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Home » Creative Recipes » Recipe Attributes » 30-Minutes-or-Less » Broccoli Salad

Photo of glass bowl with broccoli salad with cranberries, bacon and cheddar cheese on white marble countertop

Broccoli Salad

BY: Michele
PUBLISHED: Nov 9, 2020
UPDATED: Jul 3, 2022
6 Reviews / 5 Average
53 Comments
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Broccoli Salad is a perfect cold summer salad when trying to beat the summer heat by chillin’ at a backyard barbecue, picnic, or potluck, or as a favorite holiday side dish at Thanksgiving dinner.

Photo of glass bowl with broccoli salad with cranberries, bacon and cheddar cheese on white marble countertop

Broccoli Salad with dried cranberries, or Craisins, bacon, cheddar, and gouda tastes amazing! Add in red onions and walnuts and cover in a creamy poppyseed broccoli salad dressing, and it becomes one of my favorite Vegetable Side Dishes or Salads! It is perfect for a pot luck, July 4th Barbecue or Thanksgiving Side Dish! Like my Bacon Broccoli Tortellini Salad and Chicken Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Casserole, it uses fresh broccoli florets.

Like my Crack Slaw Recipe, this recipe is low carb and delicious.

Table of Contents
  • How To Make Broccoli Salad
  • Recipe Tips
  • What To Serve With Broccoli Salad
  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  • More Recipes You’ll Love
  • Recipe
  • Reviews

I have made this recipe probably hundreds of times over the years, taking it to picnics, potlucks, and holiday dinners. It is definitely a tried and true recipe. We think this is the Best Broccoli Salad recipe!

My nephew calls it Broccoli Crunch Salad because of the crunchy texture with the broccoli, bacon and walnuts. While my friend swears this tastes like her Mom’s Amish Broccoli Salad. No matter what you call it, it is delicious! Every time I take it to a potluck there are no leftovers and people ask me for the recipe.

How To Make Broccoli Salad

Below I discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions in case you don’t have a specific ingredient on hand. However, if you are looking for the specific measurements of each ingredient, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card, which includes all the ingredients and the specific amounts of each one.

Broccoli Salad Ingredients

  • Broccoli florets
  • Crumbled Bacon
  • Cheddar Cheese
  • Gouda Cheese
  • Dried cranberries
  • Chopped Walnuts
  • Red Onion
  • Salt and Pepper

Broccoli Salad Dressing Ingredients

  • Mayonnaise
  • Sugar
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Poppy seeds
Overhead view of individual bowls with ingredients for Broccoli Salad on white marble background.

Directions

  • In a large bowl, combine the Broccoli salad ingredients into a bowl, including the broccoli florets, cubed cheddar and gouda cheeses, chopped walnuts, dried cranberries, chopped bacon, sliced red onions, and salt and pepper.
Large yellowish gold bowl containing ingredients for broccoli salad with each ingredient grouped together in the bowl.
  • Make The Broccoli Salad Dressing by stirring together the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, and poppyseeds and pouring then over the broccoli salad. Stir until all ingredients are covered in the dressing.
One large yellowish-gold bowl with ingredients of the broccoli salad mixed together except for the mayonnaise and poppyseeds.
  • Refrigerate for at least one hour or up to overnight to allow the flavors to develop.
Overhead view of finished Broccoli Salad with Dried Cranberries, Bacon, Cheddar, and Gouda surrounded by a partial red onion, broccoli florets, red and white striped napkin, and red-topped salt and pepper shakers.
  • Serve cold and enjoy!
Single Bite of Broccoli Salad with Dried Cranberries, Bacon, Cheddar, Gouda, and Walnuts

Every bite of this salad is delicious with the crispy broccoli, bacon, walnuts, and dried cranberries.

Individual serving of broccoli salad on small white plate sitting on top of stack of 3 plates with a large salad bowl of broccoli salad in the background with forks and salt and pepper on the ride side.

Recipe Tips

  • Use Cubed Cheese instead of shredded cheese. The cubed cheese stands up to the other ingredients and will keep its shape while refrigerated until ready to serve. If you use shredded, it can lose its shape and kind of melt into the dressing and not provide as nice an appearance or provide that extra level of texture. If you want to use shredded cheese, then I recommend waiting to add the cheese to the salad shortly before serving.
  • Refrigerate Before Serving. To allow the flavors to fully develop, refrigerate the salad before serving for 3 to 4 hours before serving, or refrigerate overnight.
Overhead view of multiple small plates with individual servings of broccoli salad with a partial view on the right of the large bowl of broccoli salad.

