Broccoli salad is a total crowd-pleaser, and one dish that will always be completely devoured at your summer potluck or barbecue. This recipe comes together in just 25 minutes (and can be made ahead of time), so you can whip up a big batch in practically no time at all.
The creamy salad makes for the perfect side dish or light meal — and you can dress it up or down however you like. Plus, with all the other ingredients, even the picky eaters will love this green-filled dish. There's a reason this broccoli salad has over 1300 5-star reviews. It's that good.
![side view of a spoon scooping broccoli salad out of a red bowl](https://www.allrecipes.com/thmb/oXX_bGak-HOawEr0_G4AJkx54dQ=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/727586_Fresh-Broccoli-Salad_Photo-by-asnella-1-b599967fe6f944feb4c65abd904a0723.jpg)
Ingredients for Broccoli Salad
There isn't a one-size-fits-all rule when it comes to broccoli salad. In fact, every home chef may make their broccoli salad a little differently.
There are a few ingredients everyone can agree on in a broccoli salad, though: broccoli and a creamy, mayo- and vinegar-based dressing are usually the two. Any additional ingredients are up to the cook, so here are the ingredients used in this recipe.
- Broccoli: Starts with two heads of fresh broccoli.
- Bacon: While bacon may not be the first ingredient to go on a salad, it is the most delicious.
- Onions: A red onion is the best onion to use for this salad.
- Raisins: These small, dried grapes ass a prefect tough of sweetness.
- Nuts: Sliced almonds are a great option to use for this recipe.
- Mayonnaise: Your dressing starts with mayo. If the news didn't get to you, there is one brand all chefs say is the best.
- Sugar: White sugar also helps sweeten up the salad and make the flavor a little more dynamic.
- Vinegar: White wine vinegar is the best option to use for this recipe, but if you need to maje
Broccoli salads also contain ingredients like seeds (like sunflower seeds), other dried fruit (like dried cranberries), and cheese (usually Cheddar). You can pick and choose which ingredients you want to add.
The creamy dressing for the salad is almost always made with mayonnaise, white sugar, and white wine vinegar.
How to Make Broccoli Salad
You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make homemade broccoli salad:
- Make the dressing.
- Cook and crumble the bacon.
- Combine the ingredients.
Cook’s Note
You can add an extra head of broccoli, if you like, and use whatever nuts you prefer.
Can You Make Broccoli Salad With Frozen Broccoli?
Technically, you can use frozen broccoli to make broccoli salad. However, it requires more steps and the broccoli will have a different consistency than if you use fresh.
In most broccoli salads, you don't cook your broccoli so it stays raw and crunchy. If you're using frozen broccoli, however, you will need to lightly boil the broccoli.
To use frozen broccoli, place the frozen florets in a pot of water and bring the water to a boil. As soon as it begins to boil, remove the broccoli and transfer it to a bowl of iced water to shock it. Let your broccoli drain and dry before adding any additional ingredients.
What to Serve With Broccoli Salad
Broccoli salad goes great with just about anything you were already planning to eat a salad with. Maybe cook up some hamburgers or fried chicken, or if you are preparing a pizza and need an appetizer, this recipe is a great solution.
How to Store Broccoli Salad
Broccoli salad should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The dressing will continue to blend in the fridge and the salad will become more flavorful after an hour.
How Long Does Broccoli Salad Last?
When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, broccoli salad will stay fresh for three to four days.
Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise
"This is one of my favorite summer salad recipes," says Pamela B. "I’ve come back to it time and time again. The whole family loves it!"
"So, so good! I actually like broccoli now! I made this recipe EXACTLY as stated and it is PERFECT as written. Make it a day ahead because the flavors need to blend and it is a lot better the second day. The recipe does not need any changes," raves SquirrellyGirly.
"This recipe was a breeze compared to other recipes I looked at and it is super delicious!! I had to triple it for a crowd and was a little tedious cutting up all that broccoli and cooking all that bacon but...it was worth it!! I did add sharp Cheddar cubes," according to Dana Cominsky.
Editorial contributions by Bailey Fink
Ingredients
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½ pound bacon
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2 heads fresh broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces
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1 small red onion, sliced into bite-sized pieces
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¾ cup raisins
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¾ cup sliced almonds
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1 cup mayonnaise
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½ cup white sugar
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2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
Directions
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Gather all ingredients.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
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Place bacon in a deep skillet and cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown, 7 to 10 minutes; drain, cool, and crumble.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
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Combine bacon, broccoli, onion, raisins, and almonds together in a bowl; mix well.
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To prepare the dressing: Mix mayonnaise, sugar, and vinegar together until smooth.
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Stir into the salad.
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Let chill before serving, if desired.
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
374 | Calories |
27g | Fat |
29g | Carbs |
7g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings Per Recipe 8 | |
Calories 374 | |
% Daily Value * | |
Total Fat 27g | 35% |
Saturated Fat 4g | 22% |
Cholesterol 18mg | 6% |
Sodium 353mg | 15% |
Total Carbohydrate 29g | 10% |
Dietary Fiber 3g | 11% |
Total Sugars 20g | |
Protein 7g | 15% |
Vitamin C 61mg | 67% |
Calcium 64mg | 5% |
Iron 1mg | 5% |
Potassium 416mg | 9% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.