Fresh Broccoli Salad Recipe: Crunchy Goodness for Summer Meals

Let’s talk about a mouthwatering broccoli salad that’ll become your new summer favorite.

Crisp green florets dance with crunchy bacon bits in this delightful dish.

Every forkful bursts with incredible flavor and unexpected textures.

Refreshing and light, the combination will surprise even vegetable skeptics.

Tangy dressing coats each ingredient, creating a harmonious blend of taste sensations.

Quick to assemble and impossible to resist, you’ll want to make this again and again.

Serve it at picnics, potlucks, or enjoy as a satisfying lunch that keeps you coming back for more.

What’s Special About Broccoli Salad Recipe

• Boost Nutrition Powerhouse: Packed with fresh broccoli, this salad delivers a massive dose of vitamins, minerals, and fiber that support overall health and wellness.
• Create Crowd-Pleasing Texture: Combines crunchy almonds, crisp broccoli, and soft cranberries for a delightful mix of textures that keeps every bite interesting and satisfying.
• Customize with Ease: Swap ingredients like bacon for vegetarian options, adjust cheese amounts, or modify dressing to match personal taste preferences and dietary needs.
• Prep Ahead Champion: Make this salad in advance, allowing flavors to develop and making it perfect for meal planning, potlucks, or quick grab-and-go lunches during busy weeks.

What To Use In Broccoli Salad Recipe

• Broccoli Florets: Fresh green vegetable that provides the main structure and crunch for the salad.
• Red Onion: Sharp and tangy ingredient that adds a zesty flavor to the overall dish.

• Bacon Bits: Savory meat that introduces a rich and smoky element to the salad.
• Cheddar Cheese: Creamy dairy component that brings a sharp and tangy taste profile.

• Dried Cranberries, Sliced Almonds: Sweet and nutty ingredients that provide textural contrast and additional flavor complexity.

• Mayonnaise, Apple Cider Vinegar, Sugar, Salt, Pepper: Essential mixture that binds the salad ingredients and creates a creamy, balanced dressing with sweet and tangy notes.

How To Make Broccoli Salad Recipe Step-By-Step

Step 1: Chop and Gather Ingredients

• Broccoli florets
• Red onion
• Bacon
• Dried cranberries
• Sliced almonds
• Shredded cheddar cheese

Step 2: Create Tangy Dressing

• Mayonnaise
• Apple cider vinegar
• Sugar
• Salt
• Black pepper

Step 3: Mix Salad Components

Toss all chopped ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Pour dressing over the vegetables and mix thoroughly. Ensure every ingredient gets coated evenly with the tangy sauce. Gently fold ingredients to prevent breaking delicate broccoli pieces.

Step 4: Chill and Marinate

Cover the salad bowl with plastic wrap or lid. Refrigerate for minimum one hour. Chilling allows flavors to meld and develop deeper taste profile. Before serving, give salad another quick stir to redistribute dressing.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Remove salad from refrigerator. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Transfer to serving dish. Garnish with extra almonds or bacon bits for added crunch. Serve cold as a refreshing side dish or light lunch.

Helpful Notes For Broccoli Salad Recipe

• Prep Broccoli Perfectly: Chop broccoli into uniform, bite-sized florets to ensure even dressing coverage and easy eating.
• Bacon Swap for Vegetarians: Replace bacon bits with roasted sunflower seeds or smoked almonds to maintain a crunchy texture and smoky flavor.
• Dressing Balance Trick: Adjust vinegar and sugar ratios to create a tangy-sweet harmony that complements the broccoli's natural taste.
• Boost Nutrition Hack: Add extra seeds or nuts for increased protein and crunch, making the salad more filling and nutritionally dense.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the salad a day in advance to allow flavors to develop and intensify, creating an even more delicious dish.

Fun Ways To Mix Up Broccoli Salad Recipe

• Vegan Broccoli Delight: Replace bacon with roasted sunflower seeds, swap mayonnaise with vegan cashew cream, and use maple syrup instead of sugar for a plant-based version.
• Keto-Friendly Broccoli Mix: Eliminate cranberries, use stevia instead of sugar, add extra nuts, and incorporate crispy pancetta for a low-carb alternative.
• Mediterranean Broccoli Salad: Swap almonds with pine nuts, replace mayonnaise with Greek yogurt, add feta cheese, and sprinkle with fresh herbs like parsley and oregano.
• Spicy Southwestern Broccoli Blend: Include diced jalapeños, replace almonds with pepitas, use cilantro-lime dressing, and add roasted corn kernels for a zesty kick.

