This is the best Broccoli Salad recipe! It’s sweet, creamy and crunchy with fresh broccoli, homemade dressing and lots of bacon!
Here’s an amazing broccoli salad recipe that will blow your mind! What sets this one apart? Homemade dressing! All the bacon! No raisins! Or craisins! My Mom’s recipe! Did I mention, all the bacon!?
It’s one of the better fail-proof recipes I have in my custody that I am in LOVE with. So I thought I’d share it today with all of you wonderful readers. It’s easy, has a good crunch factor, has the right broccoli to bacon ratio plus that sweet dressing turns otherwise unassuming gross broccoli into magic.
Broccoli Salad Recipe Ingredients
Broccoli Florets – The main ingredient of this salad. You can buy whole broccoli crowns or buy pre-cut broccoli. Either way, the most important thing is to cut them into bite size pieces.
Red Onion – This adds a nice spiciness to contrast the sweet and salty.
Celery – Brings an essential fresh crunch.
Sunflower Seeds – Little bursts of nutty flavor found in every bite.
BACON – Salty bacon goodness belongs in any salad recipe if you ask me. Feel free to double this part of the salad 😉
Raisins or Craisins – Ok, these are totally optional. BUT if you do use them, they bring a chewy sweet flavor to the whole salad.
Homemade Dressing – You can find this tangy-sweet dressing recipe below. It’s basically the perfect pairing for this broccoli salad.
If broccoli salad isn’t your thing, try these other tasty salads you’re sure to love: macaroni salad, cucumber salad, classic coleslaw or southwest chicken chop salad.
How to Make Broccoli Salad
Chop all the vegetables making sure to cut the broccoli into bite-size pieces. Cook bacon according to your liking and cut up into small pieces, or you could buy bacon bits.
The best part about this salad is you can chop all the veggies, store it in your fridge and add the dressing right before serving. It’s a definite crowd pleaser and is fabulous for holidays and potlucks.
Below is the printable recipe card!
Have a great day and enjoy, friends!
Broccoli Salad
This is the best Broccoli Salad recipe because it's straight from my Mom! It's sweet, creamy and crunchy with fresh broccoli, homemade dressing and lots of bacon!
Ingredients
- 8 cups fresh broccoli florets bite size
- 1/2 cup red onion finely diced
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
- 1 cup crumbled bacon
- 1/2 cup raisins** or craisins
For the dressing:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups real mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
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Chop all the vegetables making sure to cut the broccoli into bite-size pieces. Cook bacon according to your liking and cut up into small pieces, or you could buy bacon bits.
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Place all salad ingredients into a large bowl and set aside.
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In a smaller bowl, mix dressing ingredients together to combine. Pour over salad and toss. Serve or store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
*Recipe made according to my liking, but you are free to change and modify to meet your wants!
**I don't add these to my salad because I think they should be illegal in broccoli salads, but I know a lot of people do like them added in, so feel free to add it in.
Other salad recipes you might like:
- Fruit Salad Recipe
- Tuna Pasta Salad
- Chinese Chicken Salad
- Chicken Salad with Grapes
- Waldorf Salad from Simply Recipes
Karen @ On the Banks of Salt Creek says
April 29, 2015 at 5:22 amI happen to LOVE broccoli and broccoli salad is delightful. When we lived in the city and would have dinners at Sweet Tomatoes (boys favorite spot….so many choices) I always put a couple of scoops of their broccoli salad on my plate.
Yummy.
Cindy W says
April 29, 2015 at 8:49 amThe craisins are really good in it. I agree on the raisins though. I use red wine vinegar in mine. I’ll have to try adding celery next time.
PJ Aringdale says
May 1, 2015 at 6:29 pmLove craisins they are delish…raisins too. I always put which ever I have on hand. It is a wonderful blend of flavors and textures for sure!
ChristyK says
April 29, 2015 at 3:34 pmThanks for the recipe! Had some broccoli salad at a luncheon the other day and was looking for a recipe. Yum!!!!
PJ Aringdale says
May 1, 2015 at 6:25 pmJust looking at the picture makes me hungry for some. Thanks for posting such beautiful pictures. We love broccoli salad at our house too. I use sliced almonds in mine, not sunflower seeds and yes love the raisins. I don’t care for celery much so I would omit that.
shirley says
May 2, 2015 at 3:41 pmI have been making this for years. Who is your mother?
Annie S says
May 2, 2015 at 3:47 pmOne of my family’s all time favorites! Your broccoli salad is pretty identical to mine, with a couple small changes I’ve made over the years…
rather than raisins, I use fresh organic grapes, halved if they are large , and I frequently use walnuts or pecans rather than sunflower seeds as both are very tasty in it. I use about half that amount of dressing, made with a blend of mayo and unsweetened yogurt.
