The Easiest Broccoli Salad Recipe| All Things Mamma (2024)

This Easy Broccoli Salad recipe is an amazing addition to your summer salad menu! Raw, crunchy broccoli, lots of salty bacon and cheddar cheese, and a creamy dressing will make this one a family favorite!

The Easiest Broccoli Salad Recipe| All Things Mamma (1)

Craving a fresh salad 16 Summer Salad Recipesbut want something a little bit different than the usual greens and Italian dressing? Why not try my broccoli salad! It’s made with raw, crisp broccoli that’s mixed with nutty sunflower seeds, chopped bacon, and sharp cheddar cheese for richness. Then it’s finished with a creamy, mayo-based dressing that brings it all together. This is one of my favorites!

Best Broccoli Salad Recipe

As soon as the warm weather rolls around, you can bet we start planning our summer picnics and get-togethers. And at the top of our list, the menu! This broccoli salad is an easy summer salad recipe always makes the list!

Made with bacon and cheddar cheese plus other yummy goodness, this savory salad has ingredients everyone loves!Along with my Cucumber Tomato Salad and Ramen Noodle Salad, this recipe for broccoli salad is always a standard cook out or a potluck offering. It holds up well and can be made in advance, other points in its favor. Plus, it will make even a broccoli-hater interested!

It’s hard to go wrong with bacon, and broccoli plus cheese takes this salad over the top. Pair it with burgers, a classic macaroni salad, BBQ meatball sliders, and so much more.

Grab My Favorite Tools

Click on the products below to see my favorite tools for making this recipe!

Ingredients for Broccoli Salad

  • Broccoli – I use fresh broccoli for this recipe and just use the florets.
  • Red Onion – This gives a nice crunch and a bit of spice to the salad.
  • Sunflower Seeds – You can use raw or roasted sunflower seeds.
  • Bacon – For a nice salty, meaty element.
  • Shredded Cheddar Cheese – You can shred your own cheese or buy pre-shredded cheese.
  • Vinegar– I use distilled white vinegar.
  • Sugar
  • Mayonnaise – Use your favorite brand of mayonnaise in this salad.
  • Salt and Pepper – I like to use kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper!
The Easiest Broccoli Salad Recipe| All Things Mamma (6)

How To Make Broccoli Salad

  1. Make the dressing: Whisk together vinegar, sugar, mayonnaise, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Set aside.
  2. Combine the rest of the ingredients: In a large bowl, combine broccoli, onion, sunflower seeds, cheese, and bacon. Pour the prepared dressing over and mix well.
  3. Chill the salad: Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

Quick Tip

You can make this salad the night before you plan to serve it. Store in the bowl, tightly covered in plastic wrap, or in an air-tight container in the fridge. The extra time will help the dressing sink into the broccoli, turning it ultra-flavorful.

The Easiest Broccoli Salad Recipe| All Things Mamma (7)

How to Store Broccoli Salad

Store leftover broccoli salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Serve cold, straight from the fridge.

Quick Tip

You can prepare your broccoli salad a few days in advance of serving it, but leave off the dressing. Undressed broccoli salad can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days before serving. Add the dressing just before you plan to serve it.

Serving Suggestions

Broccoli salad is a great side for all occasions! I love it at a cookout with Grilled BBQ Chicken or Bacon BBQ Pork Sliders.If you’re just cooking for a weeknight dinner, this broccoli salad goes great with Mississippi Roast Sandwiches or Baked Lemon Chicken Thighs!

FAQs

How to cut broccoli florets for broccoli salad?

To cut bite-sized pieces of broccoli for a salad, cut off the tougher stem and reserve the florets. Then cut or separate out the florets by hand and place in a bowl.

How to make brocoli salad?

It’s so easy to make broccoli salad! Chop up your florets, mix all the ingredients together in a big bowl, and stir in a creamy dressing!

Is broccoli healthier raw or cooked?

Nutritional experts agree that the healthiest way to eat broccoli is raw or lightly steamed just for a few minutes. This will preserve most of its beneficial nutritional qualities.

More Delicious Salad Recipes

Recipes

Recipes

The Best Potato Salad

Recipes

Classic Caesar Salad Dressing

Recipes

Pea Salad

Recipes

Summer Cobb Salad Recipe

The Easiest Broccoli Salad Recipe| All Things Mamma (14)

Broccoli Salad

This Broccoli Salad recipe is an amazing addition to your summer salad menu! Raw, crunchy broccoli, lots of salty bacon and cheddar cheese, and a creamy dressing will make this one a family favorite!

3.70 from 52 votes

Pin RecipeSave RecipeRate RecipePrint Recipe

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Author: Kasey Schwartz

Servings: 6 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 cups broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • cup red onion, diced
  • ¼ cup sunflower seeds
  • ½ pound bacon, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces
  • ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 3 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Whisk together vinegar, sugar, mayonnaise, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Set aside.

  • In a large bowl, combine broccoli, onion, sunflower seeds, cheese and bacon bits. Pour the prepared dressing over the salad and mix together well.

  • Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @kasey_allthingsmamma or tag #allthingsmamma!

