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This classic broccoli salad recipe is our absolute favorite, it has the best creamy dressing that pairs perfect with this perfect summer salad!
We love to serve this easy recipe at summer gatherings and summer cookouts, it tastes even better the next day! This recipe has simple salad ingredients found in your pantry or the grocery store.
Recipe Ingredient Notes
To make our broccoli salad, you need the following ingredients:
- Fresh Broccoli Heads (chopped into small broccoli florets)
- Red onion
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Bacon (cooked crisp and crumbled) or Bacon Bits
- Sunflower Kernels
- Craisins
- Mayonnaise
- Red Wine Vinegar
- Sugar
- Salt
Equipment Needed
For this recipe, you only need a few simple kitchen tools. We recommend using the following equipment:
How to Make This Easy Broccoli Salad
- In a large bowl combine broccoli, onion, and shredded cheese.
- Then add in bacon, sunflower seeds, and Craisins.
- Put salad in refrigerator while making the salad dressing below.
- Mix the mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, sugar, and salt together. Stir until the sugar begins to dissolve.
- Chill dressing for at least one hour before tossing with the salad. (You don’t need to wait one hour, but the flavors combine better if you do.)
- Then pour dressing over broccoli salad and stir to coat.
Recipe Notes
- Refrigerate the tangy dressing for about 1 hour before pouring over the broccoli salad to let all of the flavors meld together.
- Store in the fridge in an airtight container for 2-3 days (ideally separate from the dressing).
Enjoy More Delicious Green Salads
Want to add more veggies to your meals? Browse our comprehensive list of salad recipes.
- Antipasto Salad
- Apple Cranberry Walnut Green Chopped Salad
- Cafe Rio Steak Salad
- California Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing
- Caprese Salad
- Chicken Salad with Eggs
- Copycat Panera Asian Sesame Chicken Salad
- Greek Tossed Salad
- Green Garden Salad
Broccoli Salad Recipe
This easy, kid-friendly broccoli salad is a reader favorite – full of delicious veggies, cheddar cheese, bacon, sunflower seeds, and more.
Serving servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh broccoli, (chopped into small florets)
- 1 red onion, (diced)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 strip bacon, (cooked crisp and crumbled)
- ½ cup sunflower seeds
- ¾ cup craisins
- 1 cup light mayonnaise
- 2 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine broccoli, onion, and shredded cheese.
- Then add in bacon, sunflower seeds, and Craisins.
- Put salad in refrigerator while making the salad dressing below.
- Mix the mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, sugar, and salt together. Stir until the sugar begins to dissolve.
- Chill dressing for at least one hour before tossing with the salad. (You don't need to wait one hour, but the flavors combine better if you do.)
- Then pour dressing over broccoli salad and stir to coat.
Notes
Chill dressing for at least one hour before tossing with the salad.
Nutrition
Calories: 290 kcal · Carbohydrates: 31 g · Protein: 7 g · Fat: 17 g · Saturated Fat: 5 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 6 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 5 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 20 mg · Sodium: 464 mg · Potassium: 282 mg · Fiber: 3 g · Sugar: 23 g · Vitamin A: 519 IU · Vitamin C: 52 mg · Calcium: 141 mg · Iron: 1 mg
Video
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.
This is one of my favorite salads!
Oh yum! I love broccoli salad and I think the addition of cranberries is genius! 🙂
What a great and healthy alternative!
Oh my, so yummy! Pinning!
This looks stunning and I just want to reach through the screen for a bowl! Thanks for linking to Simple Supper Tuesday.
Looks really yummy! And it seems quite easy to make as well. I also love how fresh and colorful it looks. Thank you for sharing! Definitely worth pinning. 🙂
Found you through Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop by the way.
What a yummy looking salad!
Prefect for family get togethers! Yummy.
Looks super easy to make, and delicious!
How fun ladies!! I love brocolli…
I am making this today, with Craisins, and toasted pine nuts as I do not have sunflower seeds. I uses a couple tablespoons of Splenda rather than the sugar. I di not have as much broccoli either, so just a small side salad for my husband and I with grilled pork chops.I saw another recipe that added frozen peas, so may add a half cup of those to extend the recipe. My 6″7″ husband has a pretty big appetite! Love your recipes.
Made this for the 4th of July. Added 1 cup frozen peas and craisens excellent
This looks great! I often buy a version of this from my local grocery store. The dressing calls for 1/2 cup of sugar however. it seems to take the healthy right out of it!
Hi Cathy, you could cut back on the sugar or use a sugar substitute.
looks like a very healthy salad
One of my favorite salad to make. Always requested for parties too ! Mine has cauliflower in it too. I use full fat real Mayo too. LOL there’s veggies so it’s healthy right?!! First time coming to your page and I’m liking everything so far!!!