What To Serve With Broccoli Salad

Broccoli Salad goes with just about everything. It may depend on the occasion. If you are serving it for a summer picnic, then it will go well with barbecue chicken, baked beans, potato salad, or pasta salad, etc.

However, if you are serving it as a holiday side salad for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter, then you can serve it with the traditional holiday side dishes like Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad, Green Bean Casserole, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Cornbread Dressing, or Sweet Potato Casserole. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  1. Can I lighten up the Salad?
    1. Yes. Instead of mayonnaise, you could use greek yogurt instead, or use half light mayonnaise and half greek yogurt.
    2. You could use low fat cheese.
  2. Can I Make This Salad Ahead Of Time?
    1. Yes! You can make it the night before you plan to serve it. However, I don’t recommend making it more than 24 hours ahead of time.
  3. How Do I Store Leftover Broccoli Salad?
    1. Cover the bowl of broccoli salad with an airtight lid or cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

More Recipes You’ll Love

  • Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli
  • Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole
  • Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad
  • Cranberry Fluff Salad
  • Leftover Ham and Broccoli Quiche

If you like this recipe or make this recipe,  be sure to leave a comment, rate the recipe, and follow us on:

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Recipe

Photo of glass bowl with broccoli salad with cranberries, bacon and cheddar cheese on white marble countertop
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5 from 6 votes

Broccoli Salad

Broccoli Salad is a perfect cold summer salad when trying to beat the summer heat by chillin’ at a backyard barbecue, picnic, or potluck.
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Keyword Broccoli Salad
Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
Total Time 20 minutes minutes
Servings 12
Calories 222kcal
Author Michele @ Flavor Mosaic

Ingredients

Broccoli Salad

  • 8 slices bacon cooked, drained, and chopped
  • 2 heads broccoli cut into small florets
  • 1/2 red onion sliced
  • 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese cubed
  • 1/2 cup gouda
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1-1/4 cups mayonnaise (can use light mayonnaise or greek yogurt)

Broccoli Salad Dressing

  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
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Instructions 

  • In a large bowl, combine broccoli, bacon, cheese, dried cranberries, chopped walnuts, and sliced red onion.
  • Make the Broccoli Salad Dressing by stirring together the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, and poppy seeds. Pour the dressing over the salad and stir until all ingredients are covered in the dressing.
  • Cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 276mg | Potassium: 399mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 739IU | Vitamin C: 91mg | Calcium: 167mg | Iron: 1mg

This recipe was originally published on July 6, 2014 and updated on November 9, 2020 with updated photos, text, and clarifications to the recipe. Below are the photos that were originally published with the recipe in 2014.

Broccoli Salad
Broccoli Salad
Broccoli Salad - Flavor Mosaic

Filed Under: 30-Minutes-or-Less, American, Budget-friendly, Comfort Food, Dinner, Easter Recipes, Featured Photos, Green Salads, Healthy, July 4th, Low Carb, Low Fat, Lunch, Make Ahead, Memorial Day, Pot Luck, Quick and Easy, Spring, Summer, Summer Recipes, Sunday Supper, Thanksgiving Sides, Vegetables Tagged With: broccoli, potluck salad, summer, Thanksgiving Salad

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Reader Interactions

Michele F - Owner / Founder / Creator / Blogger at Flavor Mosaic
Michele

Hi, I’m Michele Feuerborn, wife, and dog Mom, with 20+ years experience as a home cook. I’m the Founder of Flavor Mosaic, as well as the author, recipe developer, and photographer. I share fast, easy, flavorful recipes with bold flavors, featuring Instant Pot recipes and Southern and Mexican cuisines.

Comments

  1. Shannon @VillageGirlBlog says

    July 6, 2014 at 9:30 am

    Mmmm, I love this kind of salad! Plus, Bacon… 🙂

    Reply
    • Michele says

      July 6, 2014 at 9:32 am

      Ha ha! Everything is better with bacon!

      Reply
  2. Liz says

    July 6, 2014 at 10:51 am

    I’m a huge fan of broccoli salad…and I always substitute dried cranberries for raisins, too! You’ve given me a huge craving!!

