The Best Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Creamy Dressing
This easy broccoli salad recipe delivers the perfect crunch with bacon, sunflower seeds, and a tangy, creamy mayonnaise-yogurt dressing. It is a family favorite side dish for potlucks and BBQs.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 5 min
- Total Time: 25 min
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large head of fresh broccoli, cut into bite-sized florets
- 1/2 cup cooked and crumbled bacon
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the broccoli: Wash and thoroughly dry the broccoli florets. If the florets are large, cut them into smaller, uniform, bite-sized pieces. Place the dried broccoli in a very large bowl.
- Add mix-ins: Add the crumbled bacon, dried cranberries, cheddar cheese, sunflower seeds, and red onion to the bowl with the broccoli.
- Make the dressing: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Combine: Pour the creamy dressing over the broccoli mixture. Gently toss everything together until all the ingredients are evenly coated.
- Chill: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and helps the broccoli absorb some of the dressing.
- Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning if needed before serving this crowd-pleasing salad.
Notes
- To keep your broccoli salad crunchy, make sure the broccoli florets are completely dry before mixing them with the dressing. Excess water makes the salad soggy.
- For the best flavor and texture, prepare the salad up to 4 hours ahead of time. Do not make it the day before, as the broccoli will soften too much.
- If you prefer a tangier dressing, increase the apple cider vinegar by one tablespoon.
- Substitute goat cheese for cheddar cheese for a different flavor profile.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 320
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Unsaturated Fat: 23
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 8
- Cholesterol: 30