Tasty Matches With Broccoli Salad Recipe

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Select a light, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio that complements the salad's tangy dressing and cuts through the richness of bacon and cheese.
• Serve with Grilled Protein Partner: Match the broccoli salad with grilled chicken breast or herb-crusted salmon to create a balanced, nutritious meal that enhances the salad's fresh flavors.
• Complement with Crusty Bread: Add a slice of rustic sourdough or whole grain bread to provide a satisfying crunch and soak up the delicious dressing, creating a complete dining experience.
• Enhance with Sparkling Water: Choose a citrus-infused sparkling water to cleanse the palate between bites and add a light, refreshing touch that elevates the overall meal.

Store Broccoli Salad Recipe The Smart Way

• Store the broccoli salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Keep it sealed tightly to maintain freshness and prevent absorption of other food odors.
• Do not freeze this salad, as mayonnaise-based dressings separate and become watery when thawed, ruining the texture and taste.
• Before serving leftover salad, drain any accumulated liquid and give it a quick stir to redistribute the dressing and ingredients.
• Sprinkle some fresh sliced almonds or add a small splash of apple cider vinegar to revive the salad's crispness and brighten the flavors when serving leftovers.

Your Questions On Broccoli Salad Recipe

• What makes this broccoli salad different from other salads?

This broccoli salad stands out with its unique combination of sweet and savory ingredients like dried cranberries, almonds, and a creamy dressing that creates a perfect balance of flavors and textures.

• Is this salad healthy?

Yes, broccoli is packed with nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin K, and fiber. The addition of almonds provides healthy fats and protein, making this salad a nutritious choice for a light meal or side dish.

• Can I make this salad vegetarian?

Absolutely! Simply omit the bacon bits to create a vegetarian version of the salad. The other ingredients will still provide plenty of flavor and crunch.

Broccoli Salad Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 24 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Creamy broccoli salad dazzles with crisp florets, smoky bacon bits, and tangy dressing. Crunchy almonds and sweet raisins provide perfect balance, making this summer side dish irresistible for weekend gatherings.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Salad Ingredients:

• 4 cups (960 milliliters) broccoli florets
• 1/2 cup (75 grams) red onion
• 1 cup (150 grams) dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup (60 grams) almonds
• 1/4 cup (30 grams) bacon bits
• 1/2 cup (50 grams) cheddar cheese

Dressing Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons (25 grams) sugar
• Salt
• Pepper

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Chop fresh broccoli florets into bite-sized pieces, ensuring uniform size for even flavor distribution and consistent texture.
2. Finely dice red onion to provide sharp, zesty undertones without overwhelming the salad’s delicate balance.
3. Crumble crispy bacon into small fragments, creating savory bursts of flavor throughout the dish.
4. Toast sliced almonds in a dry skillet until golden brown, releasing their nutty essence and adding delightful crunch.
5. Sprinkle dried cranberries to introduce a sweet-tart counterpoint that complements the salad’s robust ingredients.
6. Grate sharp cheddar cheese to infuse creamy richness and enhance the overall taste profile.
7. Whisk mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl until achieving a smooth, velvety consistency.
8. Drizzle dressing over prepared ingredients, gently folding to ensure comprehensive coating without bruising delicate components.
9. Refrigerate for minimum 1 hour at 40°F, allowing flavors to meld and develop complex taste dimensions.
10. Before serving, stir gently and taste, adjusting seasoning if necessary to achieve perfect flavor harmony.

Notes

• Customize protein options by swapping bacon with turkey bacon, tempeh, or omitting for vegetarian version.
• Toast almonds briefly to enhance their nutty flavor and add delightful crunch before mixing into salad.
• Reduce sugar content by using honey or stevia as alternative sweetener in dressing for lower-calorie option.
• Make ahead and store in refrigerator up to 2 days, allowing flavors to develop deeper complexity while maintaining crisp vegetable texture.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Mixing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 300
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 10 mg