Make your taste buds happy with our Easy Creamy Broccoli Salad. Imagine crunchy broccoli florets, bacon, cheddar cheese, and a tangy dressing. Whether you're hosting a potluck or firing up the grill, this salad will steal the show. Be the hero of your next get-together!
This salad is a crowd pleaser and perfect for any time of the year with the crispness of the broccoli and flavorful dressing. It is also so fast and easy to make. It reminds me of a Waldorf salad which my Dad use to make. With concentration on more healthy foods, this is a nice alternative to your basic garden salad. So when you don't want to make pasta salad or a green salad, try this broccoli salad. You will not be disappointed.
Try some of our other favorites, such as Mexican Street Corn Bake, Cheesy Zucchini Casserole, Easy Butter Swim Biscuits, or Zucchini Tomato Bake.
If you try the recipe, please leave us a comment and rating below!
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Ingredients for Fresh Broccoli Salad
- broccoli florets
- shredded cheddar cheese
- sunflower seeds
- red onions
- dried cranberries
- crumbled bacon
- mayonnaise
- lemon juice
- white wine vinegar
- granulated sugar
- teaspoon salt
- black pepper
FAQs
Broccoli Salad is a fresh, crunchy, and colorful salad typically made with raw broccoli florets, bacon, red onion, and sunflower seeds, all tossed in a creamy, slightly sweet and tangy dressing. Additional ingredients can include cheese, dried cranberries, and nuts.
Yes, Broccoli Salad can be made a day in advance. Prepare the salad and dressing separately, then combine them just before serving to keep the ingredients fresh and crunchy.
Store leftover Broccoli Salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The salad may lose some of its crunchiness over time, but it will still be tasty.
Broccoli Salad pairs well with grilled meats, sandwiches, or as a side dish at picnics and potlucks. It complements a wide variety of main dishes due to its fresh, tangy flavor.
Top Tips
- Cut the broccoli into bite sized pieces. You can also buy florets at the grocery store which are already cut up.
- I save time with the bacon by using real bacon pieces but you can use the precooked bacon or cook some bacon up in your frying pan/oven. Do not use the imitation bacon type, just the real kind.
- We prefer the sunflower seeds for this salad but you can substitute slivered almonds, pine nuts, pecans, walnuts, or any other type of nut you like.
- Cheddar cheese is used in this recipe, but you could also use feta, gorgonzola. If you wanted to have it in cubes instead of shredded, go for it.
- If you prefer to blanch the broccoli, instead of eating it raw, you can boil them in a large stockpot for one minute, then immediately transfer to an ice bath (prevents it from cooking further). Drain well before using in salad.
- Make this ahead of time and refrigerator at least an hour before serving to get the dressing soaked into the broccoli and all of the flavors to merge well.
- You can substitute the regular mayonnaise for any type you prefer, such as Miracle Whip, Olive Oil mayo, low-fat.
How to make Fresh and Creamy Broccoli Salad
- Combine broccoli florets, shredded cheese, cranberries, onions, sunflower seeds, bacon in a large bowl.
- Whisk mayonnaise, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and stir well.
- Serve immediately or store in refrigerator until ready to serve. Stir it again before serving and enjoy!
Easy Broccoli Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 6 cups broccoli florets, this was about 1 lb. 2-2 ½ heads of fresh broccoli
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded or cubed
- ½ cup sunflower seeds
- ½ cup red onion, diced
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- ⅔ cup crumbled bacon pieces
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
- 2 tbsp. white wine vinegar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. pepper
Instructions
- Combine broccoli florets, cheese, cranberries, onions, sunflower seeds, bacon in a large bowl.
- Whisk mayonnaise, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Pour the dressing over the salad mix and stir well.
- Serve immediately or store in refrigerator until ready to serve. Stir it again before serving and enjoy!
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