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Home Recipes By Type Salads

Classic Broccoli Salad

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By: Diana Last updated on April 1, 2025

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

broccoli florets with cheese, bacon, onions. Text overlay says "classic broccoli salad"

Homemade Broccoli Salad is a healthy and easy recipe made with broccoli florets, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, and bacon, with a sweet and creamy dressing.

It’s one of my favorites to serve at a barbecue because everyone loves it!

a large serving bowl of creamy broccoli salad, viewed from above.


It’s not a summer party without a big bowl of this delicious Broccoli Salad on the table!

This recipe somehow turns broccoli (which, let’s be honest, isn’t everyone’s favorite food) into a delicious sweet and savory side dish that will be the star of the meal.

And it’s super simple to make a classic broccoli salad. Simply mix up a creamy homemade dressing and pour it over broccoli florets and the perfect combination of tasty broccoli salad mix-ins.

If you’re looking for more classic summer salads, be sure to get the recipes for my Hawaiian Mac Salad, Creamy Cucumber Salad, Tuna Pasta Salad, and Dorito Taco Salad. Any of these will be gobbled right up along with hot dogs and hamburgers!

A closeup view of a bowl of creamy broccoli salad.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  1. A Healthy Picnic Salad Option – Summer parties are often filled with potato salads and macaroni salads, so this veggie-based broccoli salad is a nice healthy option! Bring this to the next BBQ you’re invited to, I guarantee there won’t be any leftovers.
  2. Sweet and Savory Flavors – The balanced flavors in this salad come from expertly selected ingredients. Honey and cranberries add sweetness, while cheddar cheese, red onions, and salty sunflower seeds add savory notes. The creamy and tangy dressing pulls everything together perfectly!
  3. Almost No Cooking Involved! You’ll need to crisp up a few slices of bacon, but other than that, this recipe is no-cook! That means that you can easily make this while camping or on a day when you don’t want to heat up the house too much.

Ingredients In Classic Broccoli Salad

Here’s what you need to make this tasty side salad:

The ingredients for broccoli salad with bacon, cranberries, and sunflower seeds, measured into small bowls and arranged on a counter.
  • Broccoli Florets: You’ll need about a pound of bite-sized florets, which is about 2 heads of broccoli.
  • Bacon: Crispy, salty bacon is probably my favorite part of this salad. I’m using turkey bacon here, but traditional bacon is just as good.
  • Cheese: I like this salad with cubed sharp cheddar cheese, but other types of cheese are also delicious!
  • Dried Cranberries: These add a tangy sweetness to the salad. Try it with golden raisins instead if you prefer.
  • Onion: Thinly slice or finely dice a medium red onion to add to the salad.
  • Sunflower Seeds: Roasted sunflower kernels add a salty, crunchy flavor to the salad that is just perfect.
  • Broccoli Salad Dressing: A quick mix of mayo, Greek yogurt, vinegar, and honey, seasoned with salt and pepper, is the perfect creamy coating for cold broccoli salad.

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

How To Make The Best Broccoli Salad

The ingredients for broccoli salad added to a bowl.
The dressing for broccoli salad, a creamy mixture stirred with a whisk, in a small bowl.
  1. Combine the Ingredients: Add broccoli florets, diced onion, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, diced cheddar cheese, and cooked, crumbled bacon to a large bowl.
  2. Make the Dressing: In a separate bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper.
  3. Mix it Up! Pour the dressing over the salad, and stir to be sure everything is well coated. Chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving.
Creamy dressing poured over broccoli, sunflower seeds, cheese, bacon, and cranberries

Tip!

While this is a classic summertime salad recipe, don’t be afraid to make broccoli salad in the colder months too! It’s delicious with roasted meats or sandwiches.

Recipe Tips

  • You can blanch the broccoli first to make it easier to chew. Follow my easy instructions on how to blanch broccoli for all the details. It’s super simple, just boil the florets for a few minutes, then shock them with ice water.
  • After washing the broccoli, be sure to dry it well before making the salad. The extra water held by the florets will water down the dressing if you don’t.
  • For even more flavor, try adding a clove of minced garlic, or a tablespoon of poppy seeds.
  • Instead of sunflower seeds, try sliced almonds or roasted pepitas.
  • The dressing can be made with all mayo instead of the blend of mayo and yogurt. You can also replace the yogurt with sour cream.
  • Use a different sweetener. Honey can be replaced with white or brown sugar, or maple syrup to give the salad the same sweetness, but a slightly different flavor.
A small bowl of broccoli salad with cheese and a creamy dressing.

Storing Tips

This is an excellent dish to make ahead of time since it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Since the dressing for broccoli salad is mayonnaise based, be sure to keep it refrigerated, and don’t leave it out in the heat for very long.

What To Serve With Broccoli Salad

If you’re planning a BBQ or an outdoor party this summer, make sure that this classic Broccoli Salad is on the menu!

