Home > Salads > Broccoli Salad Broccoli Salad March 6, 2020 | 12 Comments SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Jump to Recipe This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. Broccoli Salad features broccoli, cheese, bacon, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries. The salad is further enhanced with a creamy mayo-based dressing that is naturally sweetened and loaded with flavor! The best Broccoli Salad recipe You might be wondering what makes this Broccoli Salad so special and I’m here to tell you that it’s all because of the spectacular dressing! You’ll find most broccoli salad dressing recipes are a combination of mayo and white sugar. And while my dressing recipe does contain mayo, it doesn’t just taste like mayo straight from the jar! The dressing is simple and naturally sweetened with honey (instead of lots of white sugar). It’s got a hit of freshness and acidity thanks to the red wine vinegar and fresh lemon juice. We also add in some sour cream and Dijon mustard for tang and depth of flavor. And finally, it’s seasoned with salt and pepper to balance and intensify all the flavors. This dressing will have you craving Broccoli Salad all year round! Does the broccoli need to be cooked first? Raw broccoli is pretty standard in this kind of recipe, and this salad is no exception. The dressing and chilling time does tone down the “rawness” of the broccoli. You’ll also want to make sure to chop up the florets into small pieces for the best possible salad. (Here’s a step by step visual on how to chop broccoli) QUICK TIP If you prefer, the broccoli can be blanched before adding it to the salad. Add the florets to a pot of salted boiling water for 1 minute, then transfer to an ice bath to stop the cooking. Drain the cooled broccoli well before using or it will water down the salad. Here’s where a salad spinner can come in handy! 🙂 How to make Broccoli Salad Combine all the salad ingredients: Add the chopped broccoli, red onion, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, cheddar cheese, and bacon to a large bowl. If the salad will be chilling for a bit before eating, add the bacon and sunflower seeds after it’s chilled so they remain nice and crisp. Add all the dressing ingredients to a smaller bowl. Whisk dressing until smooth and combined. Pour dressing over the salad. Toss to combine and coat everything in the dressing. Serve the salad. We prefer it chilled, but it can be served right after making. Salad tips Use dry roasted, salted sunflower seeds. The roasted and salted sunflower seeds are much more flavorful than plain. Let the salad sit and chill. Before you serve the salad, chill it in the fridge. This gives the broccoli a chance to become a bit more tender and soak in some of the dressing. When chilling, keep the bacon and sunflower seeds out so they can be tossed in right before serving. If you prefer, it’s fine to serve this salad right after making it. How long does Broccoli Salad last? We like this salad the same day it’s made, but it will stay fresh for two days, covered tightly and stored in the fridge. If storing the salad and dressing separately, it can last up to four days. (Store bacon and sunflower seeds separately so they keep their crunch.) Broccoli Salad goes with… If serving this salad at a potluck gathering, here are some other great dishes to accompany it: Other potluck salads: Orzo Pasta Salad or this Corn Salad Grilled meat: Grilled Chicken or Grilled Steak Vegetarian dishes: Vegetarian Tacos or Vegetarian Enchiladas More potluck salads Mexican Pasta Salad with a creamy cilantro dressing Macaroni Coleslaw Salad summer potluck mash-up salad! Grape Salad dessert “salad” with creamy grapes and pecans Greek Pasta Salad with a Greek-inspired vinaigrette Mediterranean Pasta Salad with a lemon vinaigrette FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content. Broccoli Salad 5 from 4 votes - Review this recipe Broccoli salad features broccoli, cheese, bacon, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries. The salad is further enhanced with a creamy mayo-based dressing that is naturally sweetened and loaded with flavor. SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Broccoli Salad 5 from 4 votes - Review this recipe SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Broccoli salad features broccoli, cheese, bacon, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries. The salad is further enhanced with a creamy mayo-based dressing that is naturally sweetened and loaded with flavor. Course Salad, Side Dish Cuisine