Broccoli Salad

Broccoli Salad is a classic summer salad that’s quick and easy! This salad is a mixture of fresh broccoli, red onion, bacon, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds and cheese. Then topped with a creamy, tangy homemade dressing. It’s one of the best side dishes for summer potlucks, grill outs and parties. The best part is that it can be prepped in under 15 minutes.

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If you need an easy salad to take to a potluck, BBQ or holiday party I’ve got you covered with this broccoli salad! It’s loaded with fresh broccoli, Swiss cheese, crispy bacon and a touch of red onion. Plus, it has some tart dried cranberries and sunflower seeds for crunch! I love all the different textures and flavors going on in this salad. Toss it all in a simple mayonnaise dressing and I guarantee it will be the first dish to disappear.

We love this salad during the summer because it’s so simple to make and everyone loves it! But, it’s really a great year-round salad to have in your back pocket because it’s perfect for entertaining.

I love serving it with juicy burgers! Game-day parties, holiday get-togethers, and pretty much any other entertaining situation is the perfect excuse to make a batch — so whip it whenever you need it!

Why You’ll Love this Broccoli Salad Recipe

• This is one of those go-to salads for me because it’s so easy to make and it doesn’t take a ton of time. In about 15 minutes you can have the whole thing ready to go!
• The great thing about this recipe that you can totally make this salad ahead of time! A great way to save some prep time later.
• Broccoli salad is perfect for potlucks and parties. It’s always a crowd pleaser because the flavor is so tasty!

Ingredients for Broccoli Salad

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• Broccoli – For the best flavor, make sure you choose really fresh broccoli! You can use a bag that is already chopped into broccoli florets or chop up a whole head of broccoli.
• Red onion – Dice up fresh red onion and mix it up to add loads of flavor to this dish.
• Cooked bacon – I like to cook bacon in the oven or air fryer. Then allow it to cool and crumble it up into bacon bits to use in this easy broccoli salad recipe.
• Dried cranberries – Use dried cranberries or raisins as a chewy and sweet element.
• Sunflower seeds – This adds a nice crunch texture and slightly nutty flavor.
• Swiss cheese – You can use any type of cheese that you want, but I prefer swiss cheese.
• Mayonnaise – Use mayo to add the most creaminess to this broccoli slaw. If you don’t like mayo, just give it a try here. It really is so yummy!
• Sugar – Add a touch of sweetness to this broccoli mixture with a bit of sugar.
• White vinegar – Make a tangy dressing with some white vinegar mixed into the mayonnaise.

How to Make Broccoli Salad

1. Mix Dressing – Whisk the mayonnaise, sugar, and vinegar together in a small bowl.
2. Mix Salad – Combine all of the broccoli salad ingredients in a separate large bowl.
3. Toss – Pour the dressing over the salad and then toss it all together.
4. Refrigerate – Chill the broccoli salad for at least one hour. Then toss it again before serving and enjoy!

How to Store Leftover Broccoli Salad

Store your salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve it. It will also keep well for two to three days in the refrigerator! This makes it a great make-ahead salad for entertaining.

How can I lighten up broccoli salad?

You can substitute light mayonnaise for regular mayonnaise to lighten up your salad. You can also replace all or some of the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt.

What other kind of cheese can I use?

Yes, you can use different kinds of cheese in salad! Try substituting cheddar cheese, provolone, or even Gruyere cheese in place of the Swiss cheese.

Should I refrigerate broccoli salad before serving?

Broccoli salad tastes best when it’s had time to chill in the refrigerator because it gives all the flavors a chance to develop and meld together before you serve it. That said, if you’re in a rush, you can serve it right away but it might not be as flavorful.

What else can I add to Broccoli Salad?

There are so many ways to make this salad extra delicious. It really is the best broccoli salad recipe, so here’s a few tasty additions to make it even better:

• chopped pecans
• chopped walnuts
• slivered almonds
• feta cheese
• diced bell peppers
• pepitas

What to Serve with Broccoli Salad

Wondering what main dish works great with this broccoli salad recipe? Here are a few of our favorite quick and easy main dishes!

• Instant Pot Ribs
• Parmesan Crusted Tilapia
• Barbecue Baked Chicken Drumsticks
• Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops
• Apple BBQ Grilled Chicken
• Grilled Pork Chops

More Delicious Salad Recipes For A Crowd!

I love bringing a big salad to parties because they are always a hit and I can make them ahead of time. Here are a few of our favorites!

• Cashew Chicken Rotini Salad
• Pepperoni Cold Pasta Salad
• Easy Fruit Salad
• Asian Ramen Salad
• Lettuce Frito Salad
• Watergate Salad
• Cashew Coleslaw Salad

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!

 

5 from 38 votes

Broccoli Salad Recipe

Broccoli Salad recipe is a quick and easy side dish for summer potlucks, holidays, parties and more!

Prep:10 minutes mins

Chilling Time:1 hour hr

Total:1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

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Ingredients

Salad

• ▢ 8 cups broccoli cut into bite sized pieces
• ▢ ½ cup red onion minced
• ▢ ½ pound bacon fried crisp & chopped
• ▢ ⅔ cup dried cranberries
• ▢ 4 ounces sunflower seeds
• ▢ 6 ounces swiss cheese cubed

Dressing

• ▢ 1 ½ cups mayonnaise
• ▢ 3 Tablespoon white sugar
• ▢ 3 Tablespoon white vinegar

Instructions

• In a small mixing bowl combine ingredients for dressing and whisk until completely mixed. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl combine broccoli, onion, bacon, raisins, sunflower seeds, cheese and broccoli. Pour dressing over the top and toss to coat.
• Broccoli salad may be served immediately, but for best flavor refrigerate for at least one hour before serving. Make sure to toss broccoli salad thoroughly again before serving.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 669kcal (33%), Carbohydrates: 40g (13%), Protein: 17g (34%), Fat: 52g (80%), Saturated Fat: 13g (81%), Cholesterol: 57mg (19%), Sodium: 590mg (26%), Potassium: 858mg (25%), Fiber: 8g (33%), Sugar: 23g (26%), Vitamin A: 1690IU (34%), Vitamin C: 212mg (257%), Calcium: 290mg (29%), Iron: 2mg (11%)

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We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.