The BEST Broccoli Salad Recipe

Every potluck needs a good Broccoli Salad–and this one is the BEST. With cheddar cheese, red onion, bacon and a sweet tangy dressing, this is the perfect easy summertime side dish.

This broccoli salad pairs beautifully with other potluck favorites like Chick-fil-A Cole Slaw and Slow Cooker BBQ Brisket.

Broccoli salad in serving bowl with side of raisins and sunflower seeds.


Why this Recipe is Best

There are a million and one broccoli salad recipes out there. But none quite so perfect as this one!

  • This broccoli salad recipe has crispy bacon and sunflower seeds! You’ll love the added salty savory flavor they add to the vegetables.
  • It’s easy to make with fresh, simply ingredients.
  • Broccoli is par boiled then quickly cooled so it’s tender but not mushy.
  • The dressing is the perfect blend of creamy, tangy and sweet!

This salad can be made in advance and refrigerated for easy party prep!

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients needed to make broccoli salad.
  • Sunflower seeds. Make sure to remove the shells, or buy them already with the shells removed.
  • Raisins. Dried cranberries would make a delicious substitute if you prefer.
  • Cheddar cheese. Mild, sharp and extra sharp cheddar are all tasty in broccoli salad. You choose!
  • Bacon. Cook it extra crispy! Make the bacon in the oven for easy clean up.
  • Broccoli. I prefer using fresh broccoli and blanching it for broccoli salad. To do this, just place in a pot of boiling water for one minute. Remove and rinse with cold water (to prevent it from cooking further). I should add that many people have made this without cooking the broccoli and love it that way too!
Ingredients for broccoli salad in a clear glass bowl before mixing.

Broccoli Salad Dressing

What really ties together all the ingredients in this Broccoli Salad recipe is the sweet and tangy dressing.

Broccoli Salad dressing is made with just three ingredients:

  • Mayonnaise
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Sugar

Tips and Tricks

There are two ways you can dress this salad: right before serving or a few hours in advance.

If you add the dressing ahead of time, it “softens” the veggies and gets a bit absorbed into the crevices of the broccoli florets. I love it this way!

For a crunchier broccoli salad, toss the salad with the dressing right before you’re ready to eat. It’s delicious no matter what.

Chill. For best results I love keeping this chilled for at least an hour before serving.

Lighten it up. Use half the amount of sugar, or substitute it with stevia. You can also use a low fat mayo or an olive oil mayo! Skipping the bacon is also an option, although I never do that, haha!

Dressing being poured over broccoli salad.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use miracle whip instead of mayonnaise in the dressing?

You can substitute miracle whip or another low fat mayo if preferred, but I prefer the creamier taste of real mayonnaise here.

How do you store broccoli salad?

This salad should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Enjoy within 3 days.

How long can broccoli salad be left out at room temperature?

This side dish can safely be out at room temperature for about 2 hours. After 2 hours, you should transfer it to the refrigerator to keep the mayonnaise and cheese from spoiling.
If you’re serving this outdoors in the summer, it may spoil more quickly. When in doubt, wait to place it on the table until right before meal time!

More Potluck Recipes

Broccoli Salad

4.75 from 8 votes
By: Aimee
Every potluck needs the Best Broccoli Salad recipe on the table. With broccoli, cheddar cheese, red onion, and bacon topped with a sweet and tangy dressing, it’s the perfect easy summer side dish!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound broccoli florets cut bite size
  • cup red onion cut in strips
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • ½ pound bacon cooked and crumbled
  • ½ cup raisins
  • cup sunflower seeds no shells
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
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Instructions 

  • In a pot of boiling water, drop broccoli and cook for about 1 minute. Remove immediately and rinse with cold water. Place in a large bowl.
  • Add onion, cheese, bacon, raisins, and sunflower seeds to broccoli.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo, vinegar and sugar. Pour over salad right before serving.

Notes

  • If you add the dressing ahead of time, it “softens” the veggies and gets a bit absorbed into the crevices of the broccoli florets. I love it this way!
  • For a crunchier broccoli salad, toss the salad with the dressing right before you’re ready to eat. It’s delicious no matter what.
  • Chill. For best results I love keeping this chilled for at least an hour before serving.
  • Lighten it up. Use half the amount of sugar, or substitute it with stevia. You can also use a low fat mayo or an olive oil mayo! Skipping the bacon is also an option, although I never do that, haha!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 483kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 16g, Fat: 38g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 27g, Cholesterol: 54mg, Sodium: 1086mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 14g
Course: Side Dishes
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

Fresh, colorful and delicious Broccoli Salad is an ideal side dish for any meal! With just a few minutes of prep time and easy to find ingredients, this is a recipe you’ll want to make over and over again.

The BEST Broccol Salad recipe is packed with broccoli, cheese, onions, and more! Perfect potluck recipe.



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About Aimee

Aimee is a dessert lover (specifically rice krispie treats), workout enthusiast, self-taught foodie, and recipe creator.

Learn more about Aimee.

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Posted on July 11, 2021

Comments & Reviews

  1. Love the sauce. I use the sauce recipe but for my salad I use broccoli cheese onion bacon and noodles. It’s a big hit. Thanks for recipe

  2. How many servings does the Broccoli Salad make? I can’ t find that number anywhere and I plan to make this as a side dish for a bridal shower!  Help! Lol

  3. Wow awesome recipe, just tried this one last nigh for the family and they loved it. The only thing I skipped was the sugar but it still turned out great!!

  4. My son loves this dish and is strange because he dosen`t eat broccoli when I put them next to a stake 🙂 Thank you for sharing this amazing and healthy dish.

  5. That’s a great way to include broccoli into our meals – it turns out its both healthy and delicious. Thanks for sharing!

  6. I make this with dried cranberries.  I’m going to try it with cheese and bacon for a switch up.  Also I use any kind of onion I have.  Green, yellow, Vidalia, whatever…  I do love red too!  I too like it to sit for a few hours before serving.  My husband loves this and is always a hit at family dinners or potlucks.  Yum!  

  7. This recipe was great!! I trimmed back on some of the mayo and sugar, no cheese. Added half a bag of the cranberries w/ glazed walnuts. I had to threaten my sons life that if I woke up in the morning and none was left he was dead meat!! LMAO!!!

  8. Unfortunately cannot use sugar in the dressing (diabetic). Any suggestions for a good alternate dressing? Just omit or cut back the sugar? 

    1. Sugar isn’t really the enemy for diabetics, carbs are. Moderation is always key. As far as the recipe just swap honey for the sugar, or even your favorite sugar substitute. Hope this helps.

  9. I could eat the entire bowl myself. Not kidding, brock salad is my #1 fave salad, EVER!. Like…if I see it at a party or event, that’s all I need 🙂 I challenge you to a broccoli salad eating contest the next time I see you. Yours looks fab!!

  10. This sound amazing, I love broccoli and red onion, what do you think Aimee if I add some white or red garlic to this recipe?

  11. I know, seriously where has the summer gone? We have 3 weeks until school starts and I am so not ready, but I am. Does that make sense. I’ve never actually made a broccoli salad before, but that because I didn’t like broccoli before. Now I love it, so I’m thinking I need to make this asap! Pinned! 

  12. I love broccoli salad and am always look for a good recipe! And yes, I do think the days go faster as we get older. I can’t believe summer vacation is almost over!

  13. lol @ #helpme  This post made me giggle Aimee… and then it made me hungry.  Yum.  I love summer salads and I always am looking for an awesome broccoli salad.  Thanks for the recipe!! Oh, and thanks for sharing my cucumber tomato salad!! xxoo

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