Broccoli Salad

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This is the best broccoli salad recipe. Loaded flavor and tossed in an amazing homemade dressing, this broccoli salad with bacon will become your go-to side dish for any party!

a bowl of Broccoli Salad with bacon and cranberries


Broccoli is my favorite vegetable! I make this roasted broccoli all the time, but my kids & husband prefer eating it raw. So, I created this broccoli salad recipe so that my entire family could enjoy eating broccoli together!

And truly everyone who tries it loves this broccoli salad. In this recipe, fresh broccoli, salty bacon, sweet cranberries, nutty sunflower seeds and onions are all tossed in the best homemade dressing.

Since too much dressing has always been my frustration with broccoli salad, I created this recipe to include just the right amount of dressing. We’re talking, enough to lightly coat the ingredients & impart flavor without creating puddles of extra dressing at the bottom of the bowl.

a bowl of Broccoli Salad with bacon and cranberries

Broccoli Salad Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions

overhead photo of the ingredients in this Broccoli Salad recipe
  • Broccoli florets. You need 6 cups of broccoli for this recipe. I suggest buying florets so you get more of the tender broccoli head for your money. Be sure to cut it into small, bite-sized pieces.
  • Red onion. Use your favorite onion variety, green onions, yellow and white are all great choices.
  • Dried cranberries. you can substitute raisins, if desired.
  • Sunflower seeds. Pecans are a good substitute for sunflower seeds.
  • Bacon. Choose your favorite variety.
  • Mayonnaise. I don’t suggest substitutes for the mayo in this recipe.
  • Sour cream. full-fat greek yogurt can be used in place of sour cream.
  • Honey. granulated sugar works well in place of honey.
  • Apple cider vinegar. white vinegar works well as a substitute.
a spoon taking a scoop of Broccoli Salad

How to Make Broccoli Salad

We’ll walk through this broccoli salad recipe step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video.

Cook & Crumble Bacon

Begin by preparing the bacon because it needs time to cool before putting it in the salad.

Cook the bacon either on the stovetop or bake in the oven (400 degrees for 20 minutes) until crispy.

cooked bacon in a pan to use in this Broccoli Salad recipe

Then, line a plate with paper towels. Remove the bacon from the pan transfer it to the plate to cool.

cooked bacon on a plate lined with paper towels to use in this Broccoli Salad recipe

Once it’s cooled, crumble the bacon into a bowl, set aside.

crumbled bacon on a plate to use in this Broccoli Salad recipe

Make the Broccoli Salad Dressing

Next, make the dressing by whisking together the dressing ingredients until smooth. Set it aside.

two photos showing how to make the dressing for this Broccoli Salad recipe

Assemble the Broccoli Salad

Now it’s time to assemble the salad! In a large bowl, combine broccoli florets, red onion, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds and crumbled bacon.

assembling Broccoli Salad in a large glass bowl

Toss or stir the ingredients until combined.

Broccoli Salad being mixed in a glass bowl

Then, pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture and stir until evenly distributed.

Once the salad is well mixed, transfer it to a serving dish, cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. This allows the flavors to blend together.

two photos showing the dressing being added to Broccoli Salad in a large glass bowl

Serve

Use some extra bacon, cranberries, and sunflower seeds to garnish the top of the salad. Then, serve cold alongside your favorite BBQ recipes! Here are some suggestions:

Broccoli Salad in a bowl with two serving spoons

Store

Store leftover broccoli salad with bacon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. Do not freeze this recipe.

a plate of Broccoli Salad with a fork

Broccoli Salad Recipe FAQs

What is broccoli salad made of?

This recipe is made with fresh broccoli, bacon, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, onions, and a delicious homemade dressing.

How long does broccoli salad last in the refrigerator?

It lasts 3 to 5 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Can you eat raw broccoli?

Yes! Raw broccoli is a great source of nutrients.

Can I freeze broccoli salad?

No, I do not suggest freezing this salad. Freezing will change the texture of the ingredients and is not recommended.

Do you wash broccoli before or after cutting?

You can do either. You can run broccoli heads under lukewarm water then shake to remove excess water before cutting. Or you can cut the broccoli, put it in a colander, rinse with water then shake off excess water. You just have to be sure your broccoli is completely dry before using in this recipe.

up close view of Broccoli Salad in a bowl

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Broccoli Salad Recipe with Bacon & Cranberries

Laura
This is the best broccoli salad recipe. Loaded flavor and tossed in an amazing homemade dressing, this broccoli salad with bacon will become your go-to side dish for any party!
5 from 3 votes
Course Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 14 Servings
Calories 181
Prep Time20 minutes
Chill4 hours
Total Time4 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients 
 

  • 1 pound broccoli florets (about 6 cups), cut into small pieces
  • ½ cup red onion finely diced
  • ¼ cup dried cranberries
  • ¼ cup sunflower seeds roasted and salted
  • 10 ounces bacon cooked and crumbled

Dressing

Instructions 

Cook & Crumble Bacon

  • Cook bacon either on the stovetop or bake in the oven (400 degrees for 20 minutes) until crispy.
  • Remove from pan and place bacon on paper towels to cool.
  • Once cool, crumble bacon into a bowl, set aside.

Make the dressing

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients until smooth.

Assemble

  • In a large bowl, combine broccoli florets, red onion, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds and crumbled bacon and toss to combine. (Be sure to keep at least 1 TBS of each ingredient to use to garnish the top of the salad).
  • Pour dressing over the broccoli mixture and stir until evenly distributed.

Chill & Serve

  • Cover the salad and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
  • Use the extra bacon, cranberries, and sunflower seeds to garnish the top of the salad. Then, serve cold.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Substitutions
  • Red onion. Use your favorite onion variety, green onions, yellow and white are all great choices.
  • Dried cranberries. you can substitute raisins, if desired.
  • Sunflower seeds. Pecans are a good substitute for sunflower seeds. Make sure to use shelled sunflower seeds, do not put the shells in the salad. 
  • Sour cream. full-fat greek yogurt can be used in place of sour cream.
  • Honey. granulated sugar works well in place of honey.
  • Apple cider vinegar. white vinegar works well as a substitute.
Store
Store leftover broccoli salad with bacon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. Do not freeze this recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 181kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 256mg | Potassium: 168mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 226IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 0.5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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1 Comment

  1. 5 stars
    This broccoli salad is absolutely delicious! A perfect recipe to make and share at summer gatherings. Fresh and flavorful!