Best Broccoli Salad Recipe
A crisp and flavorful broccoli salad featuring a tangy mayonnaise dressing, sweet dried cranberries, crunchy almonds, and savory bacon, perfect as a refreshing side dish or potluck favorite.
- Author: Stella
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes (to cook bacon if not pre-cooked)
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1½ tablespoons granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Salad
- 1⅓ lbs broccoli florets, finely chopped into bite-size pieces
- 8 slices crispy cooked bacon, chopped
- ⅓ cup chopped red onion
- ½ cup sweetened dried cranberries
- ⅓ cup sliced almonds
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, granulated sugar, apple cider vinegar, and freshly ground black pepper until smooth and well combined, creating a creamy, tangy dressing.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the finely chopped broccoli florets, chopped crispy bacon, chopped red onion, sweetened dried cranberries, and sliced almonds. Gently toss to mix the ingredients evenly.
- Add Dressing: Drizzle the prepared dressing over the broccoli mixture, then toss thoroughly to coat all the salad components with the dressing evenly.
- Chill: Cover the salad with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill properly.
- Serve: Give the salad one final toss before serving chilled, ensuring an even distribution of dressing and toppings for the best taste and texture.
Notes
- For best flavor, let the salad chill at least 1 hour before serving to allow the dressing to soak into the broccoli and other ingredients.
- You can substitute dried cranberries with raisins or dried cherries if preferred.
- To make this salad gluten-free, ensure the bacon and other packaged ingredients are labeled gluten-free.
- For a lighter version, use a low-fat mayonnaise or Greek yogurt in place of regular mayonnaise.
- Toast the sliced almonds lightly before adding for enhanced nutty flavor.
Keywords: broccoli salad, broccoli salad recipe, summer salad, bacon broccoli salad, easy broccoli salad, side dish, potluck salad