Best Broccoli Salad Recipe
This Best Broccoli Salad Recipe is a delightful mix of fresh broccoli florets, crispy bacon, tangy dried cranberries, sharp white cheddar cheese, and crunchy roasted sunflower seeds. Tossed in a creamy, tangy dressing made with Dijon mustard, honey, olive oil, and apple cider vinegar, this salad perfectly balances savory, sweet, and tart flavors. Ideal as a refreshing side dish or a light lunch, it’s easy to prepare and can be served immediately or chilled for deeper flavor integration.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes (for cooking bacon)
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 6 cups broccoli florets (chopped very small)
- ⅓ cup red onion, diced
- 4–6 strips of bacon, cooked and chopped (or ¼ cup bacon bits)
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup white cheddar cheese, shredded
- 3 tablespoons roasted sunflower seeds
Dressing Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup honey
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- Pinch of black pepper
- Water to thin (as needed)
Instructions
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the chopped broccoli florets, diced red onion, cooked and chopped bacon (or bacon bits), dried cranberries, shredded white cheddar cheese, and roasted sunflower seeds. Gently mix all these ingredients together to ensure they are evenly distributed.
- Prepare Dressing: Add the Dijon mustard, honey, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to a blender or food processor. Blend or pulse until the mixture is smooth. You can also combine these ingredients in a jar and shake vigorously. Add water incrementally to thin the dressing to your desired consistency.
- Dress the Salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the broccoli salad in the large bowl. Toss everything together thoroughly to coat all the salad ingredients in the dressing evenly.
- Serve or Chill: Serve the salad immediately for fresh, crisp texture, or cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours if you prefer the flavors to meld and develop further.
Notes
- You can chop the broccoli florets into smaller pieces to make the salad easier to eat and more uniform in texture.
- Adjust the amount of bacon based on your preference or dietary needs.
- The salad can be kept chilled for up to 24 hours, making it perfect for meal prep or party servings.
- For a lighter version, you may reduce the amount of honey or bacon and use low-fat cheese.
- If you prefer a thinner dressing, add water gradually and mix well until the desired consistency is achieved.
- Ensure the bacon is cooled before adding to maintain crisp texture in the salad.
Keywords: Broccoli salad, bacon salad, summer salad, healthy broccoli recipe, cheddar broccoli salad, easy side dish
Find it online: https://todayfoodrecipe.com/best-broccoli-salad-recipe/
