Broccoli Salad

Broccoli Salad

Broccoli salad is a side my family goes back to time and time again. Especially in the summertime, broccoli salad seems to be on our menu rotation almost weekly. The creaminess and sweetness along with the crunch you get from the broccoli and crispy bacon makes for a perfect bite! Bring this to any get together or barbecue and you will win over the crowd!

Broccoli salad goes amazing with any meal. I love serving this as a side for smoked meats like ribs and pulled pork and also for steak night. This is such a quick recipe that you can make in no time during those busy summer months before you head out to a get together. A great thing about broccoli salad is that it tastes just as yummy as leftovers the next day, if there are any leftovers!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 head of broccoli chopped

• 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

• 1 handful of sunflower seeds

• 4 chopped green onions

• 1 handful of dried cranberries

• 5 pieces of crumbled bacon

• 1 cup of mayo

• 1/4 cup of sugar

• 2 TBSP of white vinegar

To make this quick and easy recipe, start by cooking 5 pieces of bacon over medium-low heat in a skillet until crisp. Once crisp, place on a paper towel lined plate to soak up excess bacon grease.

Next, chop broccoli into small pieces and add to a large bowl. Then, I chopped 4 green onions and the bacon and added them to the bowl. Add ½ cup of freshly shredded cheddar cheese, 1 handful of sunflower seeds, and a handful of dried cranberries to the bowl as well.

To make the creamy dressing, in a separate bowl I combined 1 cup of mayo, ¼ cup of sugar, and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and I stirred until smooth.

Next, I added the creamy mixture on top of the broccoli and mixed well! I find it easiest to use a bowl that has a tight lid so I can shake it to mix everything well. I let the broccoli salad chill in the fridge for a couple hours before serving to make sure all of the flavors blend together for a perfect bite. 

This is a popular summertime side dish for us but it’s not limited to summer! We could eat this anytime. Bring this broccoli salad to your next get together and watch it disappear! 

Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions 

• Many ingredients can be substituted from this recipe for your liking. Chopped walnuts or chopped pecans can be used instead of sunflower seeds. Raisins can be used in place of dried cranberries. The cheese can be left off if desired. This recipe is so versatile and can be tailored to your liking.

• Fresh cooked bacon works best in this recipe but bacon bits may also be used.

• For extra creaminess, freshly shredded cheddar cheese may be used.

• Stevia can be used in place of sugar if desired.

• If using a bag of broccoli florets instead of a head of broccoli, use about 4 cups. 

• To cut down on the creaminess of this recipe, slowly add the dressing a little at a time while mixing to reach desired level.