The Ultimate Creamy, Crunchy Broccoli Bacon Salad
Make the best broccoli salad with a creamy, tangy dressing, crisp bacon, sweet cranberries, and crunchy sunflower seeds. This easy potluck salad is a family favorite for any gathering.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 5 min
- Total Time: 20 min
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No-Cook Mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large head fresh broccoli, cut into bite-sized florets
- 1/2 cup cooked, crumbled bacon
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds (raw or toasted)
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- For the Dressing:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the bacon: Cook bacon until crisp, drain well, and crumble. Set aside.
- Chop the vegetables: Cut the broccoli into small, uniform florets. Finely chop the red onion.
- Make the creamy dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Combine salad components: In a large bowl, combine the broccoli florets, crumbled bacon, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, red onion, and cheddar cheese.
- Dress the salad: Pour the creamy dressing over the salad mixture. Toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Chill before serving: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. This allows the flavors to blend and helps the broccoli soften slightly while retaining crunch.
Notes
- To keep your salad crunchy, do not chop the broccoli too far in advance. Mix the dressing and vegetables just a few hours before you plan to serve, or chill for at least one hour.
- You can substitute Greek yogurt for half the mayonnaise in the dressing for a slightly lighter version.
- For an old fashioned broccoli salad flavor, use only white sugar and skip the Dijon mustard.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Unsaturated Fat: 22
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 16
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 8
- Cholesterol: 35