Broccoli salad is the final word mixture of recent, crunchy, creamy, and tangy. It’s the type of aspect dish that exhibits up at potlucks, picnics, and household dinners — and all the time disappears first. With crisp broccoli florets, candy dried cranberries, smoky bacon, crunchy sunflower seeds, and a creamy dressing, this salad hits each taste and texture word in a single chew.

This Broccoli Salad is such a GOOD recipe to drag up final minute. It’s so tasty–even for broccoli haters, we assure that! We like it particularly this time of 12 months when falls begins to come back round, it’s tremendous satisfying.
The most effective half? It’s make-ahead pleasant, will get even higher because it chills, and balances indulgence with freshness. Whether or not you’re serving it subsequent to a protein, including it to a vacation desk, or packing it for lunch, broccoli salad is a traditional that by no means goes out of favor.
Our tremendous standard broccoli staples embody Broccoli Rabe, which is so simple as 3 elements! Broccoli Cheddar Soup is one other traditional. And this Wholesome Pasta Recipe made with broccoli pesto. Just like Basil Pesto however utilizing broccoli, which likewise even the haters will LOVE!
For now, let’s return to broccoli salad.

What Is a Broccoli Salad?
Broccoli salad is a traditional chilly aspect dish made with uncooked broccoli florets, tossed in a creamy dressing and combined with crunchy, savory, and candy add-ins. In contrast to leafy inexperienced salads, it has a hearty crunch because of the uncooked broccoli, which holds up nicely even after sitting within the fridge.
The standard model normally consists of bacon for smokiness, dried fruit like raisins or cranberries for sweetness, sunflower seeds or nuts for crunch. The dressing is classically a mix of mayonnaise balanced with vinegar and a contact of sugar. Some lighter variations of the dressing contain utilizing yogurt.
This salad first turned standard at potlucks and picnics in North America within the Sixties and 70s, when uncooked vegetable salads with creamy dressings gained traction. Immediately, it’s a staple at gatherings as a result of it’s straightforward to arrange forward, travels nicely, and appeals to each children and adults. And right here’s why you’ll like it too!
Why You’ll Love This Broccoli Salad
- It’s tremendous tasty, and NO it doesn’t style like broccoli! It tastes like a mix of candy and crisp one thing in a creamy candy one thing 🙂 If that is sensible.
- Excellent texture mix. It has a balanced texture of crunchy and creamy, mixed with a recent crisp and a candy chew. It’s a mix of elements that form the plate so nicely.
- Taste-packed! There’s candy, smoky, tangy, and savory suddenly.
- Make forward pleasant. The most effective half about this broccoli salad recipe is making it advance. It truly tastes higher after resting within the fridge!
- So versatile! You may swap elements or skip some, we skipped the bacon in the present day to make it totally vegetarian.
- Countless makes use of! It’s an ideal salad to any predominant dish, a fantastic lunch salad by itself. You’ll discover it additionally nice for BBQs, potlucks, or picnics.
Elements You’ll Want

- Broccoli florets. Recent, crisp, and chopped with no stem into small for straightforward bites.
- Pink onion. Finely diced.
- Dried cranberries or raisins – a contact of sweetness.
- Sunflower seeds. for crunch too.
- Nuts. or almonds . For one of the best crunch.
- Cheddar cheese. Non-obligatory, you possibly can add shredded sharp cheddar cheese for richness.
Broccoli Salad Dressing
- Mayonnaise. It’s also possible to use Greek yogurt or bitter cream to chop down the richness.
- Mustard. Dijon mustard is greatest.
- Apple cider vinegar. You need to use any candy white vinegar.
- Honey or sugar. We used sugar however maple syrup or agave would work too.
- Salt & pepper. For seasoning solely.
Find out how to Make Broccoli Salad

- Put together the dressing. In a small bowl, combine in all of the elements.

- Whisk nicely till easy and creamy. Be at liberty to regulate seasoning.
- For the broccoli, wash, dry, and chop the pinnacle into small, bite-sized florets.

- Cube the crimson onions as small as you possibly can, it ought to unfold among the many broccoli with out being outstanding.
- You may toast the nuts and seeds, or you should use them uncooked.
- Add all elements into the serving plate.

- Drizzle the dressing over the elements and toss nicely.
- Maintain tossing till the salad is all coated within the creamy dressing.

- It’s greatest to relax not less than half-hour earlier than serving.
Greatest Broccoli Salad Ideas
- Chop the broccoli into small chew sized items to make the salad simpler to eat.
- At all times steadiness the dressing, so style and modify for sweetness or tanginess.
- At all times let the salad sit within the fridge to enhances the flavors.
- If you wish to lighten it up, swap extra yogurt for mayo to chop energy.
- Swap issues up by including roasted nuts, pomegranate seeds, or a sprinkle of feta.

