll need:
- 6 cups broccoli florets, broken into bite size pieces
- 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ⅔ cup chopped craisins
- ⅔ cup diced red onion
- ⅔ cup cooked and crumbled bacon
- ½ cup sunflower kernels
For the Broccoli Salad Dressing
- 1 ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS
CHEESE: Cheese is a popular addition to this great salad. Choose sharp cheddar or extra sharp cheddar cheese (¾ cup) and thickly shred or cube it.
VEGGIES: For some added variety, substitute half of your broccoli for other veggies like cauliflower or carrots in this classic side dish.
BACON: This perfect summer salad can use savory bacon bits or crumbled real bacon. Or leave out the bacon to make this recipe completely vegetarian.
How To Make Broccoli Salad
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
If you are chopping a whole head of broccoli, cut off bite-sized florets. Be sure to trim the stems of the cut florets as well (trim them completely off or leave a small stem). You can also buy store-bought chopped broccoli to save time.
STEP ONE: Using an extra large mixing bowl, combine the broccoli, shredded cheese, craisins, red onion, crumbled bacon and sunflower kernels.

STEP TWO: Using a medium size mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, sugar, kosher salt and pepper until smooth.
PRO TIP:
If you love this salad and plan to make it frequently, double or even triple the dressing and store the extras in a mason jar in the fridge for next time.

STEP THREE: Pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture and stir to completely coat the salad ingredients.

STEP FOUR: Cover tightly and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

How To Serve Broccoli Sunflower Seed Salad
This cold broccoli salad is the perfect side dish for summer gatherings alongside our grilled chicken and grilled corn on the cob. It will bring a lovely freshness and crunch to your meals.
This easy broccoli salad recipe, along with our strawberry spinach salad and dill pickle pasta salad are dinner-time classics that you’ll want to save and come back to again and again.
MORE SALAD RECIPES
How to Store Broccoli Salad
IN THE FRIDGE: This fresh broccoli salad will last in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, making it a great recipe to make ahead of time for potlucks and parties. The flavors of the broccoli salad get even better over time, and the longer it sits, the more the ingredients mix together.
IN THE FREEZER: We do not recommend freezing broccoli salad. All the fresh ingredients will lose their crisp texture and become soggy.

This crunchy broccoli salad is a light and fresh side dish that’s easy to make and loaded with tasty toppings like cranberries, almonds, crisp bacon, and sunflower seeds plus a tangy dressing.
Best Broccoli Salad Recipe FAQ
This easy recipe can be stored in the fridge for up to two days.
This favorite broccoli salad recipe is best made ahead of time so that the ingredients can soak up all the flavors of the delicious dressing.
If you are chopping a whole head of broccoli, cut off small florets. Be sure to trim the broccoli stem off the florets as well (trim them completely off or leave a small stem). You can also buy chopped broccoli at the grocery store to save time.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Coleslaw
- Dirty Rice
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
- Roasted Broccoli
- Broccoli Slaw
- Tuna Salad

Best Broccoli Salad
Ingredients
Salad
- 6 cups broccoli florets broken into bite size pieces
- 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ⅔ cup chopped craisins
- ⅔ cup diced red onion
- ⅔ cup cooked and crumbled bacon
- ½ cup sunflower kernels
Dressing
- 1 ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Using an extra large mixing bowl, combine the broccoli, shredded cheese, craisins, red onion, crumbled bacon and sunflower kernels.
- Using a medium size mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, sugar, kosher salt and pepper until smooth.
- Pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture and stir to completely coat the salad ingredients.
- Cover tightly and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Notes
- If you are chopping a whole head of broccoli, cut off bite-sized florets. Be sure to trim the stems off the cut florets as well (trim them completely off or leave a small stem). You can also buy store-bought chopped broccoli to save time.
- If you love this salad and plan to make it frequently, double or even triple the dressing and store the extras in a mason jar in the fridge for next time.
Comments
Hannah Griffin says
Healthy and delicious!
Tin says
my daughter made this recipe for me – Thanks! so healthy food
Groovy says
The picture says celery salt, not celery seeds?
Layne Kangas says
It’s a typo and celery seeds should be used. Sorry for the confusion!
Debbie Haggard says
Best broccoli salad I have ever had.
Joe says
We really liked this!