May 5, 2022
Review RecipeBroccoli 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.
Broccoli Salad Ingredients
You’ll need:
- 6 cups raw broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup red onion, diced
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup salted sunflower seeds
- ½ cup sliced almonds
- ½ cup bacon bits (real is best)
For the Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon celery seeds
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon 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 This Broccoli Salad Recipe
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: Place the sliced onions in a small bowl of cold water and let them soak for at least 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Soaking the onions in cold water helps remove some of the raw onion taste. It is optional to do.
STEP TWO: When ready to prepare the salad, drain the onions by placing a paper towel over the dish and invert to let the water run through the paper towel, leaving the onions in the dish.
PRO TIP:
The broccoli in this recipe is completely uncooked and marinates in the dressing to become tender and flavorful. All you need to do is chop it. If you’d prefer to cook your broccoli florets for this salad, you can blanch them for one minute and let them cool before making the salad.
STEP THREE: In a medium bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients and set aside.
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 FOUR: In a large bowl, place the salad ingredients.
STEP FIVE: Pour the broccoli salad dressing over the salad and mix well.
STEP SIX: Refrigerate at least one hour before serving. Then mix again right before serving.
How To Serve
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.
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Storage
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.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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.
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Broccoli Salad
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 6 cups broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup red onion, diced
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup salted sunflower seeds
- ½ cup sliced almonds
- ½ cup bacon bits, or crumbled real bacon
For the Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon celery seeds
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Place the sliced onions in a small dish of cold water and let them soak at least 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. When ready to prepare the salad drain the onions.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients and set aside.
- In a large bowl, place the salad ingredients.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and mix well.
- Refrigerate at least one hour before serving. Then mix again right before serving.
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.
- The broccoli in this recipe is completely uncooked and marinates in the dressing to become tender and flavorful. All you need to do is chop it. If you’d prefer to cook your broccoli florets for this salad, you can blanch it for one minute and let it cool before making the salad.
- 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!