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Home » Salads » Broccoli Salad Recipe

Published: April 22, 2019 Last Modified: April 22, 2019 By Sara 20 Comments

Broccoli Salad Recipe

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Broccoli Salad Recipe | Creamy Broccoli Salad | Bacon Broccoli Salad #salad #broccoli #bacon #apple #dinneratthezoo #sidedish

This broccoli salad recipe is a blend of fresh broccoli florets, apples, bacon, red onion and sunflower seeds, all tossed in a creamy dressing. A classic salad that feeds a crowd and is perfect for potlucks and family gatherings.

You can never go wrong with a cool salad on a warm day, my family goes crazy for creamy cucumber salad and chickpea avocado salad. You can also never go wrong with broccoli salad, because bacon makes everything taste better!

Broccoli Salad Recipe | Creamy Broccoli Salad | Bacon Broccoli Salad #salad #broccoli #bacon #apple #dinneratthezoo #sidedish Broccoli Salad Recipe | Creamy Broccoli Salad | Bacon Broccoli Salad #salad #broccoli #bacon #apple #dinneratthezoo #sidedish

Broccoli salad in a creamy dressing topped with sunflower seeds and bacon.

Broccoli salad is a classic dish that’s enjoyed year round at picnics and parties. It’s easy to make, feeds a large group and is totally irresistible. In my opinion, this version of broccoli salad is the best one around – it’s got plenty of bacon, a hint of sweetness from the apples and cranberries, and a nice crunch from the sunflower seeds. I get rave reviews every time I serve this dish!

How do you make broccoli salad?

This recipe starts with broccoli florets. You can either buy a few heads of broccoli and chop it yourself, or buy a bag of pre-cut florets to save a little time. The broccoli is combined with bacon, apples, dried cranberries, red onion and sunflower seeds, then tossed in a creamy dressing.

Broccoli florets, bacon, apples, dried cranberries, red onion and sunflower seeds in a bowl.

Tips for broccoli salad

  • This recipe calls for 4 cups of broccoli florets, which is the equivalent of 1 and 1/2 medium sized heads, or 1 large head.
  • I use Pink Lady apples in this recipe, other great choices are Braeburn or Honeycrisp.
  • Make sure you dice your onion very fine so that you don’t end up with large pieces in each bite.
  • Broccoli salad can be made up to 8 hours before you plan to serve it. If you’re making your salad in advance, omit the bacon and apple and stir those ingredients in right before serving.

Can broccoli be eaten raw?

Broccoli can absolutely be eaten raw and is traditionally served raw in broccoli salad. If you prefer, you can use lightly steamed or blanched broccoli instead.

Creamy dressing being poured over a bowl of broccoli salad ingredients.

How long can you keep broccoli salad in the fridge?

Broccoli salad will last approximately 3-4 days in the fridge. I find that this salad is best enjoyed within 24 hours of when it’s made.

A bowl of broccoli salad made with dried cranberries, apples, bacon and sunflower seeds in a creamy dressing.

Broccoli Salad Variations

While I love this recipe as written, sometimes I change up the ingredients a bit depending on what I have on hand.

  • Fruit: Try using raisins instead of cranberries, or pears instead of apples.
  • Cheese: Small cubes of cheddar cheese is a nice addition to this salad.
  • Nuts: Sunflower seeds are traditional, but I’ve also used sliced almonds or chopped pecans with great results.
  • Cauliflower: Try using 1/2 broccoli and 1/2 cauliflower florets for a different flavor. Or you can use all cauliflower florets if you’re a fan!
  • Dressing: Not a fan of mayonnaise? Try plain Greek yogurt instead!

A serving spoon in a bowl of bacon broccoli salad.

I have to say, this salad is irresistible – it’s the perfect combination of sweet, savory, crunchy and creamy. Give it a try and you’ll find that everyone will be asking you for the recipe!

