Southern Bite – supper made simple. This quick and easy recipe for Broccoli Salad combines all my favorite ingredients from other broccoli salads into one ultimate recipe. It’s the perfect no-cook recipe for those warm summer potlucks and gatherings. This easy loaded Broccoli Salad recipe calls for bacon, broccoli cranberry salad kernels, cheese, dried cranberries, red onion, and a sweet and tangy dressing that pulls it all together!
Now some recipes call for you to blanch the broccoli first, but I think it’s just one extra step that’s not necessary. That being said, if blanching is your thing, a quick 45 to 60 second dunk in salted boiling water should do the trick. Just be sure to immediately plunge the broccoli in an ice bath to stop the cooking. Then make sure the broccoli is super dry before adding it to the salad. Extra water on the broccoli can make for a runny dressing. When it comes to the cheese, I want to actually see it and taste it, so I avoid the finely shredded cheese and go with thick cut shredded sharp cheddar. While red onion can be pretty powerful, I think it’s an important flavor in this dish.
I like to dice it finely so there aren’t huge chunks of it and only use just enough to add a hint of flavor. 4 of a medium-sized red onion. If you find the onion to be super pungent, you can dice it and soak the onion in 1 cup of water mixed with about 1 tablespoon of baking soda. And while we’re talking about the dressing, I do like mine a touch sweet, but not too sweet. If you like it sweeter, it’s super easy to add a little more white sugar to suit your taste. Like many similar salads, this one can be eaten immediately but does benefit from a little time in the fridge to allow all those flavors to get happy.
Just be sure to toss it well right before serving. Want a fun twist on this classic broccoli salad? Check out my Bacon and Blue Cheese Broccoli Salad! In a very large bowl, combine the broccoli, bacon, sunflower kernels, cranberries, onion, and cheese. In a small bowl, make the dressing by whisking together the mayonnaise, vinegar, and sugar. Pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture and toss to combine.
Cover and refrigerate for about 1 hour. Did you make my Easy Broccoli Salad? Know some folks who would like this? Few things in this world delight me more than my family and friends gathered around my table enjoying a meal. Pull up a chair and join us!
These quick and easy enchiladas only call for 5 ingredients and are ready in no time! All Content Protected By Federal Copyright Laws. This healthy broccoli salad is one of our all-time favorite party dishes! It’s great for making ahead, as the flavors develop over time. I’ll be sharing 3 super fun cookout salads this week.
This is a healthier spin on the traditional midwest broccoli salad but it’s every bit as flavorful. Instead of using the typical 1 cup mayo: 2 tablespoons vinegar ratio for my broccoli salad dressing, I replace some of the mayo with olive oil and up the proportion of vinegar. Not only do they add a wonderful crunch to this salad, but they also bring richness and smoky flavor, so they’re the perfect nutritious substitute for bacon and cheese. SO fresh, healthy, and easy to make! Because the broccoli stays raw for this dish, you want to make sure the pieces are small enough to become fully coated and soften in the dressing. Also, when the broccoli pieces are a similar size to the other ingredients in the salad, you can get a little of everything in each bite. Save some nuts for the last minute.