March 29, 2026
This publish might comprise affiliate gross sales hyperlinks. Please learn my disclosure coverage.
This Broccoli Salad with Bacon and sunflower seeds is every little thing you need in a make-ahead aspect. It’s primarily based on my mother’s basic recipe and hits that excellent stability of taste and texture each time. Even with a selfmade dressing, it’s nonetheless quite simple to make, straightforward to prep forward, and at all times a crowd favourite.
Why You’ll Love This Broccoli Salad Recipe
- Simple to make forward
- Good stability of crunchy + creamy
- Basic household recipe
- Crowd favourite for gatherings
Ingredient Notes
- Broccoli – Recent solely. Chop it small so nobody’s caught with big bushes on their plate.
- Crimson onion – Diced high-quality so it doesn’t overpower, however you continue to get that chunk.
- Sunflower seeds – Roasted and salted work finest right here. They provide the salad some texture and a nutty taste with out being an excessive amount of.
- Bacon – Cook dinner it crisp and crumble it your self. Or go lazy with store-bought bacon bits when you should. No judgment. I prefer to bake my bacon within the oven at 425° F. For the most effective style in your broccoli salad, crispy bacon is vital.
- Raisins or Craisins – Completely non-obligatory, however they add a chewy sweetness that balances every little thing out.
- Mayonnaise – Use full-fat for finest taste and texture.
- Sugar – It sweetens the dressing however doesn’t make it syrupy. You want it, belief me.
Whereas a basic broccoli salad can embody varied varieties of cheese (goat cheese, feta cheese or additional sharp cheddar cheese), my mother’s recipe doesn’t. It nonetheless delivers loads of taste due to the mix of crispy bacon, contemporary broccoli, and that creamy, barely candy dressing.
The right way to Make This Broccoli Salad with Bacon
It’s undoubtedly one of many higher fail-proof recipes I’ve in my custody that I’m in LOVE with. It’s straightforward, has a very good crunch issue, has the proper broccoli to bacon ratio plus that candy dressing turns in any other case unassuming broccoli into magic. For full recipe particulars, together with substances wanted and measurements, see the printable recipe card down beneath. This basic aspect dish really shines with the flavor-packed duo of bacon and broccoli in each chunk.
Step 1: Cook dinner Bacon + Prep Veggies
chop all veggies ensuring broccoli is minimize into chunk dimension items. For added taste, ensure that to make use of each bacon and contemporary broccoli.
cook dinner bacon + chop into small items
Step 2: Combine the Salad
toss chopped veggies into a big bowl + add sunflower seeds and craisins Subsequent, add each broccoli and bacon to the combination for that basic salad mixture.
Step 3: Make the Dressing
In a small bowl, combine the dressing substances collectively to mix. Pour over broccoli combination and toss to coat. Serve or retailer within the fridge till able to serve. Don’t neglect, this dressing is very excellent paired with this salad.
Step 4: Toss + Chill
pour dressing over the salad + toss properly to coat and chill. When chilling, the flavors meld for a satisfying salad.
Suggestions for Success
- Let the salad chill for at the very least half-hour earlier than serving. The flavour will get higher. For even tastier outcomes, embody loads of bacon along with your broccoli salad.
- Lower every little thing small, particularly the broccoli. You don’t need big chunks.
- Make the dressing prematurely so the sugar absolutely dissolves.
- If utilizing bacon bits, use a beneficiant quantity. Pre-cooked variations are typically skimpy on taste.
- Making a day forward is definitely really useful to offer the dressing time to marinate every little thing.
What to Serve with Broccoli Salad
FAQ
Are you able to make broccoli salad forward of time?
Sure! This broccoli salad truly tastes higher after chilling for at the very least half-hour, and even higher the subsequent day because the flavors meld collectively.
How lengthy does broccoli salad final?
Saved in an hermetic container within the fridge, broccoli salad will keep contemporary for as much as 3–4 days.
Do you cook dinner broccoli for broccoli salad?
No, this recipe makes use of contemporary, uncooked broccoli for the most effective crunch and texture.
What goes in basic broccoli salad?
Basic broccoli salad usually consists of contemporary broccoli, bacon, sunflower seeds, pink onion, and a creamy, barely candy dressing.
You don’t must overthink this one. Simply make it, serve it, and watch it disappear. 🙂 The printable recipe is beneath. Get pleasure from, associates! This broccoli salad with bacon will rapidly turn into a staple at your gatherings.
Broccoli Salad with Bacon
That is the most effective Broccoli Salad recipe that can be devoured at your subsequent barbecue! It is candy, creamy and crunchy with contemporary broccoli, selfmade dressing and many bacon!
Components
- 8 cups contemporary broccoli florets chopped, chunk dimension
- 1/2 cup pink onion finely diced
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
- 1 cup crumbled bacon
- 1/2 cup raisins or Craisins non-obligatory
Directions
-
Chop all of the greens ensuring to chop the broccoli into bite-size items. Cook dinner bacon in response to your liking and minimize up into small items, or you might purchase bacon bits.
-
Place all salad substances into a big bowl and put aside.
-
In a smaller bowl, combine dressing substances collectively to mix. Pour over salad and toss. Serve or retailer within the fridge till able to serve.
Notes
Storing + Make Forward Directions
Broccoli salad is a type of salads that truthfully tastes higher the second day! By then the dressing has had time to marinate and soak into every little thing. Yum!
Retailer any leftover broccoli salad in an hermetic container, within the fridge for as much as 5 days. Past this time, the broccoli will begin to wilt.
Make Forward: The perfect half about this salad is you may chop all of the veggies, retailer it in your fridge and add the dressing proper earlier than serving. It’s a particular crowd pleaser and is fabulous for holidays and potlucks.
Diet
Energy: 512kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 9gFats: 41gSaturated Fats: 7gLdl cholesterol: 31mgSodium: 548mgPotassium: 526mgFiber: 3gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 625IUVitamin C: 82.7mgCalcium: 62mgIron: 1.6mg
Different Salad Recipes You May Like
If you happen to make this recipe, I might actually recognize it when you would give it a star ranking and go away your overview within the feedback! When you’ve got an image of your completed dish, publish it on Instagram utilizing the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.