Categories: Recipes, Side Dishes, Soups and Salads

About Kasey Schwartz

For over 15 years, Kasey Schwartz, the mastermind behind All Things Mamma, has been the ultimate go-to for mouthwatering family recipes. Her work has been featured on Today.com, Buzz Feed, Better Homes and Gardens, and more, making her your go-to mom next door for all things delicious and family-friendly.

Read More About Me

The Easiest Broccoli Salad Recipe| All Things Mamma (2024)

FAQs

How to make brocoli salad? ›

Whisk together mayonnaise, cider vinegar and honey. Toss salad ingredients with dressing: Combine broccoli florets, almonds, crumbled bacon, chopped onion, and peas in a large serving bowl. Add dressing to the salad and toss to mix well.

What does broccoli salad contain? ›

A simple, classic Broccoli Salad recipe that serves as a great fast side dish for any party or potluck. Made with bacon, cranberries, sunflower seeds, cheddar cheese and a homemade dressing, this is one of my favorite side dishes and it can be prepped in under fifteen minutes!

Why does my broccoli salad get watery? ›

Extra water on the broccoli can make for a runny mixture. The same goes for rinsing your broccoli! Make sure you give your broccoli adequate time to dry after rinsing. You get enough moisture from the dressing mixture that any extra water will make your salad too watery.

How many calories are in broccoli salad? ›

There are 330 calories in 1 cup of Broccoli Salad. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

What are the ingredients in broccoli? ›

Broccoli is an excellent source of vitamins C, K, and A. It also contains several important minerals, such as potassium, calcium, and iron. Broccoli contains several antioxidants, including vitamins C and E, β-carotene, and various flavonoids [12,13].

Can you eat broccoli raw in a salad? ›

The bottom line. Broccoli is a nutrient-packed vegetable that can be eaten safely either raw or cooked. Cooking may enhance the antioxidant activity of broccoli, but it may also reduce its content of certain heat-sensitive nutrients, such as vitamin C and sulforaphane.

What is in green broccoli? ›

Broccoli is packed with essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, calcium, and iron. Its health benefits range from potentially lowering blood sugar levels to aiding in cancer prevention and promoting joint health.

How do you fix too much vinegar in broccoli salad? ›

If you have added too much vinegar to a recipe, you can try adding a bit of sugar or honey to help balance the acidity. You could also try diluting the vinegar by adding more of the other ingredients in the recipe.

How long to boil broccoli? ›

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook, uncovered, until tender, 2 to 3 minutes depending on the size of the florets. Drain into a colander, transfer to a plate, sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve with lemon wedges.

How to make raw broccoli taste good? ›

Broccoli has a simple taste that can be paired subtly with lemon pepper, or salt and black pepper, or combined with bold flavors like balsamic vinegar, basil, and fresh ginger. These common flavors will add to natural taste of the broccoli, and can even be combined with other raw vegetables to make a salad.

Is broccoli a carbohydrate, fat, or protein? ›

Raw broccoli contains almost 90% water, 7% carbs, 3% protein, and almost no fat. Broccoli is very low in calories, providing only 35 calories per cup, or 90 grams (g).

How much broccoli is 30 calories? ›

Other common serving sizes
Serving SizeCalories
1/2 cup chopped27
1 NLEA serving30
100 g35
1 stalk small (5" long)49
3 more rows
Feb 4, 2008

How many calories are in broccoli for weight loss? ›

A bowl of cooked broccoli contains between 50 and 65 calories per serving and about 39 calories per 100 grams which nominates it into low-calorie foods. To successfully reduce weight, you must burn more calories than you consume. Broccoli is an excellent source of dietary fibre, containing 3.3 grams per 100 grams.

Can broccoli be eaten raw as in a salad? ›

Serving broccoli raw is an excellent option, since it retains these nutrients and the enzyme that forms isothiocyanate compounds.

How do restaurants make broccoli so good? ›

How do restaurants make broccoli so good? Restaurants often blanch broccoli first to ensure it's cooked quickly and evenly, maintaining a vibrant color and crisp texture.

Can you use raw broccoli? ›

The bottom line. Broccoli is a nutrient-packed vegetable that can be eaten safely either raw or cooked. Cooking may enhance the antioxidant activity of broccoli, but it may also reduce its content of certain heat-sensitive nutrients, such as vitamin C and sulforaphane.

How to make broccoli taste good without making it unhealthy? ›

Garlic and butter help make broccoli taste irresistible. Simply sautee the broccoli in a pan with just a little butter, some onions and grated garlic and voila! Add a drizzle of lemon if desired.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Edwin Metz

Last Updated:

Views: 6046

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Edwin Metz

Birthday: 1997-04-16

Address: 51593 Leanne Light, Kuphalmouth, DE 50012-5183

Phone: +639107620957

Job: Corporate Banking Technician

Hobby: Reading, scrapbook, role-playing games, Fishing, Fishing, Scuba diving, Beekeeping

Introduction: My name is Edwin Metz, I am a fair, energetic, helpful, brave, outstanding, nice, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.