More salad recipes you’ll enjoy

  • Ambrosia Salad
  • Spaghetti Salad
  • Brussels Sprout Salad
  • Mediterranean Farro Salad
  • Cucumber Tomato Salad
Broccoli salad in a creamy dressing topped with sunflower seeds and bacon.
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5 from 14 votes

Broccoli Salad

This broccoli salad recipe is a blend of fresh broccoli florets, apples, bacon, red onion and sunflower seeds, all tossed in a creamy dressing. A classic salad that feeds a crowd and is perfect for potlucks and family gatherings.
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Chilling Time 1 hour
Total Time 11 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 335kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

For the salad

  • 4 cups broccoli florets cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1/4 cup red onion finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup bacon cooked and crumbled
  • 1 apple diced
  • 3/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

For the dressing

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Place the broccoli, red onion, bacon, apple, dried cranberries and sunflower seeds in a large bowl.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, cider vinegar, sugar and salt and pepper.
  • Pour the dressing over the broccoli and toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  • Place the salad in a serving bowl. Top with parsley and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 335kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 206mg | Potassium: 239mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 315IU | Vitamin C: 42.2mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 0.9mg
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    Comments

    1. Sheila says

      September 18, 2022 at 5:19 pm

      So you don’t cook broccoli? And it won’t get soggy if I make it night before?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        September 19, 2022 at 11:28 am

        I do not cook the broccoli, you could lightly cook it if you prefer. It should not get soggy but add the bacon right before serving!

        Reply
    2. Alice says

      April 27, 2021 at 8:27 pm

      5 stars
      Easy and delicious! I did try it with yogurt instead of mayo and it was just as good!

      Reply
    3. Carol says

      June 20, 2020 at 12:26 pm

      5 stars
      This is my favorite recipe to bring to a potluck! Everyone loves it and wants the recipe.

      Reply
    4. donna lee says

      June 13, 2020 at 10:27 am

      your measurements are a complete mystery to me , what is .19 of a cup,.38,.56,etc,etc,etc Ilove the sound of your recipes but I’m stumped how to make them. can you help ?

      thank you

      p.s. I live in Canada am I missing something?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        June 13, 2020 at 11:22 am

        It sounds like maybe you accidentally adjusted the serving size and it recalculated and came up with those numbers? All of my recipes are written with standard cup and teaspoon measurements. For this recipe it should say 8 servings in the recipe box.

        Reply
        • donna lee says

          June 13, 2020 at 4:47 pm

          thank you it makes a lot more sense now!

          donna from canada

          Reply
    5. Deb says

      November 2, 2019 at 7:07 pm

      5 stars
      So delicious that I can’t ever seem to make enough! A favorite with my family and guests!

      Reply
    6. Deb says

      July 22, 2019 at 10:39 am

      5 stars
      This is my favorite recipe to bring to a potluck! So yummy everyone always asks for the recipe!

      Reply
    7. Becky Hardin says

      April 30, 2019 at 8:19 pm

      5 stars
      One of my favorites! So delicious

      Reply
    8. Anna says

      April 30, 2019 at 2:01 pm

      5 stars
      My whole family loves this broccoli salad! It’s so easy and so delicious!

      Reply
    9. Courtney says

      April 30, 2019 at 11:29 am

      5 stars
      I’ve recently been on a big broccoli kick so I’m so excited about this recipe!

      Reply
    10. Steph says

      April 30, 2019 at 10:46 am

      5 stars
      Great recipe! I loved the dried cranberries in it!

      Reply
    11. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

      April 25, 2019 at 8:03 am

      5 stars
      I need to try this immediately, it looks so good!

      Reply
    12. Melanie Bauer says

      April 24, 2019 at 7:04 pm

      5 stars
      Looks so festive and delish! Those flavors on it are absolutely amazing, gotta try this!

      Reply
    13. Beth Pierce says

      April 24, 2019 at 10:33 am

      5 stars
      Healthy, colorful, and delicious! I know what I’m having for lunch today!

      Reply
    14. Catalina says

      April 24, 2019 at 3:18 am

      5 stars
      I am always ready for broccoli! This salad looks so inviting!

      Reply
    15. Bee says

      April 23, 2019 at 11:12 pm

      5 stars
      This Broccoli salad was a fantastic hit! It was so easy to make and so delish!! It is on my favorite list for sure!!

      Reply
    16. Chrissie Baker says

      April 23, 2019 at 11:09 pm

      5 stars
      OMG this is my new favourite salad – and I’m not the biggest fan of broccoli. Thank you ❤️

      Reply
    17. Kimberly says

      April 23, 2019 at 4:03 pm

      That is pure lusciousness, I want a big bowl of it now!

      Reply

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