Thanks for a great recipe!
Sarah says
May 2, 2015 at 5:43 pmCraisins yes raisins not a chance. Also use red wine vinegar. Makes a big difference. And add shredded cheese. Mmmm. One of our favs
Karly says
May 6, 2015 at 2:11 pmMaking this for Mother’s Day! Will I ruin it by adding shredded cheddar? I kind of add shredded cheddar to everything. 😉
Theresa keeling. says
May 7, 2015 at 4:05 amI add sharp cheddar cheese. And shredded carrot
Julio Gonzalez says
May 7, 2015 at 5:35 pmI use heavy cream instead of mayonnaise (find the mayo too heavy) and always use craisins! This has become a favorite at every gathering, even with those who don’t like broccoli!
chris says
May 7, 2015 at 8:16 pmDouble the bacon!
Elizabeth says
May 9, 2015 at 7:49 pmI am probably around your mom’s age, and this recipe has been a staple since before by now 34 year old was born. Good things last forever, I think. I find the slight differences in recipes to be interesting…like you, definitely no raisins, but sliced mushrooms have always been there.
Marcy says
May 9, 2015 at 8:59 pmWe’ve loved this salad for decades but always, always add shredded cheddar cheese to the ingredients 🙂
Karen Laing says
May 22, 2015 at 2:03 amAbsolutely delicious. Has been requested from my family to be made again and again!! Thanks for sharing!!
kel says
June 25, 2016 at 4:52 amWow! I put all this in mine except for the raisins too! Thanks for posting this as I don’t have an exact recipe.
Doreen Obrien says
December 21, 2016 at 9:50 pmThis salad is a huge hit. I bring it to family parties and everyone loves it.
Marianne says
April 12, 2017 at 4:21 amYour last comment said you think these should be illegal to add to the broccoli salad but what are you referring to?
Kellie B says
June 13, 2017 at 6:31 amThis is one of my favorite side dishes for summer!
Mare T. says
August 6, 2017 at 10:37 amMy Mom would make this often. My three brothers’ Dad and I loved it. Made it for my Hubby, he loved it and said, “you can make this again,,anytime”. I will.
Billi Kavanagh says
November 22, 2017 at 10:16 pmI love broccoli and can’t wait to try this salad:)
Wendy says
March 27, 2018 at 9:35 amI’m with you, Lauren. No raisins OR craisins but love the idea of doubling the bacon and adding shredded cheese!
Loretta Meyer says
March 27, 2018 at 4:43 pmI made this today it was delcious! Will be making it again for Easter dinner at a family gathering.
Teresa says
April 2, 2018 at 11:38 amI made this on Saturday night for our Easter dinner. I couldn’t wait to eat it and it was worth the wait. It was delicious. I did add the rasisins and some shredded carrot that I had after making your carrot cupcakes. This will be made again.
Lauren says
April 3, 2018 at 6:03 amSo glad you liked it!!
Alicia says
September 15, 2018 at 6:28 pmYou make so many yummy foods. I will be trying some this fall.
Bryn says
September 15, 2018 at 6:51 pmMade this last weekend and it was delicious! Loved the sunflower seeds
Carrie Monts says
September 15, 2018 at 6:54 pmOh I love broccoli salad and this one is just different enough that I HAVE to try it! All the ingredients made the shopping list!
Laketa Mitchel says
September 15, 2018 at 7:28 pmI’ve been looking for the “good” version of this recipe and so happy to have found it! Thanks for posting.
Irene says
September 15, 2018 at 8:42 pmMy daughter loves it!
Sara O’Leary says
September 16, 2018 at 3:13 amTHis will be so yummy at cookouts and tailgates! Thanks!!!
Wendy belle says
September 16, 2018 at 5:25 amCan’t wait to try this recipe!!!!
Stacy says
September 16, 2018 at 9:58 amThis is by far the best broccoli salad recipe I’ve seen!! Yumm
Edie Daniel says
September 16, 2018 at 12:30 pmI love broccoli salad! This looks amazing. 🙂 I can’t do the sunflower seeds, but the rest looks delicious.
Deanna Oda says
September 17, 2018 at 6:51 pmI’m going to try and eat healthier starting with this salad. Always loved broccoli but hardly eat it.
Deborah W. says
September 18, 2018 at 1:24 amThis recipe is one of my favorites. I am now vegetarian so I’d skip the bacon but it is still an amazing salad. Yum!
Kathryn Wolff says
November 21, 2018 at 10:28 amSo many varieties of this special salad! We add the onion and raisins (Craisins) to the mayo mixture and let it set up over night – plumps the raisins
Yvonne says
February 23, 2019 at 8:52 pmThis is truly one of my favorites; my brother makes it and sometimes adds cauliflower!