    Reply
    • Michele says

      July 6, 2014 at 10:59 am

      Hi Liz! I’m so glad you like it! Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  3. Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) says

    July 6, 2014 at 11:02 am

    This is one of my all-time favorite salads and why or why haven’t I made it this Summer.

    Reply
    • Michele says

      July 6, 2014 at 12:21 pm

      Yes. You can’t go wrong with this salad.

      Reply
  4. Sarah says

    July 6, 2014 at 11:27 am

    This was always a staple at our street parties! Love it

    Reply
    • Michele says

      July 6, 2014 at 12:20 pm

      We love this salad too!

      Reply
  5. Marion@Life Tastes Good says

    July 6, 2014 at 11:38 am

    yummmmmm!!! This girl loves broccoli, but you sucked me in with the bacon for sure!! Sounds delicious, Michele!!

    Reply
    • Michele says

      July 6, 2014 at 12:22 pm

      Yep! Bacon makes everything better! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Danielle Nichols says

    July 6, 2014 at 12:06 pm

    You had me at bacon! What a gorgeous salad!

    Reply
    • Michele says

      July 6, 2014 at 12:23 pm

      Thanks Danielle! The bacon always does it.

      Reply
  7. Marlene @Nosh My Way says

    July 6, 2014 at 12:28 pm

    You know what? I am making this recipe without a doubt. Love it and so colorful too.

    Reply
    • Michele says

      July 6, 2014 at 12:58 pm

      Hi Marlene! I hope you like it!

      Reply
  8. Gwen @simplyhealthyfamily says

    July 6, 2014 at 2:02 pm

    This could be a main course for me! I love all the ingredients in this salad. Pinned to make ASAP!

    Reply
    • Michele says

      July 6, 2014 at 2:14 pm

      Thanks Gwen!

      Reply
  9. Tara says

    July 6, 2014 at 2:05 pm

    This is such a great salad, I love it!! Huge YUM!!

    Reply
    • Michele says

      July 6, 2014 at 2:14 pm

      Thanks Tara!

      Reply
  10. Lane @ Supper for a Steal says

    July 6, 2014 at 3:25 pm

    Broccoli salad is one of my favorite, but I have never made it. I can’t wait to finally make it myself. Definitely needs to happen this summer.

    Reply
  11. Simply Gourmet says

    July 6, 2014 at 4:32 pm

    A family favorite and one of the first salads I ever learned to make on my own. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Michele says

      July 6, 2014 at 5:20 pm

      Yes. This is one of our family favorites too.

      Reply
  12. Alaiyo Kiasi-Barnes says

    July 6, 2014 at 5:00 pm

    You know, I’ve never made broccoli salad either, and I don’t know why not! Now that I have a recipe (minus the bacon since I’m a pescetarian), there’s no excuse not to make it this summer!

    Reply
    • Michele says

      July 6, 2014 at 5:20 pm

      I highly recommend making it! It is a classic.

      Reply
  13. Kim (Feed Me, Seymour) says

    July 6, 2014 at 5:59 pm

    I love broccoli salad. But I’ve never thought to add cranberries to it! A perfect addition!

    Reply
    • Michele says

      July 6, 2014 at 7:02 pm

      Hi Kim! We love it too. We prefer the cranberries over raisins.

      Reply
  14. Julie @ Texan New Yorker says

    July 6, 2014 at 8:32 pm

    This so reminds me of a broccoli salad my mom would make growing up; and of course I was the picky child who hated it. But, she didn’t put bacon in it. So, there you go. I am making myself eat more broccoli, so I’m definitely trying your recipe. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Michele says

      July 6, 2014 at 9:32 pm

      Hi Julie! This broccoli salad is tradition. I just add the bacon and dried cranberries instead of raisins.

      Reply
  15. Cheryl says

    July 6, 2014 at 11:01 pm

    This sounds so good! When are you bring it by my house? I’ll even leave the door open if I’m not able to be here when you come. Or I guess I might just have to make it myself. HUGS

    Reply
    • Michele says

      July 7, 2014 at 5:02 am

      LOL Cheryl! For the right price (that covers airfare, hotel an other travel costs), but it might be easier to make at home.

      Reply
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Hi, I’m Michele, a home cook with 20+ years experience. I created Flavor Mosaic as a place to share our favorite fast, easy, and flavorful creative recipes with bold flavors, including Southern, Mexican, Tex-Mex, and Instant Pot recipes.
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