THIS BROCCOLI SALAD RECIPE WILL BE YOUR GO-TO SALAD FOR SUMMER POTLUCKS, PICNICS AND COOKOUTS AND CAN BE PREPPED IN UNDER 20 MINUTES!
This Broccoli Salad is the salad of your crunchy, creamy, sweet, savory, refreshing, tangy dreams. It’s easy, make ahead friendly, stays super fresh, doesn’t wilt, is utterly addicting and always disappears in a flash. This Broccoli Salad recipe is packed with vibrant, fresh broccoli, salty, crispy bacon, creamy Gouda cheese, crunchy Fuji apples, sweet craisins, tangy red onions, crunchy almonds, and roasted sunflower seeds all doused in the BEST light, creamy, herb laced dressing. So, if you’re looking for the best Broccoli Salad recipe to have in your back pocket, this is the ONE!
BROCCOLI SALAD
If there’s one recipe you’ll make again and again this summer and all year long – it’s this unassuming, unexpectedly irresistible Broccoli Salad. Even my skeptical husband LOVED this salad and kept coming back for the leftovers until every last sunflower seed was gone. The sweet-and-savory, crunchy-creamy combo is utterly divine.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS BROCCOLI SALAD RECIPE
- Delicious. The explosion of flavors and textures will make your taste buds giddy! What especially sets this easy Broccoli Salad recipe apart from its retro cousins is the use of creamy, buttery Gouda instead of cheddar, sweet, plump craisins instead of raisins and roasted, salted sunflower seeds in addition to sliced almonds. And did I say bacon already?
- Always a hit! Everyone will love this Broccoli Bacon Salad and I guarantee multiple people will ask you for the recipe wherever you serve it. It’s tasty as a casual dinner side or the star at picnics, potlucks, pool parties and barbecues and knock your-socks-off fabulous enough for special occasions like Easter, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day. Wherever food is served, this Broccoli Salad recipe is the answer!
- The best Broccoli Salad Dressing. The light yet creamy mayonnaise-based dressing is made with part Greek yogurt for added tanginess and a healthier spin. It’s infused with parsley, chives, dill and garlic which laces the entire salad with amped up herb flavor to compliment the salty, savory bacon.
- Quick and easy. Who says quick and easy can’t be spectacular?! I challenge you to make anything as tasty as this easy Broccoli Salad in under 20 minutes!
- Make ahead. Broccoli Salad can be made in advance and kept in the fridge for days until you’re ready to serve it, which makes it perfect for potlucks and barbecues without any last-minute stress! In fact, it tastes even better chilled and won’t wilt, weep or get soggy. This also means it makes great leftovers should you be so lucky.
- Versatile. This Broccoli Salad recipe is incredibly versatile as long as you keep the balance of crunchy, creamy, sweet and savory. Feel free to add your favorite veggies, fruit or nuts. I’ve detailed all sorts of recipe variations below.
INGREDIENTS
BROCCOLI SALAD
6 cups chopped broccoli florets
4 ounces (about 1 cup) Gouda, cubed small (may sub sharp cheddar)
1 sweet apple (like Fuji) chopped
2/3 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup diced red onion
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
8 ounces thick-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
DRESSING
¾ cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup Greek yogurt, nonfat works great
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
1 tablespoon fresh chives or 1 tsp dried
1 tablespoon fresh dill or 1 tsp dried
1/2 tsp EACH garlic powder, salt, pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
Whisk all of the dressing ingredients together in a medium bowl; set side.
Add all of the Salad Ingredients to a large bowl except bacon and sunflower seeds.
Pour dressing over the salad and toss until all of the ingredients are evenly coated in the dressing.
The salad can be served immediately, but for best flavor, refrigerate for at least one hour before serving. Add the sunflower seeds and bacon and toss again before serving. Keep refrigerated if not consuming right away.
