The Best Broccoli Salad: Crunchy Family Favorite
This crunchy broccoli salad blends fresh ingredients with a creamy, slightly tangy dressing, making it a family favorite for potlucks and weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing and Chilling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 cups broccoli florets, chopped
- ½ cup precooked bacon, crumbled
- ½ cup red onion, finely diced
- ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds or chopped almonds
- ½ cup dried cranberries or raisins
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey or sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Broccoli: Chop the broccoli florets into bite-sized pieces. Blanch in boiling water for 30 seconds for a slightly softer texture, then rinse with cold water.
- Mix the Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine broccoli, precooked bacon, red onion, cheddar cheese, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries.
- Make the Dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Combine Everything: Pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture and toss until evenly coated.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld together.
Notes
For extra crunch, toast the seeds or almonds. Store in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 15mg