What to Serve with Broccoli Salad?
Can I make broccoli salad forward of time?
Sure!! It truly tastes higher after chilling within the fridge for a couple of hours. Simply give it a stir earlier than serving.
Do I’ve to prepare dinner the broccoli?
Under no circumstances. This broccoli salad recipe makes use of uncooked broccoli for max crunch. When you desire, blanch briefly in boiling water for a softer chew.
How lengthy does broccoli salad final?
Saved in an hermetic container, you possibly can depart it within the fridge for 4-5 days.
Can I make it vegetarian?
Completely! Simply as we did right here, omit the bacon totally. You may exchange it with smoked almonds or chickpeas, or simply depart it out.
Can I freeze broccoli salad?
Mayo based mostly dressings and uncooked broccoli don’t freeze nicely typically, so we don’t suggest that.
Is broccoli salad wholesome?
Sure!! Since broccoli is excessive in fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants. To lighten the dressing, swap half or the entire mayonnaise for Greek yogurt. Including extra nuts or seeds additionally boosts protein and wholesome fat.
Can I make broccoli salad with out mayo?
Completely YES! For a mayo free model, use plain Greek yogurt, bitter cream. Make it just like our standard Creamy Cucumber Salad with dill and lemon juice.
In some instances you possibly can attempt a light-weight French dressing with olive oil and lemon juice. In that case, you’ll free the creaminess of the salad, and can more than likely style the broccoli extra. It’s nonetheless scrumptious, but it surely’s not the identical as this one nonetheless.
Can I make broccoli salad vegan?
YES! Substitute the mayo with vegan mayonnaise or cashew cream. Then skip the bacon, and use roasted nuts or smoked almonds for that savory crunch.
What can I add for further taste?
A few of our favourite toppings are feta cheese or goat cheese for creaminess. Additionally some recent pomegranate arils for freshness, and crispy chickpeas for added protein and crunch.

Fall Salad Recipes
Candy Potato Salad
Panzanella Salad
Wedge Salad
Quinoa Autumn Harvest Salad
Buckwheat Persimmon Salad
Bread Feta Salad with Figs
Broccoli Salad
Broccoli salad is the final word mixture of recent, crunchy, creamy, and tangy. It’s the type of aspect dish that exhibits up at potlucks, picnics, and household dinners — and all the time disappears first. With crisp broccoli florets, candy dried cranberries, smoky bacon, crunchy sunflower seeds, and a creamy dressing, this salad hits each taste and texture word in a single chew.
Elements
Broccoli Salad
-
2
heads
broccoli
reduce into small florets, about 5 cups -
3
Tabelspoons
crimson onions
finely diced -
1/2
cup
Cranberries
dried -
1/3
cup
pepitas
pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds -
1/3
cup
almonds
smoky or common, toasted or not
Broccoli Salad Dressing
-
1/4
cup
mayonnaise -
2
Tablespoons
bitter cream -
1
teaspoon
mustard -
1 1/2
Tablespoons
Apple Cider Vinegar -
2 1/2
tabelspoons
sugar
or honey -
1/8
teaspoons
salt and pepper -
2
tablespoons
olive oil
Directions
-
Put together the dressing. In a small bowl, combine in all of the elements.
-
Whisk nicely till easy and creamy. Be at liberty to regulate seasoning.
-
For the broccoli, wash, dry, and chop the pinnacle into small, bite-sized florets.
-
Cube the crimson onions as small as you possibly can, it ought to unfold among the many broccoli with out being outstanding.
-
You may toast the nuts and seeds, or you should use them uncooked.
-
Add all elements into the serving plate.
-
Drizzle the dressing over the elements and toss nicely.
-
Maintain tossing till the salad is all coated within the creamy dressing.
-
It is best to relax not less than half-hour earlier than serving.
Recipe Notes
Broccoli Salad Recipe Ideas
- Chop the broccoli into small chew sized items to make the salad simpler to eat.
- At all times steadiness the dressing, so style and modify for sweetness or tanginess.
- At all times let the salad sit within the fridge to enhances the flavors.
- If you wish to lighten it up, swap extra yogurt for mayo to chop energy.
- Swap issues up by including roasted nuts, pomegranate seeds, or a sprinkle of feta.
What to Serve with Broccoli Salad?
Can I make broccoli salad forward of time?
Sure!! It truly tastes higher after chilling for a couple of hours. Simply give it a stir earlier than serving.
Do I’ve to prepare dinner the broccoli?
Under no circumstances. This broccoli salad recipe makes use of uncooked broccoli for max crunch. When you desire, blanch briefly in boiling water for a softer chew.
How lengthy does broccoli salad final?
Saved in an hermetic container, you possibly can depart it within the fridge for 4-5 days.
Can I make it vegetarian?
Completely! Simply as we did right here, omit the bacon totally. You may exchange it with smoked almonds or chickpeas, or simply depart it out.
Can I freeze broccoli salad?
Mayo based mostly dressings and uncooked broccoli don’t freeze nicely typically, so we do not suggest that.
Is broccoli salad wholesome?
Sure!! Since broccoli is excessive in fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants. To lighten the dressing, swap half or the entire mayonnaise for Greek yogurt. Including extra nuts or seeds additionally boosts protein and wholesome fat.
Can I make broccoli salad with out mayo?
Completely YES! For a mayo free model, use Greek yogurt, bitter cream. In some instances you possibly can attempt a light-weight French dressing with olive oil and lemon juice. In that case, you’ll free the creaminess of the salad, and can more than likely style the broccoli extra. It is nonetheless scrumptious, but it surely’s not the identical as this one nonetheless.
Can I make broccoli salad vegan?
YES! Substitute the mayo with vegan mayonnaise or cashew cream. Then skip the bacon, and use roasted nuts or smoked almonds for that savory crunch.
What can I add for further taste?
A few of our favourite toppings are feta cheese or goat cheese for creaminess. Additionally some recent pomegranate arils for freshness, and crispy chickpeas for added protein and crunch.
Vitamin Info
Broccoli Salad
Quantity Per Serving
Energy 254
Energy from Fats 171
% Each day Worth*
Fats 19g29%
Saturated Fats 3g19%
Trans Fats 0.02g
Polyunsaturated Fats 7g
Monounsaturated Fats 8g
Ldl cholesterol 6mg2%
Sodium 186mg8%
Potassium 746mg21%
Carbohydrates 17g6%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 9g18%
Vitamin A 1300IU26%
Vitamin C 182mg221%
Calcium 125mg13%
Iron 2mg11%
* P.c Each day Values are based mostly on a 2000 calorie food plan.


