Cold and Crunchy Broccoli Salad Recipe

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This cold and crunchy broccoli salad recipe is quick to make, super easy, and loaded with delicious ingredients! This creamy broccoli salad is perfect for get-togethers, potlucks, or family occasions like Easter.

Cold and crunchy broccoli salad recipe in a white bowl with a bowl of sunflower seeds and dried cranberries next to it.

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Why you’ll love this recipe
Recipe Ingredients
Kitchen Equipment
Step-by-Step Instructions
Storage and Leftovers
Alternative Ingredients
Frequently Asked Questions
Serving Suggestions
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If you’re looking for more salads for a crowd, try this red skin potato salad, zesty Italian pasta salad, cheddar macaroni salad, dill pickle potato salad, Hawaiian macaroni salad, and caprese pasta salad too!

I am obsessed with this broccoli salad recipe and love making it for family occasions and holiday dinners! I have to give my aunt Suzy some credit though; she has been making broccoli salad for years and always brings it to Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter! She inspired me to make my own, and now that I've tasted and tested it several times, I'm sharing it with you!

The best part about this recipe is that you only need a few basic ingredients. I guarantee you'll be able to find everything you need at your local grocery store. Just like all of the Cup of Flour recipes, our goal is to make them with ingredients that will be accessible to everyone to help make cooking more approachable. Learn more about Cup of Flour's goals to help new and aspiring cooks on the About page!

Why you’ll love this recipe

DELICIOUS SIDE DISH: This side dish is great for weeknight or weekend dinners and is especially popular on holidays and occasions like Easter!
EASY: With just a few simple steps, this broccoli salad is easy to make and super creamy and delicious.
QUICK: It comes together super quickly with just a handful of simple ingredients.

Cold and crunchy broccoli salad recipe in a white bowl with two wooden spoons in it.

Recipe Ingredients

BACON: The bacon is crispy and delicious and amazingly complements all the other ingredients in the salad!
BROCCOLI: Broccoli is the base of the salad. It adds a beautiful color and crunchy texture that perfectly absorbs all the creaminess!
CHEDDAR CHEESE: Old/sharp cheddar adds flavor, a creamy texture, and color to the salad.
RED ONION: The red onion also adds a beautiful color to the salad, sharp bite, and crunchy texture.
DRIED CRANBERRIES: The sweetened dried cranberries add sweetness and a chewy texture to the salad.
SUNFLOWER SEEDS: The sunflower seeds add a nutty component and crunchy texture.
MAYONNAISE: The mayo is the base of the salad dressing, making it super creamy.
SUGAR: There is just a tad of sugar to give the dressing a little sweetness.
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR: The apple cider vinegar helps cut through some of the creaminess.
LEMON JUICE: The lemon juice adds a citrusy flavor and helps cut through some of the creaminess.
SALT & PEPPER: To enhance the overall flavor of the salad.

See the recipe card below for the ingredient measurements.

Kitchen Equipment

KNIFE: For chopping the broccoli, cutting the cheese and slicing the bacon.
MIXING BOWLS: You will need one bowl to mix the salad and another to make the salad dressing.
BAKING SHEET: For baking the bacon.
CITRUS JUICER: For juicing the lemon.
MEASURING SPOONS AND CUPS: For measuring the ingredients.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Cook the bacon: Preheat the oven to 400°F and prepare a baking sheet with tin foil and cooking spray. Add the bacon to the baking sheet and cook it for 10-15 minutes or until crispy. Once cooled, chop it into small pieces and set it aside.
Make the salad: Add the broccoli, bacon, red onion, sunflower seeds, cranberries, and cheddar cheese to a mixing bowl.
Make the dressing: Combine and mix the salad dressing ingredients in a separate bowl and transfer it to the broccoli salad, mixing it until fully coated.

Storage and Leftovers

You can store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container. You can also make this salad the day before and store it in the fridge overnight until it’s ready to be served.

Alternative Ingredients

GREEK YOGURT: For a healthier yet still creamy option, consider substituting the mayo for Greek yogurt.
RASINS: Consider adding or replacing the dried cranberries with raisins to maintain the sweetness and chewiness but alter the flavor.
BACON BITES: For a quicker and easier option, consider swapping the bacon for bacon bits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What goes with broccoli salad?

Proteins like chicken, steak, fish etc. go great with broccoli salad. Other sides that complement broccoli salad are mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, carrots, etc.

How long is broccoli salad good for?

It can be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days before getting too soggy.

Can you make broccoli salad in advance?

Yes, you can make it the day/night before and serve it the next day. It won’t be soggy, and the flavors will enhance overnight.

Serving Suggestions

This salad goes great with Easter turkey dinners next to some creamy macaroni salad. It also tastes delicious as a side dish to some saucy pulled pork sandwiches or with chicken or steak dinners next to a side of roasted baby potatoes or creamy scalloped potatoes.

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