American Keyword broccoli salad Prep Time 25 minutes Chilling Time 30 minutes Total Time 55 minutes Servings 6 -8 as a side Calories 513kcal Author Chelsea Lords Cost $5.45 Ingredients▢ 5-6 cups broccoli florets▢ 1 cup sharp Cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes▢ 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons dried cranberries▢ 10 slices center-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled▢ 1/2 cup salted sunflower seeds (no shells)▢ 1/3 cup diced red onion Note 1Dressing▢ 3/4 cup full-fat mayonnaise ▢ 1/4 cup sour cream▢ 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard▢ 1 and 1/2 tablespoon red wine vinegar▢ 3 tablespoons honey▢ 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, optional▢ Salt and pepperUS - Metric USMetric InstructionsBROCCOLI: Remove the stems from the broccoli and cut into small bite-sized pieces.SALAD: Combine the chopped broccoli, 1 cup cubed Cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons dried cranberries, and 1/3 cup diced red onion (See Note 1).DRESSING: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients: 3/4 cup full-fat mayo, 1/4 cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 and 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 3 tablespoons honey, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Whisk until smooth.DRESS SALAD: Combine the dressing with the salad. Cover and chill for 30 minutes to 1 one hour. Toss again after chilling.FINISHING: Right before serving, add the cooked and crumbled bacon and 1/2 cup sunflower seeds. Toss and serve.STORAGE: Salad is best eaten the same day it is made. Video Recipe NotesNote 1:Red onion: To remove the "bite" of the red onion: peel and dice the red onion and then submerge the pieces in a bowl of cold or ice water. Let sit for at least ten minutes, stirring once or twice, before draining and using in this salad. Nutrition FactsServing: 8as a side | Calories: 513kcal | Carbohydrates: 24.6g | Protein: 12.5g | Fat: 42.2g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 502.1mg | Fiber: 3.1g | Sugar: 17.2g We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below.
I’ve never had broccoli salad, but with these awesome ingredients I’m sure I’ll be trying this version soon! Reply
Love the salad, and all the bright colors, I make a delicious Asian salad with broccoli so I like to munch on them, but the dressing its the winner for me, so easy, creamy and delicious! Reply
Hi Chelsea! It’s been awhile that I’m following you. I love your recipes and I’ve made several of theme, but sometimes I had to improvise because here in Italy, happens that e don’t have all the ingredients that you have. Anyways, It has always been a success. You’re great! I have a question, tha It might sound weird to you: Are the broccoli raw? I mean, you didn’t cook them first? I’ve never eat raw broccoli, we usually cook them in a way or anothe… I’ll give them a try, but what do you think if I steam them and then put them in the salad? Thank you for sharing all these awesome recipes! Reply
Hey Cat – you are so sweet! Thanks for your kind comment 🙂 I’m glad you’ve enjoyed recipes and been able to substitute things and still have them work out – you are awesome! The broccoli in this salad is raw (not cooked first) and it gives it a great crunch – it makes for a different kind of salad! 🙂 If you did steam them, I would recommend letting them cool all the way before adding the other ingredients so it’s still a cold salad. Hope that helps! Thanks again 🙂 Reply
Hi Chelsea, this recipe sounds so yummy! I am going to make it this weekend for a family bbq. Being from Canada I will have to use different brands of dressing, hoping it tastes as good as yours looks! Question: Do you blanch the broccoli first or just put it in raw? Would you allow the dressing to “sit” on the salad for a bit to soften the broccoli first or just serve immediately? Thank you, Tami Reply
This looks like a delicious recipe! I am going to take it a family picnic. I just have a couple of questions. Will the avocado turn brown if this sits in a cooler for a few hours? Also, can I mix/whisk the dressings together at home and pour it on before we eat? Thank you for sharing! Reply
Thanks so much Maddi! The avocado will turn brown so I would try and add that just before enjoying the salad if possible. The dressings can be added together in advance and then added right before enjoying. I hope you love this salad! 🙂 Reply
It was a very simple recipes to make. It didn’t take long to do and everyone loved it. Thank you Reply
