This classic Broccoli Salad is always a crowd favorite! Packed full of broccoli, mozzarella cheese, salty bacon and sunflower seeds, it's tossed in a simple homemade dressing that brings everything together. It's easy to make, always disappears first and even better the next day.
Get ready for your friends and family to ask for this recipe once they try it. I'm not kidding, I've never seen so many people rave about a simple salad like this one. It's just one of those recipes everyone loves.
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I love a good broccoli salad, and what I love about this one is the combination of the salty bacon and sunflowers seeds and the slightly sweet and tangy homemade dressing. When combined with the broccoli, sharp red onion and mozzarella cheese you get an amazing broccoli salad.
If you're planning to serve this Broccoli Salad at a summer party or family gathering, be sure to make extra, it's always a hit, and you'll definitely need it!
Related: Italian Pasta Salad | Corn and Avocado Salad
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
- Broccoli - Cut into bite sized pieces. For best results, rinse and dry the broccoli before assembling to help the dressing stick.
- Bacon - Cooked and chopped.
- Onions - I love using red onions for their sharp flavor and bright color. Yellow or white onions can be substituted.
- Sunflower Seeds - Sunflower seed kernels offer a nice salty and nutty flavor. Chopped pecans make a great substitute.
- Cheese - Shredded mozzarella cheese is my go-to for this salad, but shredded cheddar is a great substitute.
- Dressing - A combination of mayo, sugar and apple cider vinegar make up the homemade dressing in this recipe.
See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and measurements.
How To Make Classic Broccoli Salad
This salad is super easy to put together. The longest step is cooking the bacon. After that, the rest of the salad comes together in just a few minutes.
- In a large bowl combine the broccoli, red onion, bacon, shredded cheese and sunflower seeds. Stir well to combine.
- In a separate bowl, combine the mayo, sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
- Add the dressing to the broccoli bowl and stir until fully incorporated.
- Serve immediately or chill for 20 minutes to let the flavors marry. Enjoy!
See the recipe card below for the full recipe.
Storage Tip
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. If making in advance I recommend waiting to add the bacon and sunflower kernels until you are ready to serve the salad.
If you need a reliable, from scratch side dish that works for just about any gathering, this Broccoli Salad is a great one to keep in your recipe book. It's simple, flavorful, and always a hit.
-Sky🩷
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📖 Recipe
Broccoli Salad
Ingredients
- 12 ounces broccoli cut into bite sized pieces
- 6 slices bacon cooked, rough chopped
- ⅓ cup red onion small diced
- ½ cup sunflower seed kernels roasted and salted
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
Dressing
- 1 cup mayo
- 2 ¾ teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine the broccoli, red onion, bacon, shredded cheese and sunflower seeds. Stir well to combine.
- For the dressing: In a separate bowl combine the mayo, sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper. Mix until fully combined.
- Add the dressing to the broccoli salad and stir to fully incorporate. Enjoy!