While you’re planning that cookout menu, consider also making more of these summer recipes favorites:

  • For the Main Meal: Beer Can Chicken on the grill, Chicken Under a Brick, Grilled Shrimp Kabobs, or Smoked Beef Chuck Roast
  • On the Side: Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing, Deviled Egg Potato Salad, Broccoli Slaw, and Tortellini Salad.
  • For Dessert: Watermelon Cupcakes, Banana Icebox Cake, No Bake Strawberry Pie, Classic Blueberry Pie, and some Pool Party Jello Shots for the grown-ups!

Recipe FAQs

Do I need to cook the broccoli for broccoli salad?

This is a matter of preference. Raw broccoli works perfectly well in this recipe and will soften just a bit with the dressing. If you want the broccoli to be softer, you can briefly blanch it before making the salad.

Can I make broccoli salad with cauliflower?

Yes, you can! Sometimes I make this with half broccoli florets and half cauliflower florets. Broccoli does a better job of soaking up the flavor from the creamy dressing though.

Can I make broccoli salad vegan?

If you leave out the bacon and cheese and replace the dairy with vegan alternatives, then yes, this recipe can be vegan!

More Refreshing Salad Recipes

Watermelon Salad With Feta

Green Goddess Salad

Strawberry Feta Salad

Creamy Cucumber Salad

All Salads →

Classic Broccoli Salad is such a wonderful side dish for any meal, but it’s especially perfect for summertime parties that involve friends, family, and great food. Be sure to Pin the recipe for when you need it!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Recipe
a large serving bowl of creamy broccoli salad, viewed from above.
5 from 19 votes
(Click stars to rate!)

Classic Broccoli Salad

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Cook Time: 10 minutes mins
Chill Time: 1 hour hr
Author: Diana
Print Rate Recipe
Homemade Broccoli Salad is a healthy and easy summer salad made with broccoli florets, sunflower seeds, bacon, and the best creamy dressing.
8 Servings
Homemade Broccoli Salad is a healthy and easy summer salad made with broccoli florets, sunflower seeds, bacon, and the best creamy dressing.

Equipment

  • Skillet or saute pan
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Small Whisk

Ingredients 

  • 8 slices bacon cooked and crumbled, about ¾ cup in total
  • ½ cup (125 g) mayonnaise
  • ¾ cup (63 g) Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) honey
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 heads broccoli about 1 lb, cut into bite-sized florets
  • ½ medium red onion thinly sliced, about ¼ cup
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • ¼ cup roasted sunflower kernels
  • 1 cup (150 g) sharp cheddar cheese cubed small

Instructions 

  • To make the dressing, in a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
  • In a large salad bowl, mix the broccoli, bacon, onion, cranberries, sunflower seeds, and cheese.
  • Pour the dressing onto the salad. Stir everything so the dressing is all over.
  • Chill the salad in the fridge for at least 1 hour. This helps the flavors mix together.
  • Stir again before serving.

Notes:

  • You can blanch the broccoli first to make it easier to chew. Follow my easy instructions for how to blanch broccoli for all the details. It’s super simple, just boil the florets for a few minutes, then shock them with ice water.
  • After washing the broccoli, be sure to dry it well before making the salad. The extra water held by the florets will water down the dressing if you don’t.
  • For even more flavor, try adding a clove of minced garlic, or a tablespoon of poppy seeds.
  • Instead of sunflower seeds, try sliced almonds or roasted pepitas.
  • The dressing can be made with all mayo instead of the blend of mayo and yogurt. You can also replace the yogurt with sour cream.
  • Honey can be replaced with white or brown sugar, or maple syrup to give the salad the same sweetness, but a slightly different flavor.
  • Storage: Keep broccoli salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

Nutrition Information

Calories: 244kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.03g, Cholesterol: 21mg, Sodium: 384mg, Potassium: 259mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 506IU, Vitamin C: 51mg, Calcium: 155mg, Iron: 1mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Little Sunny Kitchen

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  1. Sara Welch says

    Posted on 7/29/23 at 05:25

    5 stars
    Not only is this recipe a summertime staple in my house, it is also a sweet and savory success at parties! Creamy, hearty and delicious!

    Reply
    • Little Sunny Kitchen says

      Posted on 7/30/23 at 04:02

      I’m so glad to hear that, Sara! Thank you for the great review!

      Reply
  2. Sharina says

    Posted on 7/26/23 at 11:47

    5 stars
    This classic broccoli salad is irresistible! Served it with BBQ chicken and everyone was filled and satisfied. Such a fun fam meal!

    Reply
    • Little Sunny Kitchen says

      Posted on 7/27/23 at 04:01

      That’s so wonderful to hear, Sharina! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
  3. Abby says

    Posted on 7/21/23 at 13:26

    5 stars
    I could eat my weight of this salad! It’s so yummy, a new favorite.

    Reply
    • Little Sunny Kitchen says

      Posted on 7/22/23 at 03:08

      Thank you, Abby! I’m so happy that you enjoyed this salad!

      Reply

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Welcome to Little Sunny Kitchen! I'm Diana and I’m here to teach you how to make easy meals that are quick, family-friendly, and delicious!

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